YouTube thumbnail specifications
| Item | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Video thumbnail | 3840 × 2160 px recommended | 16:9 aspect ratio, minimum width 640 px. YouTube advises using the largest image you can. |
| Shorts thumbnail | 2160 × 3840 px recommended | 9:16 aspect ratio, minimum height 640 px. Custom Shorts thumbnails are set in YouTube Studio on a computer. |
| Podcast playlist | 1:1 square | Podcast playlists use a square image instead of 16:9. |
| File formats | JPG or PNG | YouTube's help page lists image formats such as JPG and PNG. |
| File size, mobile upload | 2 MB (video), 10 MB (podcast) | Applies when you upload from the YouTube or Studio app. |
| File size, desktop upload | 50 MB | Applies to video, Shorts and podcast thumbnails uploaded from a computer. |
| Who can upload | Verified accounts | Custom thumbnails require a verified channel. Daily limits and Community Guidelines strikes can restrict uploads. |
Is 1280 × 720 still enough?
For years, 1280 × 720 was the size everyone quoted, and YouTube still accepts it. The current guidance is different: use the largest image you can, with 3840 × 2160 as the recommended size. The reason is practical. The same image is used as the preview frame in the embedded player and shows up on large monitors and TVs, where a 720p image can look soft.
A sensible default is to design in 16:9, export at 3840 × 2160 when you upload from a computer, and export a JPG at 1920 × 1080 when you need to stay under the 2 MB mobile limit. All three sizes share the same shape, so the layout does not change.
How big thumbnails actually appear
The file you upload is large, but viewers rarely see it that way. In the up-next sidebar on desktop, a thumbnail is roughly 168 pixels wide. On a phone it can fill the screen width. That gap is why readability matters more than resolution: a 4K file with a long, thin headline still fails at sidebar size.
- Keep important text and faces away from the bottom-right corner, where the video length is displayed.
- Expect a red progress bar along the bottom edge for viewers who have partly watched the video.
- Check the design at small sizes before you publish. The thumbnail preview tool shows it at 480, 360, 246, 168 and 120 pixels.
Shorts and podcast thumbnails
Shorts thumbnails are vertical: 2160 × 3840 pixels at 9:16, at least 640 pixels tall, and set from YouTube Studio on a computer. Podcast playlists use a square 1:1 image. If you upload a vertical video with a 16:9 thumbnail, YouTube’s help page notes that an automatically generated 4:5 thumbnail appears on the home, explore and subscriptions pages, so design vertical content with a vertical frame.
Checklist before you upload
- The image is 16:9 and at least 1280 pixels wide, ideally 3840 × 2160.
- It is a JPG or PNG under 2 MB for mobile uploads, or under 50 MB from a computer.
- The headline is three to five words and readable at about 168 pixels wide.
- Nothing important sits under the duration badge in the bottom-right corner.
- The image follows YouTube’s thumbnail policies and represents the video honestly.
Resize an image to YouTube thumbnail size
Crop any image to 16:9, or fit it with a blurred background, then export at 1280 × 720, 1920 × 1080 or 3840 × 2160. Processing happens in your browser.
Drop an image here or choose a file to resize it to 16:9.
Everything happens in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.