# PinGrab — Full Content Corpus > Concatenated markdown of every PinGrab guide plus the About page. For an index, see https://www.pingrab.app/llms.txt. For the live site, see https://www.pingrab.app. ## About PinGrab *Source: https://www.pingrab.app/about* PinGrab is a free tool that makes it easy to download Pinterest videos, images, and GIFs. Designers, students, researchers, and creatives use PinGrab to organize visual references outside of Pinterest. Trusted by 1M+ users worldwide. Available as a web app, Chrome extension, iOS app, and a free vision-board maker. Privacy-first: no accounts, no tracking, no data collection. Available in 11 languages. ## How to Download Pinterest Videos (Free, No Watermark) — 2026 Guide *Source: https://www.pingrab.app/guides/download-pinterest-videos* > Step-by-step guide to download Pinterest videos in MP4 format — free, no watermark, no sign-up. Works on iPhone, Android, and desktop. Pinterest has quietly become one of the best places to discover short-form video — recipe reels, home-reno walkthroughs, style tutorials, and travel clips that don't show up anywhere else. But there's no built-in download button, and most "save" actions just pin the video back inside Pinterest. If you want the MP4 on your phone or laptop — to reference offline, re-share, or save before a pin disappears — you need a tool that extracts the underlying video file. This guide walks through the fastest way to do that with PinGrab, plus what to know about formats, quality, and platform quirks on iPhone, Android, and desktop. ### Key takeaways - Pinterest doesn't officially allow video downloads — PinGrab pulls the underlying MP4 the same way your browser's inspector would. - Most pins are available in 720p or 1080p; PinGrab auto-picks the highest-quality variant. - No watermark, no sign-up, no size limit — works the same way on iPhone Safari, Android Chrome, and desktop browsers. - For bulk downloads (a whole board of videos), use the PinGrab Chrome Extension instead. ## Why Pinterest doesn't offer a direct download Pinterest's player streams video chunks through its CDN and doesn't expose a right-click download option. On mobile the native app hides the raw video URL entirely; on desktop you can technically dig into the browser's Network tab and find the .mp4 file, but that's cumbersome and slow. Third-party tools like PinGrab automate that lookup — they parse the pin's metadata, find the highest-quality MP4 variant, and hand it to you with one tap. One detail worth understanding: the video quality you see in Pinterest's player isn't always the best available. Pinterest serves a compressed stream tuned for the device, but the original upload is often higher resolution. PinGrab pulls that original whenever it's exposed by the API, which is why downloaded files usually look sharper than the in-app preview. ## Using PinGrab to save a video Follow the steps above, then keep these two details in mind: - **URL format doesn't matter.** Both the full URL (pinterest.com/pin/1234…) and the shortened pin.it/abc form work. Copy whichever is more convenient. - **Wait for the preview.** PinGrab shows a thumbnail and duration before the download button becomes active — that's the signal that the MP4 has been located and verified. If a pin is a video-with-audio, you get a single MP4 with both tracks. If it's a silent video loop (common for home-décor and style pins), the same MP4 simply contains no audio track — there's no step to merge anything. ## Picking the best quality PinGrab returns whichever quality tier Pinterest has cached for that pin. In practice that's one of: - **1080p** — full HD, common for recent uploads and Pinterest-creator content. - **720p** — the most frequent default, perfectly fine for social re-sharing and most viewing. - **480p or MC fallback** — older pins or ones Pinterest has deprioritized; PinGrab automatically drops down if higher tiers aren't available. You don't have to pick manually — PinGrab always selects the highest option. If a pin seems to download at a lower resolution than you expected, the likely cause is that Pinterest never encoded a higher variant, not a PinGrab limit. ## Saving to iPhone, Android, and desktop The flow is identical across devices, but "where does the file land" differs. - **iPhone (Safari):** the file goes to your Downloads folder inside the Files app. From there, long-press to save it to Photos if you want it in your camera roll. - **Android (Chrome):** the video saves straight to the Download folder. Your gallery app usually surfaces it automatically within a minute. - **Desktop:** standard browser download — whatever folder Chrome, Firefox, or Safari is configured to use. PinGrab doesn't store or log any downloaded videos — the transfer is direct, browser to Pinterest CDN to your device. ## Common issues and fixes - **"Pin is private or restricted."** Pinterest sometimes gates content to logged-in users. If you can see the pin in your browser, PinGrab can fetch it. If not, log in to Pinterest in the same browser session and try again. - **"Video is still processing."** Fresh uploads take a few minutes to encode. Wait 5–10 minutes and retry. - **Downloaded file won't play.** Usually an HEVC (H.265) codec issue on older devices. PinGrab automatically falls back to H.264 MP4 when it detects HEVC, but on edge cases an external player like VLC will still play the file. ## What about GIFs, images, and whole boards? Pinterest treats animated content (short looping videos that look like GIFs) as video files, not GIFs — they're delivered as MP4s. If you specifically want a GIF file you can paste into a chat app, see the [GIF downloader guide](/guides/pinterest-gif-downloader). For static pins, the [image download walkthrough](/guides/download-pinterest-images) covers original-resolution saves. And if you want a whole board in one go rather than pin-by-pin, the [board downloader guide](/guides/pinterest-board-downloader) covers the Chrome-extension flow. ### Step by step 1. **Find the Pinterest video** — Open Pinterest and navigate to the video pin you want to download. Tap the share icon or copy the URL from your browser's address bar. 2. **Copy the pin URL** — Copy the full Pinterest URL (like pinterest.com/pin/123...) or the short link (pin.it/abc). Both formats work. 3. **Paste into PinGrab** — Go to pingrab.app, paste the URL into the input field, and tap Continue. PinGrab will fetch the video data. 4. **Download the video** — Once the preview appears, tap Download. The MP4 file saves directly to your device — no watermark, original quality. ### Frequently asked questions **Is it free to download Pinterest videos?