Album Cover Size Guide for Spotify, Bandcamp, CD and Vinyl

Choosing the right artwork is one of the most important visual decisions a band makes before releasing music. But once the cover looks good, there is still one practical question left: is the file actually ready for release?

Choosing the right artwork is one of the most important visual decisions a band makes before releasing music. But once the cover looks good, there is still one practical question left: is the file actually ready for release?

Different platforms, distributors, and physical formats have different artwork requirements. Spotify, Bandcamp, CD Baby, DistroKid, CD production, vinyl pressing, and merch all use artwork in different ways. A square image that works perfectly on Bandcamp may still need resizing for a distributor. A high-resolution digital cover may be a good starting point for vinyl, but it is not the same as a finished LP layout.

This album cover size guide is written for bands, solo artists, and DIY musicians who want to prepare their artwork properly before uploading a release. Whether you are releasing a single, EP, demo, or full-length album, getting the artwork right can save time, avoid rejection, and make your release look more professional.

If you are still choosing the artwork itself, you can browse exclusive metal cover art for bands or read more about why bands choose premade metal covers.

The Quick Answer:

What Size Should Album Cover Art Be?

For most digital releases, a good practical standard is:

3000 × 3000 pixels, square, JPG or PNG, RGB/sRGB color.

That size is widely used because it works well for many streaming platforms and distributors. It is large enough to look clean online, but still manageable as an upload file.

However, it is often better to keep a larger master file if you have one.

At MetalCover.art, all covers are delivered at 4000 × 4000 pixels to give bands a high-quality master image. This gives you more flexibility for digital releases, social media, posters, merch, and print-related design work. You can always resize a 4000 × 4000 px image down to 3000 × 3000 px or 1400 × 1400 px if a platform requires it.

The important rule is this:

Keep the original high-resolution master file.
Export smaller copies when needed. Never overwrite the master.

Album Cover Art Size

Quick Answer

3000 x 3000 px

Square / JPG or PNG / RGB/sRGB

Best Master File

4000 x 4000 px

More flexibility for digital, merch & print

Digital Album Cover Requirements

Digital release artwork is usually square. The most common aspect ratio is:

1:1

That means the width and height must be the same. For example:

A rectangular image may be rejected or automatically cropped by a distributor. If the platform crops it for you, the result may not look exactly how you intended. Important details near the edges can be cut off, and logos or titles may be placed too close to the border.

For digital releases, your cover should usually be:

Spotify Cover Art Size

Spotify requires cover art to be square and between 640 × 640 pixels and 10000 × 10000 pixels. Accepted formats include TIFF, PNG, and JPG. The artwork should use an sRGB color space and a 1:1 aspect ratio.

Even though Spotify allows images as small as 640 × 640 px, bands should not aim for the minimum. A tiny image may technically upload, but it is not a good professional standard. It can look soft, blurry, or weak when used across different devices and contexts.

For most bands, a 3000 × 3000 px or larger master file is a much better starting point.

Spotify also warns against upscaling images. This is important. If your artwork is only 800 × 800 px, scaling it up to 3000 × 3000 px does not create real detail. It only makes the file larger. The result may still look blurry or artificial.

Spotify

Cover Art Size

640 - 10000 px

Square / JPG, PNG or TIFF / sRGB

Recommended

3000 x 3000 px

Bandcamp Album Art Size

Bandcamp requires album art to be square and at least 1400 × 1400 pixels. Bandcamp also notes that bigger is better. Accepted formats include JPG, PNG, and GIF, with a maximum size of 10MB.

This makes Bandcamp fairly flexible, but the same principle applies: do not work at the minimum unless you have to.

A 1400 × 1400 px image may work, but a larger file gives a cleaner presentation. If your cover has detailed illustration, texture, typography, or band logo work, higher resolution helps preserve that detail.

For Bandcamp, a 3000 × 3000 px or 4000 × 4000 px version is a strong choice, as long as the file size stays within the upload limits.

If you are preparing a full release page, not just the artwork file, read our Bandcamp Release Guide for Metal Bands for a complete checklist covering artwork, tags, descriptions, pricing and launch preparation.

