LinkedIn headshot: size, crop and style
LinkedIn shows your face in a small circle at the top of every interaction. Browse styles cropped exactly for that round frame and see which one makes the right first impression.
- Your photo stays on your device
- Example faces are AI-generated
- Free, no signup
Browse a professional headshot style
Pick a look and see where it fits — LinkedIn, your resume, a company page. Every face below is an AI-generated example, not a real person.
Fills LinkedIn’s round profile frame without awkward cropping.
Corporate / Formal
Suit or blazer, clean studio-grey backdrop, classic executive lighting. Best for: LinkedIn, law, finance, consulting, senior roles.
Business Casual
Smart casual shirt or knit, softer background, warm and approachable. Best for: Startups, tech, sales, recruiters, client-facing roles.
Studio Classic
Clean seamless backdrop, even three-point lighting — the photographer look. Best for: Resumes, company pages, anyone wanting a timeless safe choice.
Outdoor / Natural
Natural daylight, softly blurred outdoor or window-lit setting, authentic feel. Best for: Real estate, creatives, coaches, personal brands.
Creative / Modern
Editorial colour backdrop, contemporary styling, a touch of personality. Best for: Founders, designers, marketers, speakers.
Executive B&W
Dramatic monochrome, strong contrast — for leadership and author bios. Best for: Executives, board bios, authors, keynote speakers.
Showing every style. Enable JavaScript to filter by style and platform.
This site doesn’t generate headshots. Already have a photo of yourself? Crop it to 35 × 45 mm, LinkedIn 400 × 400 px or another exact size — in your browser, with nothing uploaded.
JPG at the exact pixel size · runs on your device
What works for a LinkedIn photo
Because the photo is small and round, detail at the edges is lost — so a tighter head-and-shoulders crop beats a full upper body. Faces that fill more of the frame are easier to recognise in the feed and in search results. A clean or softly blurred background stops the circle from looking cluttered.
Approachability tends to win on LinkedIn: a genuine, relaxed expression and direct eye contact read as confident and friendly. Business Casual and Studio Classic are reliable choices for most professionals; Corporate / Formal suits senior and conservative roles.
Sizing and the round crop
Upload at least 400×400 pixels — larger is better, since LinkedIn downsizes a large square cleanly but can’t add detail to a small one. Keep your head centred and leave a little headroom, because LinkedIn masks the square into a circle and trims the corners.
The explorer above previews every style inside LinkedIn’s actual round frame, so you can see how a head-and-shoulders crop sits in the circle. Switch the platform to “Email & Slack” to check how the same photo holds up at tiny avatar sizes too.
LinkedIn profile picture background and examples
The background of a LinkedIn profile picture should stay out of the way. A clean studio backdrop, a softly blurred office or a simple neutral wall all keep the focus on your face inside the small circle. Avoid busy scenes, harsh colours or anything that competes for attention at thumbnail size — a plain or gently defocused background reads as professional and keeps you recognisable in the feed.
Good LinkedIn profile picture examples share the same traits whatever the style: a tight head-and-shoulders crop, your face filling most of the frame, direct eye contact and a genuine, approachable expression. Each style above is previewed inside LinkedIn’s round frame so you can compare examples and backgrounds before you commit — Business Casual and Studio Classic are the safe, popular choices for most professionals.
Frequently asked questions
What size should a LinkedIn headshot be?
At least 400×400 pixels, uploaded as a square up to 8 MB. LinkedIn displays it as a circle, so keep your head centred with a little headroom so the corner crop doesn’t cut you off.
What kind of photo performs best on LinkedIn?
A tight head-and-shoulders crop, a clean or softly blurred background, direct eye contact and a relaxed genuine expression. Faces that fill more of the round frame are easier to recognise.
Can I use an AI headshot on LinkedIn?
Yes — many professionals do. Use a realistic headshot that genuinely looks like you. Avoid heavily stylised or obviously synthetic images, which undercut trust.
Do I need a LinkedIn Premium account or any signup here?
No. You can browse LinkedIn-cropped styles and crop your own photo to 400 × 400 px for free, with no account.
What background is best for a LinkedIn profile picture?
A clean, simple background — a plain wall, a studio backdrop or a softly blurred office — so nothing competes with your face inside LinkedIn’s small circle. Avoid busy scenes and harsh colours; a neutral or gently defocused background reads as professional and keeps you recognisable in the feed.
What do good LinkedIn profile picture examples have in common?
A tight head-and-shoulders crop with your face filling most of the frame, direct eye contact, a relaxed genuine expression and a clean background. The style explorer above previews each look inside LinkedIn’s round frame so you can compare examples before choosing.