** Yes, PinGrab is completely free. No watermarks, no account required, no limits on downloads. The service is ad-supported but no ads are injected into the downloaded files themselves. **What format are Pinterest videos downloaded in?** Pinterest videos are downloaded in MP4 format (usually H.264 codec), which plays on all devices and apps without any special software. If Pinterest encoded the original in HEVC, PinGrab automatically falls back to an H.264 variant for compatibility. **Can I download Pinterest videos on iPhone?** Yes. Open PinGrab in Safari (not Chrome on iOS — it uses Safari's engine anyway, but Safari handles the download dialog more reliably), paste the pin URL, and tap Download. The video saves to your Files app's Downloads folder. From there, long-press to move it to your Photos library. **Does PinGrab download videos in HD quality?** PinGrab downloads the highest-quality version Pinterest has cached — typically 720p or 1080p depending on the original upload. Some older pins only exist at 480p because that's what was uploaded; no tool can generate quality that isn't there in the source. ### Sources - [Pinterest Help — About Idea Pins and video pins](https://help.pinterest.com/en/article/idea-pins) - [ISO/IEC 14496-14 (MP4 file format)](https://www.iso.org/standard/79110.html) - [HEVC (H.265) — Apple Developer technote](https://developer.apple.com/av-foundation/HEVC-Authoring-and-Playback.pdf) ## How to Download Pinterest Images in Full Quality — 2026 Guide *Source: https://www.pingrab.app/guides/download-pinterest-images* > Save Pinterest images in original resolution for free. No watermark, no compression, no sign-up. Works on iPhone, Android & desktop. Every image on Pinterest was uploaded at a specific resolution, but what you see in the feed is a compressed, resized version sized for your device. The actual original — often 1500px or 2400px wide, sometimes larger — is available on Pinterest's CDN, just not one click away. This guide shows how to grab that original-resolution file directly, when format conversion (WebP to JPEG) matters, and what to do about metadata and naming if you're archiving for a creative project. We'll also cover the common edge cases: idea pins with multiple frames, pins that were re-uploaded, and images that only exist in low resolution to begin with. ### Key takeaways - Pinterest serves compressed WebP previews in the feed; the original upload is what PinGrab saves — no quality loss. - Most Pinterest images are 1500×2250 or larger; PinGrab picks the biggest variant Pinterest has cached. - The original file format (JPEG or PNG) is preserved on download. - For bulk saves of a whole board, use the PinGrab Chrome Extension instead of saving one by one. ## How Pinterest stores images (and why right-click fails) When you upload a photo to Pinterest, it's re-encoded into multiple sizes: thumbnail, feed-preview, expanded-pin, and the full original. The feed uses a WebP variant around 736px wide for speed, which is why right-click-save on a Pinterest image often gives you something blurry when you zoom in. The real, full-resolution image is hosted at a separate CDN URL that the Pinterest UI never exposes directly. PinGrab reads the pin's metadata, finds the largest variant (usually labelled `originals` in Pinterest's image manifest), and downloads that file. The result is the sharpest version Pinterest has — not a resampled or recompressed copy. ## Using PinGrab for one pin After following the steps above, three details worth knowing: - **No sign-in is required** for public pins. PinGrab only touches content you can already view in a browser. - **The filename preserves a hash identifier**, not the pin's creator or board. If you're organizing a moodboard folder, rename as you go. - **If the pin has multiple sizes** (some photographers upload both a mobile and desktop crop), PinGrab picks the largest by pixel count. ## Format: JPEG, PNG, and the WebP question Pinterest stores images in their uploaded format. If the creator uploaded a JPEG, you get a JPEG; PNG stays PNG. The feed previews are WebP because WebP is smaller for scrolling, but when you download the original, PinGrab fetches the source format. If you need a specific format for a downstream tool (a printer that wants TIFF, a template that expects PNG), handle the conversion yourself after download. Built-in tools like macOS Preview or [Squoosh](https://squoosh.app) handle this without any quality loss. ## Using images in moodboards, decks, and prints Original-resolution Pinterest images are usually good for: - **Digital moodboards** — anything under 1080px wide. Sharp at any crop. - **A4 prints at 300 DPI** — need roughly 2500×3500 pixels. Many Pinterest pins clear this; some don't. Check dimensions on download. - **Large-format prints (poster, canvas)** — you'll likely need to upscale with a tool like Topaz Gigapixel. Pinterest originals are rarely poster-quality out of the box. For inspiration-board work — mixing 15 to 30 images for a client brief or personal project — the [moodboard guide](/guides/how-to-create-moodboard-from-pinterest) walks through layout, export sizes, and the PinGrab Vision Board Maker workflow. ## Licensing and fair use (quick version) Downloading a Pinterest image for personal use (inspiration, reference, moodboards you won't distribute) generally falls under fair use in the US and similar exceptions in the EU. Using a downloaded image commercially — on a website, in marketing, on a product you sell — requires a license from the copyright holder. The [Pinterest copyright guide](/guides/is-it-legal-to-download-pinterest-images) covers this in more depth with citations. ## Edge cases - **Idea pins (multi-image carousels).