Bandcamp

Cover Art Size

Min. 1400 x 1400 px

Square / JPG, PNG or GIF / Max 10Mb

Recommended

3000 x 3000 px

DistroKid Album Artwork Requirements

DistroKid requires album artwork to be in JPG format, with a minimum size of 1000 × 1000 pixels. They recommend a perfectly square image, ideally 3000 × 3000 pixels, in RGB color.

DistroKid also notes that artwork should be one image file. That means you should not upload a multi-page file or a full booklet layout as your album cover.

For bands, the safest approach is:

DistroKid also warns that duplicate artwork across multiple releases may be rejected. If you are releasing a single, EP, and album, do not assume you can use the exact same cover for all of them. A consistent visual identity is good, but each release should still feel distinct.

DistroKid

Cover Art Size

Min. 1000 x 1000 px

Square / JPG or PNG / RGB

Recommended

3000 x 3000 px

CD Baby Artwork Requirements

CD Baby requires artwork to be square, with a minimum size of 1400 × 1400 pixels and a maximum size of 3000 × 3000 pixels. Accepted file types include PNG, GIF, JPG, and JPEG. CD Baby also recommends 72–300 DPI, with 300 DPI being best, and requires RGB color rather than CMYK.

This is a good example of why a large master file is useful.

If your original artwork is 4000 × 4000 px, you can create a resized 3000 × 3000 px version specifically for CD Baby. This lets you meet their upload requirements without lowering the quality of your original file.

The workflow should look like this:

CD Baby

Cover Art Size

1400 - 3000 px

Square / JPG or PNG / RGB / < 25Mb

Recommended

3000 x 3000 px

Why MetalCover.art Uses 4000 × 4000 px Files

Many platforms accept smaller images, but bands should not aim for the minimum. A larger master file gives you more flexibility and better long-term value.

That is why MetalCover.art covers are delivered at 4000 × 4000 pixels.

A 4000 × 4000 px file gives you:

This does not mean every platform wants a 4000 × 4000 px upload. Some services, like CD Baby, may require a smaller maximum size. But starting with a larger master file means you can create the exact version you need instead of being stuck with a file that is too small.

RGB, sRGB, CMYK and DPI Explained

Artwork requirements can become confusing because terms like RGB, CMYK, sRGB, DPI, and pixels are often mixed together. Here is the simple version.

Pixels

Pixels define the actual size of your digital image. A 3000 × 3000 px cover has 3000 pixels across and 3000 pixels down.

For streaming and digital distribution, pixel dimensions matter more than DPI.

DPI / PPI

DPI or PPI refers to print resolution. You will often see 300 DPI recommended for print. This is important for CDs, vinyl layouts, posters, and merch.

For streaming platforms, DPI is usually less important than pixel size, aspect ratio, format, and color space.

A 3000 × 3000 px image at 72 DPI and a 3000 × 3000 px image at 300 DPI still contain the same number of pixels. For digital use, they display the same size in pixels.

For print, DPI becomes important because the image is being translated into physical size.

RGB and sRGB

RGB is the color mode used for screens. sRGB is a standard color space that helps images display more consistently across devices and platforms.

For digital album artwork, use RGB or sRGB.

CMYK

CMYK is used for print. If you are preparing artwork for a CD booklet, vinyl sleeve, poster, or other printed format, the printer or pressing plant may request CMYK files.

Do not upload CMYK artwork to digital distributors unless they specifically allow it. Digital platforms usually expect RGB.

CD Artwork: More Than a Square Cover

A digital album cover is usually one square image. CD packaging is different.

If you are producing a physical CD, you may need:

The final specifications depend on the manufacturer and packaging type. A jewel case, digipak, sleeve, and booklet all require different templates.

The square album cover can be used as the front cover, but it is only one part of the full CD design.

If you are preparing a CD, ask the manufacturer or printer for their official template. Do not guess the dimensions. Use their bleed, trim, and safe area guidelines.

You can read more in our guide on how to prepare album art for print at 300 DPI.

Vinyl / LP Artwork:

Always Use the Pressing Plant Template

Vinyl artwork is even more template-dependent than digital cover art.

A 4000 × 4000 px square cover can be a strong source image for vinyl artwork, but it is not the same as a finished LP layout. For vinyl production, you normally need a print-ready layout based on the template provided by your pressing plant.

