Guides

YouTube thumbnail size and how to make one

Updated 21 October 2026

Tool for this guide: YouTube thumbnail

Short answer: a YouTube thumbnail should be 1280 × 720 pixels (16:9), under 2 MB, in JPG, PNG or GIF. The YouTube thumbnail maker turns any image into exactly that.

Thumbnail requirements

Step by step

1. Open the thumbnail maker and add your design or a still from the video.
2. It's cropped to 16:9 from the centre and resized to 1280 × 720, then saved as a JPG under 2 MB.
3. In YouTube Studio, open the video's details and upload the thumbnail.

Want to choose the crop yourself? Crop the image to 16:9 first, then run it through the thumbnail maker.

Design tips that get clicks

• Big face, big text. Thumbnails are viewed tiny on phones. Use three to five words at most, in large bold type. Add text with add text to image.
• Avoid the bottom-right corner. YouTube puts the video length there.
• High contrast. Bright subjects on simpler backgrounds stand out in a busy feed. Remove the background to cut out a person or product.
• Stay consistent. Similar colours and layout across videos make your channel recognisable.

Questions

Why won't YouTube accept my thumbnail?

It's usually over 2 MB or in an unsupported format. This tool always saves a JPG under 2 MB.

Do I need a verified account?

YouTube may ask you to verify your account before you can upload custom thumbnails. Check YouTube's help pages for the current rules.

What about Shorts?

Shorts are vertical (9:16). See the social media image sizes guide and crop video.