** Pinterest's newer format. PinGrab currently grabs the first slide's image; to pull all slides, use the Chrome Extension on the pin page — it extracts each slide as a separate file. - **Low-res pins.** Some pins only exist at 736px wide because the creator uploaded a small file. PinGrab downloads whatever the maximum is, but there's no way to upscale what was never there. - **Link-heavy pins (shop or affiliate).** The image is still downloadable. PinGrab ignores the destination URL and just saves the pin's image. ## What about videos, GIFs, and whole boards? For animated content, see the [GIF downloader guide](/guides/pinterest-gif-downloader). For videos, the [video guide](/guides/download-pinterest-videos) covers quality tiers and platform specifics. For exporting an entire board of images in one pass, the [board downloader guide](/guides/pinterest-board-downloader) shows the extension-based workflow. And if you're wondering which dimensions Pinterest expects for uploads versus what you'll see on download, the [image sizes reference](/guides/pinterest-image-sizes-guide) is the complete breakdown. ### Step by step 1. **Find the Pinterest image** — Browse Pinterest and find the image you want to save. Open the pin to see the full-size version. 2. **Copy the pin URL** — Copy the URL from your browser's address bar, or tap the share button and copy the link. 3. **Paste into PinGrab** — Visit pingrab.app, paste the URL, and tap Continue. PinGrab fetches the image in all available sizes. 4. **Download in full quality** — Tap Download to save the original resolution image. PinGrab always picks the highest quality variant available. ### Frequently asked questions **Does PinGrab download the full-size Pinterest image?** Yes. PinGrab downloads the original-resolution image — no compression, no watermark, no quality loss. The file you receive is the one Pinterest stores in its CDN under the 'originals' path, which is the sharpest version the platform has. **What image format does PinGrab download?** Pinterest stores images in their uploaded format — typically JPEG or PNG. PinGrab preserves that original format. The feed you see uses WebP previews for speed, but the download is the uploader's source file. **Can I download multiple Pinterest images at once?** For individual pins, PinGrab downloads one at a time through the web app. For bulk operations — a whole board's worth of images in one step — install the PinGrab Chrome Extension and use its board export feature. The board guide walks through the setup. ### Sources - [Pinterest Help — Save Pins](https://help.pinterest.com/en/article/save-pins) - [MDN — Image file type and format guide](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Media/Formats/Image_types) - [Apple Developer — HEIC image format](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/imageio/cgimagedestination/cgimagedestinationsupportedtypes) ## Pinterest Board Downloader — Export Entire Boards as ZIP or PDF *Source: https://www.pingrab.app/guides/pinterest-board-downloader* > Download whole Pinterest boards in one click. Export 500+ pins as ZIP archive or PDF moodboard with the free PinGrab Chrome extension. A well-curated Pinterest board is a research document. Twenty, fifty, sometimes hundreds of pins organized around a specific idea — your next renovation, a brand look-and-feel, a lookbook, a vacation plan. Saving that collection offline matters when you're presenting to a client, working without internet, or moving your references into a design tool. This guide covers the two ways to export a whole board: the PinGrab Chrome Extension (fast, every pin in one click) and a pin-by-pin approach when you only need a subset. We'll also touch on order, naming, and what happens with private and secret boards. ### Key takeaways - The PinGrab Chrome Extension exports an entire Pinterest board as a ZIP archive, an image pack, or a printable PDF moodboard. - Board order is preserved in the export — useful when the pin sequence encodes design logic. - Works with public boards, your own secret boards, and group boards you're a member of. Can't access boards you don't have permission to view. - Exports happen locally in your browser — no Pinterest credentials are uploaded anywhere. ## Two workflows: extension vs. web app PinGrab gives you two paths depending on scope: - **Single pin → PinGrab web app.** Paste one URL, get one file. Best when you want three or four pins, not the whole board. - **Whole board → PinGrab Chrome Extension.** One click on the extension icon, choose a format, done. The extension exists because boards with 50+ pins are tedious to export one at a time. If you're clicking Download more than five times, switch to the extension. ## Installing and using the extension The extension works on Chrome, Edge, and Brave — any Chromium-based browser. Installation is two clicks from the Chrome Web Store, and it doesn't ask for Pinterest login credentials. It simply reads the pins already visible on the page you're viewing. Once installed: 1. Open any Pinterest board in your browser — `pinterest.com/username/board-name`. 2. Click the PinGrab icon in your toolbar. 3. Choose your format (see the next section). 4. Click Export. The extension scrolls through the board programmatically to load all pins (Pinterest lazy-loads 25 at a time), then packages them into your chosen format. ## Export formats: ZIP, image pack, or PDF moodboard - **Individual images.** Each pin saves as a separate file in its original resolution. Best for designers who'll drag them into Figma, InDesign, or Photoshop. - **ZIP archive.** All images in a single compressed file. Fastest when you want to move a board's worth of content between machines or upload into a project folder. - **PDF moodboard.