That template may include:

Vinyl artwork is usually prepared at print quality, often 300 DPI/PPI, with proper bleed and print-safe margins. Many plants request CMYK files and print-ready PDFs, but the exact requirements can vary.

For vinyl, the safest rule is:
Never send only a square streaming cover as your final vinyl artwork.

Use the official template from your pressing plant and build the full layout around it.

What About Merch?

Album artwork often becomes more than a cover. Bands use it on shirts, hoodies, posters, patches, banners, social media graphics, and tour flyers.

This is another reason to keep a high-resolution master file.

A small 1400 × 1400 px image may be enough for Bandcamp, but it gives you limited flexibility for merch. A 4000 × 4000 px file gives you a much stronger starting point.

However, merch also has its own technical requirements. A shirt printer may need:

Common Reasons Album Artwork Gets Rejected

Artwork rejection can delay a release, especially if you are close to your planned launch date. Many problems are easy to avoid.

Avoid placing the following on your digital album cover:

website URLs
QR codes
social media handles or logos
Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, or platform logos
prices
“available now” or promotional text
references to physical formats like “CD” or “Compact Disc”
blurry or pixelated images
stretched or distorted artwork
unlicensed stock photography
copyrighted images you do not have rights to
artist name or album title that does not match the submitted metadata

If your cover includes the band name and album title, make sure they match the release information exactly. Small differences can cause problems.

For example, if your metadata says the album title is:
The Eternal Collapse

but the cover says:
Eternal Collapse

a distributor may flag it.

Free Tools for Resizing and Preparing Album Artwork

Not every band has Photoshop or professional design software. Fortunately, there are several free or low-cost tools that can help you resize artwork, compress files, or add a band logo and album title before uploading your release.

Squoosh

Squoosh is useful for resizing and compressing image files directly in the browser. It is especially handy when you need to create a smaller JPG or PNG delivery version from a larger master file.

Use it for:

Visit Squoosh

Adobe Express Image Resizer

Adobe Express offers a simple image resize tool that is easy to use for quick exports. It is a good option if you need a straightforward resize without learning a full design program.

Use it for:

Visit Adobe Express Image Resizer

iLoveIMG

iLoveIMG is a simple online toolkit for resizing, cropping, compressing, and converting images. It can be helpful when you need a quick file adjustment.

Use it for:

Visit iLoveIMG

Photopea

Photopea is one of the strongest free browser-based alternatives to Photoshop. It supports layers, text, image editing, and exports to common formats.

Use it for:

Visit Photopea

Canva

Canva is useful for simple text overlays, social media graphics, and promotional assets. It is easier than Photoshop or Photopea, but less precise for professional print layout.

Use it for:

Visit Canva

Adobe Express

Adobe Express can also help with quick design layouts, text placement, and promotional graphics.

Use it for:

Visit Adobe Express

Whichever tool you use, always keep your original high-resolution master file untouched. Export resized copies for each platform instead of overwriting the original artwork.

How to Add a Band Logo or Album Title

Many bands want to add their logo, album title, or both to the artwork. This can work well, but it needs to be done carefully.

Before placing text on the cover, ask:

For metal bands, logo placement is especially important. A detailed black metal or death metal logo can easily disappear if the background is too busy. A bright logo can also ruin the atmosphere if it does not match the cover.

A good rule is to test the cover at thumbnail size. If the logo turns into an unreadable blur, adjust the contrast, placement, or size.

Recommended Workflow for Bands

Here is a simple workflow you can follow before releasing your music.

Step 1.

Step 2.

Step 3.

Step 4.

Step 5.

Step 6.

Step 7.

Album Cover Size Checklist

Before uploading your release, check the following:

Final Thoughts

Album artwork is one of the first things listeners see, but it also has to work technically. A great cover should look powerful, represent the music, and meet the requirements of the platforms where the release will appear.

For most bands, the best approach is simple:

Start with a high-resolution master file. Keep it safe. Export smaller delivery versions when needed. Use RGB/sRGB for digital platforms. Use proper print templates for CD, vinyl, and merch.

At MetalCover.art, all covers are delivered at 4000 × 4000 pixels to give bands strong visual quality and flexibility. That gives you a better starting point whether you are releasing on Spotify, Bandcamp, CD Baby, DistroKid, or preparing artwork for a larger physical release later.

Your artwork is part of your release. Treat it with the same care as your music.