YouTube Thumbnail Size Guide (2026)

Getting your YouTube thumbnail size right is critical. An incorrectly sized thumbnail will be cropped, stretched, or appear blurry — hurting your click-through rate. This guide covers every specification you need to know.

Quick Reference: YouTube Thumbnail Specs

All YouTube Thumbnail Resolutions

YouTube generates multiple versions of each thumbnail at different resolutions. Here's every size available:

You can download any of these resolutions using ThumbSaver, which automatically detects which sizes are available for each video.

Why 1280x720 Is the Standard

YouTube recommends 1280x720 for custom thumbnails because:

• 16:9 aspect ratio — matches YouTube's video player, so the thumbnail displays without cropping or letterboxing
• High enough resolution — looks crisp on desktop, TV apps, and tablets where thumbnails are displayed large
• Small enough file size — at this resolution, a JPG can easily stay under 2 MB
• Scales well — YouTube downscales this to generate all smaller versions automatically

YouTube Shorts Thumbnail Size

YouTube Shorts thumbnails follow different rules since Shorts are vertical videos:

Note that Shorts thumbnails are primarily used in the Shorts shelf and on the channel page. In the Shorts player itself, the video frame is used as the preview. For more detail, see our Shorts thumbnail guide.

Common Thumbnail Size Mistakes

Using the wrong aspect ratio

If your thumbnail isn't 16:9, YouTube will add black bars (letterbox/pillarbox) or crop the edges. Always design at exactly 16:9.

File too large

YouTube rejects files over 2 MB. If your PNG is too large, save it as a high-quality JPG instead, or use an image compressor. JPG at 80-90% quality usually stays under 2 MB.

Resolution too low

Thumbnails smaller than 640px wide will look pixelated on larger screens. Always use 1280x720 even if the image content is simple.

Wrong file format

YouTube accepts JPG, PNG, GIF (static only — not animated), and BMP. WebP and SVG are not supported for thumbnail uploads.

Design Tips for Better Thumbnails

• Use high contrast — Thumbnails are small. Bold colors and high contrast text ensure readability at any size.
• Limit text to 3-5 words — Viewers scan thumbnails quickly. Short, punchy text works best.
• Include a face — Thumbnails with expressive human faces consistently get higher click-through rates.
• Test at small sizes — Preview your thumbnail at 320x180 (mobile size). If it's hard to read, simplify.
• Stay consistent — Use a consistent style across your channel so viewers recognize your content in their feed.