** A multi-page PDF, two-per-page or grid-style, ready to present or print. Good for client briefs, shoot references, or shared review. For grid composition control — specific rows and columns, phone-wallpaper crops, or a poster layout — export as individual images and then build the grid in the [PinGrab Vision Board Maker](/vision-board). It's free and doesn't require sign-up. ## Boards vs. sections If your board has **sections** (the sub-groupings Pinterest added a few years back), the extension respects them by default — each section becomes its own folder inside the ZIP. You can also export just a single section by opening the section's page first, then clicking the extension icon. ## Private boards, secret boards, group boards - **Secret or private boards** — if you're signed in to Pinterest in the same browser session and the board is yours, the extension works as normal. Pinterest identifies you via cookies; PinGrab never touches your credentials. - **Group boards** — if you've been added as a collaborator, you have the same access as any member and the extension handles them the same way. - **Boards you don't have access to** — no tool can get past Pinterest's auth layer. If the board's private and you're not an invited member, it won't export. ## Order, naming, and metadata Pinterest displays pins in **reverse chronological order** by default (newest first) unless the board owner has rearranged them. The extension exports in whatever order the page currently shows, so reorder before exporting if a specific sequence matters. Filenames default to Pinterest's internal hash — not human-readable. For archival work, rename as you import into your tool of choice. PinGrab's PDF export preserves the pin title and creator name on each page, which is the easiest way to retain context. ## Common questions - **"Can I export a board I follow but don't own?"** Yes — as long as it's public or you're a group-board member. - **"Will it download videos from the board?"** The board exporter focuses on images. For a board that's mostly video pins, see the [video guide](/guides/download-pinterest-videos) and export individually, or filter to just videos before running the extension. - **"How many pins can a single export handle?"** We've tested with 500-pin boards without issue. Larger boards may take 30–60 seconds to scroll and package; watch the extension icon's progress state. ## Related reading For individual pins, see the [image guide](/guides/download-pinterest-images) or [video guide](/guides/download-pinterest-videos). To build a grid layout from the exported images, the [moodboard guide](/guides/how-to-create-moodboard-from-pinterest) walks through PinGrab's Vision Board Maker. ### Step by step 1. **Install PinGrab Extension** — Add the PinGrab Chrome Extension from the Chrome Web Store. It works on Chrome, Edge, and Brave. 2. **Open a Pinterest board** — Navigate to any Pinterest board you have access to in your browser. 3. **Choose export format** — Click the PinGrab icon in your toolbar. Choose between individual images, a ZIP archive, or a PDF moodboard. 4. **Export and organize** — Click Export. Files are downloaded with clean naming and organization, ready for your creative workflow. ### Frequently asked questions **Can I download an entire Pinterest board?** Yes — with the PinGrab Chrome Extension. Open the board in your browser, click the PinGrab icon, pick a format (individual images, ZIP, or PDF moodboard), and hit Export. The extension scrolls through the full board, loads every pin, and packages them together. Works with 500+ pin boards. **Is the board downloader free?** Yes. The PinGrab Chrome Extension is free with no limits on board exports, no watermarks, and no account needed. It's supported by the same model as the web app — a mix of ads on the PinGrab site and optional donations. **Does it work with private boards?** If you're signed in to Pinterest in the same browser session, private/secret boards you own export the same way as public ones. PinGrab inherits whatever Pinterest session your browser has — it doesn't handle credentials itself. Boards you don't have access to through Pinterest can't be exported by any tool. ### Sources - [Pinterest Help — Boards](https://help.pinterest.com/en/guide/all-about-boards) - [Chrome Extension docs — Manifest V3](https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate) - [Pinterest Business — Idea content guidelines](https://business.pinterest.com/en/content-guidelines/) ## Pinterest GIF Downloader — Save Animated Pins as GIF or MP4 *Source: https://www.pingrab.app/guides/pinterest-gif-downloader* > Download Pinterest GIFs in original quality. Save animated pins as GIF or MP4 — free, no watermark, no sign-up. Pinterest supports animated pins — short looping videos that play automatically in the feed — and they're often labelled "GIFs" even though Pinterest stores them as MP4 files under the hood. That mismatch is why normal right-click-save doesn't give you a usable GIF, and why specialized tools exist. This guide explains how Pinterest actually handles animated content, how to get a proper GIF file (not an MP4 renamed to .gif) that pastes into chat apps and embeds into social posts, and why frame-rate and file size sometimes matter more than you'd expect. ### Key takeaways - Pinterest stores "GIF" pins as MP4 video for bandwidth reasons — the file you see is technically a silent video loop. - PinGrab transcodes these back to a real GIF when you request GIF output, so they behave the way messaging apps and social embeds expect. - Original animation speed and dimensions are preserved; frame rate stays at 24–30 fps on most pins. - For long or high-resolution animations, the MP4 version is often better for sharing. ## The "GIF" that's actually an MP4 When you see an animated pin that loops on Pinterest, it's almost certainly a silent MP4 being played on repeat, not a true GIF. Pinterest made this switch years ago because MP4 files are dramatically smaller — a 3-second loop that would be a 4 MB GIF is often 400 KB as an MP4. Great for Pinterest's CDN costs and for your data plan while scrolling. Annoying when you want a real GIF. Most "GIF downloader" tools just rename the MP4 file with a `.gif` extension, which doesn't work: your chat app or website won't play it as an animation. A real GIF downloader has to actually transcode the MP4 back into GIF format. ## How PinGrab handles it PinGrab detects animated pins automatically. If the pin's underlying asset is MP4 (almost always the case), you're offered both options: - **Download as GIF** — transcodes the MP4 into a genuine GIF file. Slightly larger, but compatible with anywhere that accepts GIFs. - **Download as MP4** — keeps the original video format. Smaller and sharper, but only plays in