Pinterest image sizes explained
Pinterest keeps several copies of every image. When you download one, PinDownloader lists them by width so you can choose quality or a smaller file.
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The sizes at a glance
| Option | What it is | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Original | The largest copy Pinterest stores | Printing, design work, wallpapers, zooming in |
| 736 px | The size of a pin's close-up view | Sharing in chats, mood boards, presentations |
| 474 px | The size used in the pin grid | Quick references, notes, lighter files |
| 236 px | A small thumbnail | Icons, previews, very slow connections |
The pixel figure is the image's width. The height follows the image's own shape, so a tall infographic at 736 px wide can still be several thousand pixels tall.
What "Original" really means
Original is the biggest file Pinterest serves for the pin. It's usually the image as it was uploaded, but Pinterest may already have resized or compressed it, and it can't be larger than what the creator uploaded. PinDownloader never upscales an image to make it look bigger.
File formats
Most pins are JPEG files. Some originals are PNG (often graphics with transparency) or WebP. The smaller widths are usually JPEG. The file type is shown next to each option before you download, so you know what you're getting.
Video and GIF pins
Video pins also have a cover image, listed as Cover image below the video files. Animated pins are listed as GIF files, with an MP4 version when Pinterest has one; the GIF downloader page explains the difference.
Which one should I pick?
- Choose Original if you're unsure. You can always shrink an image later, but you can't add detail that isn't there.
- Choose 736 px for something that looks sharp on a phone screen without a large file.
- Choose 474 px or 236 px only when file size matters more than detail.
A note on reuse
Downloading a larger copy doesn't change who owns the image. If you want to publish, print for sale, or otherwise reuse a pin, ask the creator or the original source first. The terms of use explain what PinDownloader is for.