YouTube Thumbnail Size Checker & Tester
The right thumbnail size is 1280 × 720 pixels, 16:9, under 2 MB. Drop your image below to check it against YouTube's rules, see how it will look on the home page, in search results and in the sidebar, and fix the size in one click.
- 1280 × 720 · 16:9
- < 2 MB
- Nothing is uploaded
How it will look on YouTube
YouTube thumbnail size and rules
| Rule | Value |
|---|---|
| Recommended size | 1280 × 720 px |
| Minimum width | 640 px wide |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 |
| Maximum file size | 2 MB |
| Formats | JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP (WebP is converted) |
| Shorts | 1080 × 1920, 9:16 |
YouTube shows the same image at many sizes - 1280 px wide on a TV, about 360 px in search and 168 px in the sidebar - so upload the full 1280 × 720 and design for the smallest one: big faces, three or four words at most, strong contrast. The bottom-right corner is covered by the duration badge; keep text away from it.
What makes a thumbnail get clicks
Download any video's thumbnail · Banner size and safe zones
Frequently asked questions
What size should a YouTube thumbnail be?
1280 × 720 pixels, aspect ratio 16:9, JPG or PNG under 2 MB. That is the size YouTube itself recommends; anything smaller is upscaled and looks soft.
Can I upload a bigger image, like 1920×1080?
Yes, as long as it is 16:9 and under 2 MB. YouTube scales it down to 1280 × 720, so there is no gain in quality - only in file size.
Why does my thumbnail look cropped?
The image is not 16:9. YouTube fits it into a 16:9 frame: a square or 4:3 image gets black bars or a centre crop. Use the fix button above to crop it to 16:9 yourself and choose what to keep.
What is the thumbnail size for Shorts?
Shorts are vertical: 1080 × 1920 (9:16). YouTube takes a frame from the video; on mobile you can pick the frame, on desktop you cannot upload a custom one.
Is my image uploaded anywhere?
No. The check, the preview and the resize all run in your browser; the file never leaves your computer.