video-aware contexts. For most messaging apps — iMessage, WhatsApp, Discord, Slack — either works. GIF plays everywhere, including email and older web embeds. ## When MP4 is the better format For animations longer than a few seconds or larger than 720p, the GIF version balloons quickly — a 6-second 720p loop can be 15–20 MB as a GIF but 2–3 MB as an MP4. If the recipient supports video (any modern platform does), send MP4. Rule of thumb: - **Under 3 seconds, small dimensions (< 500px wide):** GIF is fine. - **Over 3 seconds or larger than 720p:** MP4, unless the target platform truly needs GIF. - **For social posts (X, Bluesky, Mastodon, TikTok):** they all transcode to video internally anyway, so upload the MP4. ## Frame rate and quality Pinterest's MP4 encodes sit at 24–30 fps on most animated pins. When PinGrab transcodes to GIF, it preserves the original frame rate by default — you won't see choppy playback. If the GIF file size is a problem, the simplest fix is to reduce dimensions: a 480px-wide GIF is roughly a quarter of the file size of a 960px one for the same animation. PinGrab doesn't currently offer a resize option mid-download, but tools like ezgif.com handle this well for post-processing. ## Common questions - **Why is the downloaded GIF so big?** Pinterest animations are usually 720p or 1080p; converting that to GIF is inherently large. Use the MP4 format if file size matters. - **Does PinGrab add a watermark?** No — never. The output matches the source animation exactly. - **Can I download a single static frame from an animated pin?** Not directly. Take a screenshot of the frame you want while it's playing, or download the MP4 and extract the frame in a video tool. ## Related guides For standard video pins (with audio, typically longer), see the [video download guide](/guides/download-pinterest-videos) — quality tiers work the same way. For still images, use the [image guide](/guides/download-pinterest-images). ### Step by step 1. **Find the animated pin** — Browse Pinterest for animated/GIF pins. They play automatically in the feed. 2. **Copy the pin URL** — Open the pin and copy its URL from the address bar or share menu. 3. **Paste into PinGrab** — Go to pingrab.app, paste the URL, and tap Continue. PinGrab detects the GIF format automatically. 4. **Download the GIF** — Tap Download. The animated GIF saves to your device in its original format and quality. ### Frequently asked questions **Does PinGrab preserve GIF animation?** Yes. PinGrab downloads the original animated file and, when you pick GIF output, transcodes from Pinterest's internal MP4 format to a genuine GIF — frame rate and loop count preserved. The animation plays the same way it does on Pinterest. **What format are Pinterest GIFs?** Pinterest stores animated content as MP4 video for bandwidth reasons. PinGrab gives you both options: download the original MP4 (smaller, sharper, plays in any modern app) or convert to a true GIF file (larger, but works anywhere GIFs do — chat apps, email, older web embeds). ### Sources - [GIF89a Specification — W3 archive](https://www.w3.org/Graphics/GIF/spec-gif89a.txt) - [MDN — GIF vs animated image alternatives](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Media/Formats/Image_types#gif) - [Pinterest Help — Idea Pins and motion content](https://help.pinterest.com/en/article/idea-pins) ## Is It Legal to Download Pinterest Images? Copyright Explained (2026) *Source: https://www.pingrab.app/guides/is-it-legal-to-download-pinterest-images* > A clear, sourced guide to Pinterest image copyright, fair use, and personal-use rules. Written for designers, students, and creators. "Can I download this?" is a question Pinterest users ask constantly — and the honest answer is: it depends on what you do with it. Downloading a pin for yourself is rarely a problem; reposting, selling, or using it commercially often is. This guide covers the three frameworks that actually matter — copyright basics, the US fair-use doctrine, and Pinterest's own terms — without pretending to give legal advice. If you're planning a commercial project, talk to a lawyer. If you're building a moodboard, reading this will tell you what you need to know. ### Key takeaways - Pinterest images are copyrighted by their original creators, not by Pinterest — the platform hosts, it doesn't own. - Personal use (inspiration, reference, private moodboards) generally falls under fair use in the US and equivalent provisions in the EU. - Commercial use requires a license from the copyright holder — downloading doesn't create one. - Pinterest's ToS permits saving content within Pinterest; tools like PinGrab help you save pins you already have access to, similar to a browser's built-in save function. *This article is informational, not legal advice. For specific commercial-use situations, consult a lawyer in your jurisdiction.* ## Who owns a Pinterest image? The creator. Pinterest acts as a host — like YouTube or Instagram — and doesn't acquire copyright by virtue of someone pinning something. Pinterest's own terms make this clear: creators grant Pinterest a license to display their content on the platform, but they retain ownership. That means the person you can ask for permission is the original uploader, not Pinterest. In practice this is often an artist, photographer, brand, or publication. Sometimes it's a user who re-pinned an image from somewhere else — in which case ownership sits further upstream. The image's original source is often visible in Pinterest's pin info, or you can do a reverse image search (Google Images, TinEye) to find it. ## Fair use: what it actually covers (US) US copyright law has a fair-use doctrine that allows certain uses of copyrighted work without the owner's permission. The Copyright Office summarizes the four factors courts weigh: 1. **Purpose of the use** — educational, transformative, or commentary uses favor fair use; purely commercial uses disfavor it. 2. **Nature of the copyrighted work** — factual works get more leeway than highly creative ones (photographs, paintings). 