Guide
Album cover size for Spotify, Apple Music and distributors
Search for album cover size and you'll find several answers, because the stores and distributors really do publish different numbers. Some even set a maximum below what Apple asks artists for. Here's what each one says and the simplest way to meet them all.
Updated November 2, 2026
Short answer
Make your album cover a perfect square at 4000 x 4000 pixels in RGB, then export a 3000 x 3000 pixel JPG for any distributor that caps uploads at that size. Apple Music for Artists asks for at least 4000 x 4000. DistroKid recommends 3000 x 3000, while TuneCore and CD Baby allow no more than that. Spotify's own page accepts 640 to 10,000 pixels per side. Upload the file your distributor asks for, because its rules decide what it accepts.
What to do, in order
Create a square master file
Start at 4000 x 4000 pixels or larger. Don't enlarge a small image to reach that size, because upscaled art can look soft and Spotify says not to do it.
Use RGB color
DistroKid, TuneCore and CD Baby all ask for RGB, not CMYK. Print files are often CMYK, so convert your digital copy.
Export for your distributor
Check its limits, then save a copy in a format it accepts. A 3000 x 3000 pixel JPG works with the distributors in this guide.
Remove anything stores reject
Take off web addresses, social handles, QR codes, prices, release dates and store logos.
Match any text to your release
If your cover shows your artist name or title, it must match what you enter when you upload. If it's a single, don't show the album title.
Look at it small
Check it at phone size before you upload. Listeners will often see it as a small square, so make sure it's still clear.
What each company asks for
Apple publishes two sets of numbers. Its page for artists asks for at least 4000 x 4000, while its page for music providers recommends 3000 x 3000 or larger and gives a minimum of 1400 x 1400.
| Company | Size | File types |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Music for Artists | At least 4000 x 4000 | JPG, PNG or GIF |
| Apple, for music providers | 3000 x 3000 or larger recommended; 1400 x 1400 minimum | JPEG or PNG |
| Spotify | 640 to 10,000 pixels per side | TIFF, PNG or JPG |
| DistroKid | 1000 x 1000 minimum; 3000 x 3000 is ideal | JPG |
| TuneCore | 1600 x 1600 minimum; 3000 x 3000 maximum | JPG, PNG or GIF, under 10 MB |
| CD Baby | 1400 x 1400 minimum; 3000 x 3000 maximum | PNG, GIF, JPG or JPEG, under 25 MB |
All must be square. Checked on each company's own pages on 2 November 2026.
Why 4000 and 3000 are both useful
Most artists don't deliver directly to Apple Music or Spotify. Your distributor takes your file and delivers it, so its limits decide what you can upload. Keeping a 4000 x 4000 master lets you meet Apple's artist guidance when you can and export 3000 x 3000 when a distributor sets that as its maximum.
If you use another distributor, check its current rules before you export.
What gets cover art rejected
Apple and DistroKid both publish lists of what isn't allowed. These are the most common problems to check for.
- Website addresses, QR codes, email addresses or social media handles and logos.
- Prices or phrases like "Reduced Price" or "For Promo Use".
- Store or streaming service names and logos.
- Mentions of physical formats, such as CD or vinyl.
- Years, dates or barcodes.
- Blurry, pixelated, tilted or cropped images, unless that's clearly the design.
- Images you don't have the rights to use.
- A parental advisory logo on a release that isn't explicit.
- An artist on the cover who doesn't perform on the release.
Other details that can cause trouble
TuneCore says text on the art must be limited to the artist name and release title, and that a mismatch can cause a store to reject your release. CD Baby says that any name or title on your art must match your submission exactly, and that generic art, such as a solid color square with no text, may not be accepted.
DistroKid says artwork must be one image and that using the same art for several releases may lead to rejection. Give every release its own cover.
Sizes for vinyl and CD
Physical covers are measured in inches and need a template from your manufacturer, because safe margins and bleed vary. Disc Makers lists these standard sizes.
- Vinyl record cover: 12.375 x 12.375 inches.
- CD jewel case insert: 4.75 x 4.75 inches.
- CD digipak front and back: 5.492 x 4.941 inches.
How Traxure helps
Rejected artwork can delay a release, so check it early, then check that the release actually goes live. Traxure checks your Spotify profile every 12 hours and your full catalog on 12 platforms every day. If a release goes missing on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Deezer, TIDAL, SoundCloud or Pandora, it emails you the before, the after and a note to your distributor ready to send. Monitoring starts with a seven-day free trial.
Each company's requirements were checked on its own pages on 2 November 2026.
Questions artists ask
What size should album art be?
Make a square master at 4000 x 4000 pixels, and export 3000 x 3000 if your distributor caps uploads at that size.
What size is a Spotify album cover?
Spotify's cover art page accepts square images from 640 to 10,000 pixels per side. You normally upload through a distributor, so follow its size rules as well.
What size does Apple Music want?
Apple Music for Artists asks for at least 4000 x 4000 pixels. Its page for music providers recommends 3000 x 3000 or larger and gives a minimum of 1400 x 1400.
Should album art be 300 DPI?
For digital stores, the pixel size matters most. TuneCore asks for at least 72 dpi and says 300 is better, and CD Baby accepts 72 to 300. Use the DPI your manufacturer asks for on printed covers.
Can I use my album cover for a single too?
Give each release its own art. DistroKid says duplicate art may be rejected, and TuneCore says a single's art shouldn't show the album title.
Can I change my album cover after release?
It depends on your distributor. Ask yours what it can update and how long stores take to show the change.
Sources
Traxure
Know the same day, not weeks later.
Traxure checks your releases on Spotify and other platforms around the clock, confirms a change before alerting you and tells you what to do next. Seven-day free trial.
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