Steam Capsule Preview

Steam capsule sizes and where they appear

A practical reference for the five artwork placements available in Steam Capsule Preview. Use the exact dimensions, then judge the artwork at the size and in the interface where players will encounter it.

Open the preview toolDimensions checked against current Steamworks guidance

Dimensions at a glance

Create each asset at its required dimensions. An image with the right ratio but the wrong pixel size can still be softened or rejected later in the publishing workflow.

AssetDimensionsRatioTypical placement
Header capsule920 × 4302.14:1Game page and recommendations
Main capsule1232 × 7061.75:1Featured store carousel
Small capsule462 × 1742.66:1Search, lists, and top sellers
Vertical capsule748 × 8965:6Seasonal sale grids
Library capsule600 × 9002:3Library overview and collections

One game, five different crops

These Cyberpunk 2077 assets show how much the usable composition changes between Steam placements. Each example keeps its capsule's real aspect ratio.

01

Header capsule

Keep the game identity clear beside store-page copy. Avoid putting essential text against either extreme edge.

Check this artwork in the preview
Cyberpunk 2077 header capsule example
Example artworkCyberpunk 2077
Size
920 × 430px
Aspect ratio
2.14:1
Shown in
Game page
02

Main capsule

Treat this as a cinematic feature image. The subject, logo, and background need to remain readable beside carousel information.

Check this artwork in the preview
Cyberpunk 2077 main capsule example
Example artworkCyberpunk 2077
Size
1232 × 706px
Aspect ratio
1.75:1
Shown in
Store home
03

Small capsule

This is the fastest legibility test. Fine detail and small taglines often disappear once the image is shown in a list.

Check this artwork in the preview
Cyberpunk 2077 small capsule example
Example artworkCyberpunk 2077
Size
462 × 174px
Aspect ratio
2.66:1
Shown in
Search results
04

Vertical capsule

Use the extra height for a strong subject-and-logo hierarchy. Do not stretch a landscape composition into the portrait crop.

Check this artwork in the preview
Cyberpunk 2077 vertical capsule example
Example artworkCyberpunk 2077
Size
748 × 896px
Aspect ratio
5:6
Shown in
Sale page
05

Library capsule

Design this as a durable cover rather than a store banner. It should still identify the game when displayed in a dense shelf.

Check this artwork in the preview
Cyberpunk 2077 library capsule example
Example artworkCyberpunk 2077
Size
600 × 900px
Aspect ratio
2:3
Shown in
Library

Good vs. weak header capsule

Both examples are shown at the same 460 × 215 size. Compare how contrast, focal point, hierarchy, and edge spacing affect the first impression.

Good example

Readable at a glance
Cyberpunk 2077 header capsule with a clear subject and strong yellow contrast
Cyberpunk 2077 header capsule · 460 × 215
  • Clear focal pointOne character dominates the frame.
  • Strong contrastYellow separates the dark silhouette instantly.
  • Clear hierarchyCharacter first, game identity second.
  • Controlled edgesKey details have room around the crop.

Weak example

Header capsule
Header capsule with competing text, cyan figures, circular shapes, and cropped weapons
Submitted header capsule · 460 × 215
  • Unclear focal pointText, circles, figures, and weapons all compete.
  • Weak hierarchyBoth title lines demand equal attention.
  • Poor contrastWhite and cyan merge into the pale background.
  • Crowded edgesThe top title and weapons press into the crop.

Safe areas and readable artwork

Steam does not provide one universal safe-area rectangle for every capsule. Treat the outer edges as vulnerable and preview the actual placement before approving a crop.

  • Keep the logo and main subject comfortably inside the frame.
  • Judge the image at rendered size, not only in the source file.
  • Use contrast and silhouette before adding more text.
  • Check every crop independently; do not rely on automatic scaling.

JPG, PNG, and WebP

Steam Capsule Preview accepts JPG, PNG, and WebP files up to 15 MB. Use PNG when sharp logos or graphic edges are the priority, and a high-quality JPG for painted or photographic artwork when file size matters.

WebP is useful for testing in this tool. Before publishing, export the final asset in a format accepted by the current Steamworks upload workflow rather than assuming the preview format is a submission format.

Common capsule mistakes

Most weak capsules are not missing polish. They are missing hierarchy at the size where the artwork is actually displayed.

  1. 01Reusing one composition for every aspect ratio instead of making deliberate crops.
  2. 02Relying on a subtitle or small line of copy to explain what the game is.
  3. 03Placing the logo, face, or main subject too close to the outer edge.
  4. 04Checking artwork only at full resolution instead of at its rendered store size.
  5. 05Using similar brightness and color across the subject, logo, and background.
  6. 06Exporting an approximate ratio and allowing the final upload to be rescaled.

See the dimensions in context.

Upload your artwork and switch between all five placements.

Open Steam Capsule Preview