3. **Amount used** — small, proportionate use favors fair use; the whole work disfavors it. 4. **Market effect** — if your use competes with the original's market, that disfavors fair use. For a private moodboard or personal reference folder: strong fair use. For a commercial slideshow, an AI training dataset, or a product mockup you'll ship to clients: much weaker, probably not fair use. ## EU and UK (rough parallels) The EU's InfoSoc Directive and the 2019 Digital Single Market directive provide several exceptions — including a text-and-data-mining exception and a pastiche/quotation exception — but they're narrower than US fair use. The UK has its own fair-dealing framework, stricter than US fair use in most respects. The short version: personal, non-commercial use is broadly permitted. Commercial use without a license is a legal risk everywhere. ## What Pinterest's terms say Pinterest's ToS allows users to save pins to their own boards within the platform. They're explicit that users retain copyright in what they upload, and that unauthorized redistribution violates their policies. Pinterest doesn't have a blanket prohibition on downloading — they focus on redistribution. Tools like PinGrab operate within the same model as a browser's "Save Image As…" command: they retrieve content you already have permission to view. ## Practical guidance - **Personal moodboards, reference folders, private design reviews:** fine. This is the 95% case and is what PinGrab is designed for. - **Shared internal decks at work (design team, marketing):** low risk, usually fine. Credit the creator and link back when possible. - **Blog posts, social media reposts:** medium risk. Credit and link at a minimum; ideally get permission for anything beyond a small excerpt. - **Commercial products (prints, merchandise, templates you sell):** license it. Downloading doesn't grant rights. - **AI training data:** explicitly excluded by most platforms' terms; Pinterest's terms prohibit scraping for this purpose. ## How to credit properly When you share or reference a downloaded Pinterest image publicly: - Name the creator (or the original source if the pinner credited upstream). - Link to the original pin or the creator's profile. - Give context: "Inspiration from @creator" rather than passing the image off as your own. If you don't know the creator — the pin has no attribution, the image was re-pinned without credit — do a reverse image search before using it. It's good practice and often surfaces the original source in seconds. ## Related reading For the mechanics of downloading in the first place, see the [image download guide](/guides/download-pinterest-images). For videos, the [video download guide](/guides/download-pinterest-videos) walks through the technical steps. If you're building a moodboard specifically, the [moodboard workflow](/guides/how-to-create-moodboard-from-pinterest) walks through the legal-friendly personal-use case. ### Frequently asked questions **Is downloading Pinterest images illegal?** Downloading images for personal, non-commercial use (inspiration, mood boards, reference) is generally considered fair use under US law and equivalent exceptions in the EU and UK. Redistributing, selling, or claiming ownership of downloaded content violates copyright law. Always credit original creators when sharing publicly. **Can I use downloaded Pinterest images commercially?** No, not without explicit permission from the copyright holder. Pinterest images are owned by their original creators — not by Pinterest. Commercial use (ads, merchandise, templates you sell, AI training) requires a license. Downloading an image doesn't create that license. **Does Pinterest allow downloading?** Pinterest's terms allow users to save pins within the platform. Tools like PinGrab facilitate saving content you already have access to — similar to a browser's built-in Save Image As function. The platform focuses its restrictions on unauthorized redistribution, not private saving. PinGrab is designed for personal use only. **How do I properly credit Pinterest images?** If sharing downloaded images publicly, include the original creator's name (via the pin's info panel or a reverse image search), a link to their Pinterest profile or the original source URL, and context about how you're using it — for example, 'Inspiration from @creator' or 'Reference image via @photographer.' ### Sources - [Pinterest Terms of Service](https://policy.pinterest.com/en/terms-of-service) - [U.S. Copyright Office — Fair Use (§107)](https://www.copyright.gov/fair-use/) - [EU Directive 2019/790 (Digital Single Market)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/790/oj) - [Pinterest Community Guidelines](https://policy.pinterest.com/en/community-guidelines) ## Pinterest Image Sizes Guide (2026) — Pin, Board, Profile Dimensions *Source: https://www.pingrab.app/guides/pinterest-image-sizes-guide* > Every Pinterest image size for 2026: standard pin, idea pin, video pin, board cover, profile picture, and banner. With aspect ratios and px/in/cm conversions. If your pins are getting cropped weirdly, your board covers look pixelated, or your profile image won't stay sharp on different screens, the fix is almost always a dimensions problem — not a quality problem. Pinterest has specific size recommendations for each context (feed pins, idea pins, board covers, profile photos) and understanding the ratios Pinterest actually uses, versus the ones it shows you, is the difference between a pin that gets impressions and one that gets buried. This guide is a straight reference: sizes, aspect ratios, file size caps, and the common sizing mistakes to avoid. ### Key takeaways - The ideal standard pin is 1000×1500 pixels (2:3 aspect ratio) — anything taller gets truncated in the feed. - Idea pins use 1080×1920 pixels (9:16) — the same vertical format as Instagram Stories. - Board covers display small but crop from larger source — upload at 800×800 minimum for sharpness. - Pinterest accepts files up to 32 MB and supports JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, BMP, and TIFF. ## Standard pin: 1000×1500 (2:3) The most important size to get right. Pinterest's feed renders pins at a 2:3 aspect ratio — taller and the bottom gets cut off in the feed preview. - **Ideal dimensions:** 1000×1500 pixels (or any multiple: 1200×1800, 2000×3000). - **Aspect ratio:** exactly 2:3. Don't go to 2.1:3 