How to Change Your Featured Image Size in WordPress

Featured images (also known as post thumbnails) are an essential part of WordPress websites. They provide visual appeal to your posts, pages, and archive listings, helping to engage users. Sometimes, you may need to adjust the size of these featured images to fit your website’s design and layout better. This guide will walk you through how to change the featured image size in WordPress, covering various methods from adjusting settings to editing theme files.

Method 1: Change Featured Image Size Using WordPress Settings

Some themes allow you to adjust the featured image size directly from the WordPress Customizer or Theme Settings. This method is simple and doesn’t require any code.

Step 1: Check for Image Settings in the Customizer

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Go to Appearance > Customize.
3. Look for settings related to Featured Images, Post Thumbnails, or Blog Settings. These settings vary depending on the theme you are using.
4. If available, adjust the width and height for featured images.
5. Click Publish to save your changes.

Step 2: Check for Image Settings in Theme Options

Some premium themes have their own settings for image sizes in a Theme Options or Theme Panel:

1. Go to Theme Options in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Look for an option related to Image Settings or Post Thumbnails.
3. Adjust the size of the featured images according to your preference.
4. Save the changes and check how your featured images appear on the front end.

If your theme does not have a built-in option to change featured image sizes, you can proceed with the other methods below.

Method 2: Change Featured Image Size Using Image Settings in Media

WordPress allows you to set default image sizes for different types of images, including thumbnail, medium, and large images.

Step 1: Adjust Media Settings

1. Go to Settings > Media in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Here, you can adjust the default sizes for:
   • Thumbnail size: This is often used for featured images.
   • Medium size: Suitable for images used within posts.
   • Large size: For full-size featured images.
3. Change the width and height of the thumbnail size or any other size that corresponds to your featured images.
4. Click Save Changes.

Step 2: Regenerate Thumbnails

After adjusting the media settings, you will need to regenerate thumbnails to apply the new size settings to existing images.

• Install and activate a plugin like Regenerate Thumbnails.
• Go to Tools > Regen. Thumbnails.
• Click Regenerate Thumbnails for All Attachments.

This will resize your existing featured images to match the new dimensions you’ve set.

Method 3: Change Featured Image Size Using Code

If you are comfortable with adding code, you can manually define the size of featured images in your theme’s functions.php file.

Step 1: Define Custom Image Sizes in functions.php

1. Go to Appearance > Theme Editor.
2. Select the functions.php file of your active theme.
3. Add the following code to define a new custom image size:
   add_theme_support(‘post-thumbnails’); add_image_size(‘custom-featured-image’, 800, 400, true);
   • Replace ‘custom-featured-image’ with a name of your choice.
   • Adjust 800 (width) and 400 (height) to the desired dimensions.
   • The true parameter ensures that the image is cropped to the specified size.

Step 2: Use the Custom Image Size in Your Theme

To use the new image size for featured images, update the theme template files (e.g., single.php, archive.php, or content.php) where the featured image is called.

1. Locate the part of the template that calls the post thumbnail, such as:
   the_post_thumbnail(‘thumbnail’);
2. Replace ‘thumbnail’ with the custom image size you defined:
   the_post_thumbnail(‘custom-featured-image’);

Step 3: Regenerate Thumbnails

After adding the code, regenerate thumbnails using a plugin like Regenerate Thumbnails to apply the changes to existing images.

Method 4: Change Featured Image Size Using a Page Builder

If you use a page builder like Elementor, Divi, or WPBakery, you can often adjust the size of featured images directly through the page builder’s interface.

Step 1: Open the Page/Post in the Page Builder

1. Edit the page or post using your page builder.
2. Select the image widget or post widget where the featured image is displayed.

Step 2: Adjust Image Size Settings

1. Look for an Image Size option or Post Thumbnail Size setting within the widget.
2. Choose a predefined size (e.g., Thumbnail, Medium, Large) or specify custom dimensions.
3. Save the changes and preview the page to ensure the images are displayed as expected.

This method is especially useful if you have different requirements for different pages or posts and want more control over each instance of the featured image.

Method 5: Use a Plugin for Custom Featured Image Sizes

If you are not comfortable with editing code, there are plugins that can help you create custom image sizes without touching the functions.php file.

Recommended Plugins:

• Simple Image Sizes: This plugin allows you to create custom image sizes and manage existing sizes directly from the WordPress admin.
• Custom Image Sizes: Adds the ability to define custom image sizes and use them in your theme without coding.

How to Use a Plugin:

1. Install and activate the plugin of your choice.
2. Go to the plugin’s settings page (often found under Settings or Media).
3. Define your custom featured image sizes by specifying the width and height.
4. Save your settings and regenerate thumbnails using the plugin’s built-in option.

Tips for Choosing the Right Featured Image Size

When adjusting the size of your featured images, consider the following:

• Theme Requirements: Check your theme’s documentation for recommended featured image sizes.
• Page Speed: Larger images can slow down your website, so use the smallest size that maintains good quality.
• Responsive Design: Ensure that your images are optimized for mobile devices by using flexible image sizes or settings that adapt to screen sizes.
• Image Quality: Use tools like TinyPNG or ShortPixel to compress images without losing quality before uploading them to WordPress.

Summary

Changing the featured image size in WordPress can be done in several ways, from using the Customizer and media settings to editing the functions.php file or using plugins. Choose the method that best fits your comfort level and the flexibility you need. By setting the right featured image size, you can improve your website’s design, maintain consistency across posts, and enhance user experience while keeping page loading times in check.