Getting the podcast cover size right keeps your show title readable in directories, apps, and small thumbnails. This guide explains what podcast artwork is for, the square dimensions that work well in practice, and how that differs from wide blog or social graphics.
What is podcast cover art?
Podcast cover art is the square image attached to a show (and sometimes to individual episodes) in podcast apps and directories. It is the visual anchor listeners see before they read the description or press play.
The cover is not your episode notes. It is a compact brand mark: usually a show title, optional subtitle or host line, and simple color or imagery. Because the image appears small on phones, size, contrast, and spacing matter more than fine detail.
Recommended podcast cover size in FeatureImg
FeatureImg’s Podcast Cover format exports at 1400 × 1400 pixels in a 1:1 square layout.
| Label | Dimensions | Aspect ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FeatureImg Podcast Cover (recommended) | 1400 × 1400 px | 1:1 | Matches the editor canvas; ready to upload |
| Common directory minimums | Often 1400 × 1400 px or higher | 1:1 | Check your host’s current spec before upload |
| Smaller legacy sizes | 300 × 300 px and up | 1:1 | May look soft when scaled up; prefer larger sources |
If you are comparing podcast cover art size requirements across hosts, match square aspect ratio first, then meet or exceed the host’s minimum pixel count.
Why square artwork works well
Podcast clients display covers as squares in browse grids, search results, and player screens. A square canvas avoids accidental crops that cut off corners of a wide rectangle.
Square art also simplifies production. You design once at the correct podcast artwork size, export, and reuse the same layout family for seasons, spin-offs, or limited series.
How podcast covers differ from blog or social graphics
Wide formats (such as blog featured images or Open Graph previews) use landscape ratios near 1.91:1. Podcast covers use 1:1. Copy that works on a wide card often feels cramped on a square unless you shorten the title and increase type size.
| Format type | Typical use | FeatureImg ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Podcast cover | Show branding in podcast apps | 1:1 (1400 × 1400 px) |
| Blog featured image | CMS listing and article headers | ~1.91:1 (1200 × 630 px) |
| Open Graph image | Link previews when a URL is shared | ~1.91:1 (1200 × 630 px) |
If you publish both a blog and a podcast, plan separate exports even when the visual style matches.
Best practices for readable podcast covers
Keep the title short. Aim for a name that reads in one or two lines at thumbnail size. Long show names become illegible in app grids.
Use strong contrast. Light text on busy photos often fails after compression. Solid fields, soft gradients, or shape backgrounds usually hold up better.
Focus on one visual idea. A single headline, one accent color, and optional host or tagline is enough.
Leave edge spacing. Rounded masks and UI chrome can clip corners. Keep important type and logos away from the outer edges.
Avoid tiny text. Episode numbers, URLs, and long quotes belong in show notes, not on the cover.
Common mistakes
Wrong aspect ratio. Uploading a wide banner or portrait photo into a square slot leads to unintended center crops.
Cluttered layout. Too many badges, logos, and lines compete at small sizes.
Low contrast. Thin gray type on pastel backgrounds disappears in thumbnails.
Decorative overload. Textures and photos without a clear text panel make titles hard to read.
Skipping a thumbnail check. Zoom out or preview at phone size before you upload.
How FeatureImg helps you hit the right size
FeatureImg locks the canvas to the Podcast Cover preset so you design at export size:
- Open the Podcast Cover format page or the editor with the podcast preset.
- Pick a template such as Clean Editorial, Creator Bold, or Product Update.
- Edit the title and optional subtitle fields tied to the layout.
- Choose a background (solid, gradient, or shape preset) that keeps text readable.
- Export PNG, JPEG, or WebP at 1400 × 1400 px for upload to your podcast host.
You work in the browser. FeatureImg does not submit artwork to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or other platforms for you. You export the file and upload it where your host instructs.
Quick size checklist
- Confirm your host’s current minimum dimensions (many expect square art at 1400 px or larger).
- Design at 1400 × 1400 px in FeatureImg.
- Keep the show title readable at roughly 150 px wide (thumbnail simulation).
- Export PNG (or JPEG/WebP if your host accepts them and quality is acceptable).
- Upload through your podcast host’s artwork settings.
- Re-check the listing after caches update.
Next steps in this guide series
- For step-by-step creation, read how to make a podcast cover.
- For layout direction by show type, see podcast cover ideas.
Create your podcast cover
Use a square export, keep copy minimal, and preview at thumbnail size. When you are ready, start from the Podcast Cover format page or open the podcast editor preset to pick a template and export at the correct dimensions.