or 2:3.2 — pin-crop is strict. - **File format:** JPEG or PNG. PNG is better for text-heavy pins with hard edges; JPEG for photographs. - **File size:** up to 20 MB for standard pins. What happens with wrong ratios: - **Taller than 2:3 (say 1000×1800):** the bottom gets cropped in the feed. Users have to click into the pin to see the whole thing, which kills your impression-to-click ratio. - **Shorter than 2:3 (square, or 4:5):** allowed and displayed correctly, but takes less vertical space in the feed — fewer opportunities for users to stop on it while scrolling. - **Horizontal (16:9):** badly cropped in the feed. Only use when the focal point is centered. ## Idea pins: 1080×1920 (9:16) Pinterest's newer vertical, multi-frame format — similar to Instagram Stories or TikTok posts. - **Dimensions per frame:** 1080×1920 (9:16). - **Up to 20 frames** per idea pin. - **Video frames:** up to 60 seconds per frame, MP4 preferred. - **Image frames:** JPEG or PNG. Text overlays placed in the outer 10% of the frame often get covered by Pinterest's UI elements (profile, CTAs). Keep the focal area centered with margins of roughly 100px on all sides. ## Board covers: display small, upload large Board covers show at roughly 222×150 pixels on desktop and even smaller on mobile, but Pinterest crops them from whatever square-ish image you select. Upload at least 800×800 to keep them sharp at retina resolution. Boards default to showing the most recent pin as the cover, but you can set a specific cover in board settings — pick one with a clean focal point in the center, since the crop is aggressive. ## Profile image: 165×165 display, 600×600 upload Your profile image displays at a small 165×165 circle but Pinterest stores a larger version. Upload a 600×600 square minimum. Center your face or logo — Pinterest crops heavily to fit the circle. ## Story pins vs. idea pins (terminology note) Pinterest renamed "story pins" to "idea pins" a few years back, and the sizing is identical (1080×1920). If you see an older guide referencing "story pins," it's the same format. ## File sizes and formats - **Supported formats:** JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, BMP, TIFF. - **Maximum file size:** 32 MB for all uploads. - **Recommended:** JPEG at 85–90% quality for photos (smaller files, imperceptible quality loss), PNG for graphics with solid colors or text. - **Animated pins:** delivered as MP4 by Pinterest regardless of upload format. See the [GIF guide](/guides/pinterest-gif-downloader) for details on how Pinterest handles animated content. ## When downloading pins for reference If you're using PinGrab to save pins in their original quality for design reference or moodboards, dimensions vary a lot — some creators upload at 1000×1500, others at 2000×3000 or even 4000×6000. The [image download guide](/guides/download-pinterest-images) covers how PinGrab picks the largest variant available. ## Quick reference table | Context | Upload size | Aspect ratio | Max file size | |---|---|---|---| | Standard pin | 1000×1500 | 2:3 | 20 MB | | Idea pin frame | 1080×1920 | 9:16 | 32 MB (60s video max) | | Board cover | 800×800+ | 1:1 | 10 MB | | Profile image | 600×600 | 1:1 | 10 MB | | Board hero | 1920×1080 | 16:9 | 20 MB | ## Related reading To save images from Pinterest in their original upload resolution, see the [image download guide](/guides/download-pinterest-images). For a creative project using these sizes, the [moodboard guide](/guides/how-to-create-moodboard-from-pinterest) walks through layout templates in the free PinGrab Vision Board Maker. ### Frequently asked questions **What is the best Pinterest pin size?** The recommended pin size is 1000×1500 pixels at a 2:3 aspect ratio. This displays optimally in Pinterest's feed without being cropped. Pins taller than 2:3 get cut off in the feed preview, which reduces engagement — users have to click in to see the whole thing. Larger multiples (1200×1800, 2000×3000) also work and look sharper on retina screens. **What size is a Pinterest board cover?** Board covers display at 222×150 pixels on desktop and smaller on mobile, but they're cropped from larger images. Upload at least 800×800 pixels — ideally 1200×1200 — so the crop stays sharp on high-DPI screens. Pinterest uses the most recent pin as the default cover unless you set a specific one in board settings. **What is the maximum Pinterest image size?** Pinterest supports image uploads up to 32 MB. The maximum displayed width in the feed is 564px, but when a pin is expanded or opened in detail, Pinterest serves the original upload resolution. That's why PinGrab downloads look sharper than the in-feed preview — the original file is always larger than what you scroll past. ### Sources - [Pinterest Help — Create and edit Pins](https://help.pinterest.com/en/article/create-a-pin) - [Pinterest Business — Ad specs](https://business.pinterest.com/en/ad-specs/) ## How to Make a Moodboard from Pinterest — Complete 2026 Workflow *Source: https://www.pingrab.app/guides/how-to-create-moodboard-from-pinterest* > Step-by-step guide to building a moodboard from Pinterest pins. Save inspiration, organize visually, and export as PNG, JPEG, or printable PDF — all free. A moodboard collects 15 to 30 images that, together, say "this is the vibe" — the aesthetic, the palette, the textures, the feeling — without you having to write a single word of creative brief. Designers use them for client kickoffs, photographers for shoot direction, writers for character worlds. Pinterest is where most people source images for moodboards, but Pinterest alone isn't a moodboard tool: it shows pins in a scroll, not a composed grid. This guide walks through taking the raw inspiration from Pinterest and turning it into a tight, shareable, printable board — using free tools and a straightforward workflow. ### Key takeaways - A tight moodboard is more valuable than a comprehensive one — aim for 9 to 16 images, not 50. - The PinGrab Vision Board Maker turns downloaded pins into a grid layout with no sign-up, no watermark. - Export format depends on use: PNG for digital share, JPEG for compact sharing, PDF for print. - Curate first inside Pinterest (one board, ruthless editing), then download and compose. ## What makes a good moodboard Before the tooling question, the curation question. The most common moodboard mistake is treating it as a mood *collection* — dumping every pin that vaguely fits the theme. That produces noise, not direction. Good moodboards are **edited**. Three principles: - **One idea per board.