Are you a WordPress newbie who’s confused about the thumbnail sizes? Or are you a seasoned user who’s never given it much thought? Fear not, this definitive guide on WordPress thumbnail sizes is here to help you all!
What is a Thumbnail in WordPress?
Before we dive into the various thumbnail sizes, let’s first define what a thumbnail is in WordPress. Simply put, a thumbnail is a smaller version of an image that is used as a preview or teaser. These thumbnails are usually displayed in post lists, galleries, and widgets.
Why are Thumbnails Used?
Although there are many uses for thumbnails, enhancing the user experience is the most crucial one. Consider if you would want to browse through a lengthy list of posts with only text or a list of aesthetically appealing posts with thumbnails. I already know which one I’d pick!
Thumbnails not only enhance user experience but also hasten the loading time of your website. WordPress automatically creates thumbnails when a post or page is loaded. WordPress creates three thumbnails by default for each picture that is submitted to your website. These thumbnails are utilized in a variety of areas of your website, including widgets, galleries, and post lists.
Various Thumbnail Sizes are Available on WordPress by Default
Let’s look at all of the thumbnail sizes that are accessible on WordPress by default, now that we understand what thumbnails are and why they’re crucial. WordPress creates thumbnails in three sizes by default: thumbnail, medium, and large. This is a comparison of each size:
1. Thumbnail Size (150 x 150px)
The “thumbnail” size is the smallest size of thumbnail available in WordPress. It’s used in post lists, widgets, and galleries. The dimensions are 150px x 150px. This size is perfect for displaying a small preview of an image.
2. Medium Size (300 x 300px)
The medium size is a slightly larger version of the thumbnail size. It’s used in post lists, widgets, and galleries. The dimensions of the medium size are 300px x 300px. This size is perfect for displaying a larger preview of an image.
3. Large Size (1024 x 1024px)
The largest size of thumbnail available in WordPress by default. It’s used in single posts and pages. The dimensions of the large size are 1024px x 1024px. This size is perfect for displaying the full-size image.
In addition to these three sizes, you can also create custom thumbnail sizes using plugins or by adding code to your theme’s functions.php file.
Custom Thumbnail Sizes
You may add code to the functions.php file of your theme to add custom thumbnail sizes if you want more control over their dimensions. By doing this, you may specify the precise proportions of your thumbnails rather than depending simply on the sizes that WordPress generates by default.
Easy Picture Sizes and other plugins like them make it simple to generate custom sizes without knowing any code, but adding code to the functions.php section of your theme provides you access to more sophisticated customization possibilities. Here are a few popular plugins that you can use to create custom thumbnail sizes:
Regenerate Thumbnails
A well-liked plugin called Regenerate Thumbnails enables you to renew your thumbnails after altering their sizes. This is helpful if you’ve modified your theme’s functions.php file’s thumbnail sizes or if you’ve installed a plugin that generates unique thumbnail sizes.
Simple Image Sizes
With the help of the plugin Easy Image Sizes, anybody may make original thumbnails without knowing how to code. Due to its straightforward interface and user-friendly design, this plugin is especially appropriate for novices. You may quickly make custom thumbnail sizes that are suited to your website’s and the content’s demands by utilizing Simple Picture Sizes. For individuals who wish to change their thumbnail sizes but lack the technical know-how to do it manually, this plugin is a fantastic choice.
Thumbnails Crop
With the help of the WordPress plugin Thumbnails Crop, you can effortlessly resize your thumbnails. This might be helpful if you need to change the thumbnails’ aspect ratio or if you want to crop off a certain area of a picture. You may quickly choose the area of the image you wish to save and then crop it to the correct size with Thumbnails Crop. This can assist you in producing thumbnails that are more aesthetically pleasing and better complement the overall look of your website.
Go to WordPress Image sizes
Here’s a quick overview of some of the best images size for your site to ensure a responsive and disappearing site on any device:
- Blog post image size (1200 x 630 pixels)
- Header image size/banner size (1048 × 250 pixels)
- WordPress background image size (1920 × 1080 pixels)
- Logo image size (200 × 100 pixels)
- Thumbnail image size (150 × 150 pixels)
- Featured image size/landscape (1200 × 900 pixels)
- Featured image size/portrait (900 × 1200 pixels)
Tips for choosing the perfect Thumbnail Size
Before choosing a thumbnail, you should keep in mind a few things –
Consider the Layout of Your Website
The size of your thumbnails should be based on the layout of your website. If your design is minimalist with lots of white space, consider using larger thumbnails. Conversely, if your layout is busy, smaller thumbnails may work better.
Think About the Purpose of Your Thumbnails
Consider the purpose of your thumbnails – are they just to provide a visual preview of your content or are they meant to encourage clicks? If you’re looking to encourage clicks, larger thumbnails may be more effective.
Keep Image Size in Mind
When selecting thumbnail sizes, take your original image’s size into account. Use bigger thumbnails if your photographs are huge to prevent pixelation or distortion. Smaller thumbnail sizes can work better if your photographs are smaller.
Test and Adjust
Testing and modifying can help you find the best thumbnail sizes for your website. Try out different sizes to find which works best for your content and layout. By using this technique, you may choose, based on your tastes, the ideal thumbnail sizes for your website. It is a fantastic technique to figure out what functions well for your website and what does not.
If you are getting blank thumbnails, you should make sure to fix them.
Best Practices for Using Thumbnails
There are several recommended practices to remember when using thumbnails on your WordPress website.
- It’s essential to web-optimize your images to guarantee a quick loading time. Your photographs may be compressed using Smush, a helpful plugin, without losing any of their quality.
- While deciding on thumbnail sizes and positioning, take into account the website’s style and aesthetics. A site that is aesthetically appealing and uniform throughout is more engaging!
- Finally, to increase accessibility and SEO, give your photographs meaningful filenames and alt tags.
Troubleshooting Common Thumbnail Issues
Thumbnails can enhance user experience on WordPress sites, but common issues may arise.
- Regenerating thumbnails using a plugin like Regenerate Thumbnails can solve problems with incorrect display.
- Blurry or pixelated thumbnails may require larger sizes or higher-resolution images.
- Check your theme’s CSS for alignment issues, and seek assistance from your theme’s support team or a WordPress developer if necessary.
Final Thoughts
It is common knowledge that thumbnails are vital for any WordPress site, improving user experience and site loading speed. Remember to consider your site layout, thumbnail purpose, and image size when selecting thumbnail sizes. Test and adjust till you find the perfect fit. Become a pro by following these tips optimizing images, using consistent design, and descriptive alt tags. Also do not hesitate to contact your theme’s support team or a WordPress developer if you get stuck!