YouTube thumbnail size
Also called YouTube thumbnail dimensions
What is the YouTube thumbnail size?
YouTube thumbnail size is the recommended dimensions for the custom image that represents a video: 1280×720 pixels, a 16:9 ratio, with a minimum width of 640 pixels. YouTube accepts JPG, PNG and non-animated GIF files, and has long capped thumbnails at 2 MB. These limits come from YouTube's help pages and can change.
A custom thumbnail needs a verified account. Thumbnails display at many sizes, from a large preview on a TV to a tiny image in search results on a phone, so designs need to read when shrunk. The timestamp covers the bottom right corner.
YouTube Shorts are vertical, but their thumbnails in feeds come from a frame you pick in the app. A 16:9 custom thumbnail mainly applies to standard videos.
Why the YouTube thumbnail size matters
The thumbnail is often the main reason someone clicks a video. A clear, high-contrast thumbnail at the right size improves click-through rate from search and recommendations, which in turn helps the video get shown more.
Using the exact 16:9 size avoids black bars and blurry upscaling, which look unprofessional next to competing videos.
How to make a YouTube thumbnail
- Design at 1280×720 (16:9).
- Use one focal point: a face, the product or the result.
- Add three to five words of large text at most.
- Keep important content away from the bottom right, where the timestamp sits.
- Shrink it to phone size to check it still reads, then export under the size limit.
YouTube thumbnail size FAQ
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
1280×720 pixels (16:9), at least 640 pixels wide, in JPG, PNG or GIF, within YouTube's file size limit.
Why can't I upload a custom thumbnail?
Custom thumbnails require a verified YouTube account. Verify with a phone number in YouTube Studio, and check that the file is within the size limit.
Related terms
A video thumbnail is the still image shown before a video plays. It works like a cover and strongly affects whether people click or tap.
Click-through rate (CTR) is the percentage of people who click a link, ad or button after seeing it: clicks divided by impressions.
Aspect ratio is the shape of an image or video, written as width to height, such as 16:9 for widescreen or 9:16 for vertical video.
Video resolution is the number of pixels in each frame, written as width x height or a shorthand like 1080p or 4K. More pixels means more detail.
Social media image sizes are the pixel dimensions and aspect ratios each platform recommends for posts, stories, ads, profile banners and link previews.