** If you're pulling for a brand project, that's the brand's board. A second brand is a second board. Mixing dilutes both. - **Variety within a theme.** 9 images that are all product shots of the same category is boring. Mix a product photo, a texture detail, a color swatch, a lifestyle scene, a typography example, an architectural reference. Each image carries a different piece of the story. - **Fewer is sharper.** 9 images (3×3) or 12 (3×4) is usually right. Past 20, the viewer stops processing it as a composition and starts seeing a grid. ## Step 1: curate inside Pinterest Make a dedicated board. Pin freely for a day or two — 40, 50, 100 pins. Then cull: unpin anything that's redundant, off-tone, or just okay. You want every remaining pin to do distinct work. Once the board is down to 15–30 strong pins, you're ready to export. ## Step 2: download the pins For a whole board, install the [PinGrab Chrome Extension](/extension) and export the board as a ZIP of individual images — the [board downloader guide](/guides/pinterest-board-downloader) walks through this. For a quick 6-to-9-image board, the [image download guide](/guides/download-pinterest-images) is enough: grab each pin manually, saving to a single folder. The filenames will be hashes; rename as you go (e.g. `01-product-shot.jpg`, `02-texture.jpg`) to control the grid order later. ## Step 3: compose the board This is where PinGrab's free [Vision Board Maker](/vision-board) comes in. Open it in your browser, pick a grid template (2×2, 3×3, 3×4, 3×5), and drag your images in. The tool handles cropping automatically while letting you nudge image position within each cell. Grid templates and when to use them: - **2×2 (4 images):** hero-level boards. One image per big concept. - **3×3 (9 images):** the standard — enough room for variety without sprawl. - **3×4 (12 images):** great for lookbooks with slightly more range. - **3×5 (15 images):** pushing the upper limit; works for large presentations where the board will be projected. If the built-in templates don't fit your need, rearranging the images in file-naming order before import is the fastest way to control the composition — PinGrab renders in filename order. ## Step 4: export for the right context - **PNG** — lossless, larger file. Best for digital sharing where quality matters (design-team Figma, client Slack). - **JPEG** — smaller, imperceptible quality difference for photography-heavy boards. Best for email attachments or embedding in a deck. - **PDF** — print-ready, preserves crispness at any page size. Best when you're printing for a physical pin-up or presenting on paper. For print, the Vision Board Maker supports A4 and Letter page sizes at 300 DPI. That's enough sharpness for standard office printing and for framing a board physically if that's your thing. For other common dimensions, the [Pinterest image sizes reference](/guides/pinterest-image-sizes-guide) has the complete breakdown. ## Step 5: share and iterate Moodboards are collaboration tools. Export, share, collect feedback ("the bottom-right is off-tone"), swap images, re-export. The fast iteration loop is what makes a moodboard useful — it's not a final deliverable, it's a shared language. ## About licensing Moodboards for **personal reference or internal design team use** sit squarely in fair use / personal use territory. Moodboards shared externally (with clients, in public presentations, on a website) should credit the creators of images where known, or be understood as inspiration references rather than published work. The [Pinterest copyright guide](/guides/is-it-legal-to-download-pinterest-images) covers this in more detail. ## Related reading For the technical mechanics behind each step, see the [image download guide](/guides/download-pinterest-images), [video download guide](/guides/download-pinterest-videos), and [board downloader guide](/guides/pinterest-board-downloader). For image dimensions and Pinterest's size specs, the [sizes guide](/guides/pinterest-image-sizes-guide) is the reference. ### Step by step 1. **Collect your inspiration** — Create a dedicated Pinterest board for your project. Pin 15-30 images that capture the mood, color palette, textures, and style you're going for. 2. **Download your pins** — Use PinGrab to download the images from your board. For bulk downloads, use the PinGrab Chrome Extension to export the entire board as a ZIP. 3. **Create your moodboard** — Use PinGrab's Vision Board Maker (free, no sign-up) to arrange your images into a grid. Choose from 2×2, 3×3, 3×4, or 3×5 templates. 4. **Export and share** — Export your moodboard as PNG (digital), JPEG (sharing), or PDF (printing). Use it for client presentations, design briefs, or personal inspiration. ### Frequently asked questions **What's the best moodboard size?** For digital use, 1080×1920 (vertical) works great as a phone wallpaper or mobile share. For presentations, 1920×1080 (horizontal) fits standard slide decks. For printing, A4 or Letter size at 300 DPI gives sharp results on standard office printers. PinGrab's Vision Board Maker supports all of these — pick the output format when you export. **Can I create a moodboard for free?** Yes. PinGrab's Vision Board Maker is completely free — no account, no watermarks, no limits. Alternatives include Canva (freemium with some features locked) and Google Slides (free but limited layout options). PinGrab's advantage is it's built around Pinterest workflows specifically, so downloading pins and composing them happens in one place. ### Sources - [Vealey & Greenleaf — Imagery and athletic performance (J. Applied Sport Psych.)](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10413200109339010) - [Locke & Latham — Goal-setting theory (American Psychologist)](https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2003-03012-008) - [Pinterest Help — Save and organize Pins](https://help.pinterest.com/en/article/save-pins)