Pinterest SEO 2026: Pin Size, Keywords and Descriptions That Rank
Pinterest is a search engine. Use 1000x1500 pins, one keyword per pin in the title and first sentence, keyword-named boards and fresh pins. A complete beginner guide.
Published
Pinterest behaves less like a social network and more like a visual search engine. People search for recipes, outfits, home ideas and plans months ahead, and a single good pin can bring clicks for years. Ranking depends on keywords, image quality and freshness.
Pin size
| Pin type | Size | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Standard pin | 1000 × 1500 | 2:3 |
| Square pin | 1000 × 1000 | 1:1 |
| Idea / video pin | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 |
2:3 pins get the most space in the feed. Pins taller than 2:3 are cropped. Text overlays should be large and readable on a phone; the Quote Image Maker works well for text pins.
Step 1: Find keywords
Start with a seed (“small kitchen”) and expand it into long-tail phrases (“small kitchen organization ideas on a budget”). The Pinterest Keyword Generator groups variations by intent: ideas, how-to, buyer intent, seasonal and audience. Then type each into Pinterest’s search bar; if Pinterest autocompletes it, people search it.
Step 2: Put the keyword in four places
- Pin title (100 characters; the first ~40 show in the feed).
- First sentence of the description (500 characters).
- Board name and board description.
- Image file name before uploading.
Write titles and descriptions with the Pinterest Description Generator, which keeps both inside the limits.
Step 3: Publish fresh pins consistently
Pinterest favours new images. For each blog post or product, create 3-5 different pin designs with different titles, and publish them over several weeks instead of re-pinning the same image.
Step 4: Plan seasons early
Users plan ahead. Publish Christmas pins in September, summer pins in March, and back-to-school pins in June so they are indexed when searches peak.
Hashtags?
They matter very little now. Up to five relevant hashtags do no harm, but keywords do the ranking.
FAQ
How long until pins get traffic? Usually weeks; good pins keep growing for months.
How many pins per day? 1-5 fresh pins a day is plenty for most accounts.
Should I use a business account? Yes, for analytics and rich pins.
Does Pinterest work in India? Yes, especially for fashion, recipes, home decor and weddings.