Quick answer: the right size
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Recommended resolution | 1280×720 pixels |
| Minimum width | 640 pixels |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 |
| Max file size | 2 MB |
| Accepted formats | JPG, PNG and GIF (not animated) |
| Who can upload | Verified channels (with intermediate features) |
If your image is WebP, AVIF or HEIC, convert it to JPG or PNG before uploading. If it’s over 2 MB, export a JPG at slightly lower quality.
Why 1280×720 and not bigger?
1280×720 is the size YouTube recommends, and it fits comfortably under the 2 MB limit. Larger images with the same ratio (say, 1920×1080) are accepted as long as they stay under 2 MB, but the sharpness gain is small: on most screens the thumbnail is displayed much smaller.
What really matters is the 16:9 ratio. A square or vertical image gets black bars or is cropped, and it looks amateur in the feed.
How big the thumbnail actually shows up
The same image is shown at very different sizes. These values are approximate and change with the screen and the interface version:
| Where | Approximate size |
|---|---|
| Home feed on desktop | about 360×200 px |
| Mobile feed | full screen width |
| Search results | about 360×200 px |
| Up next (sidebar) | about 168×94 px |
| TV | scaled up on a big screen |
The sidebar is the hardest case: at 168×94 pixels, small text and details disappear. Always check the image at that size before publishing.
Areas YouTube covers
- Bottom-right corner. That’s where the video length appears. Keep text and key details out of it.
- Bottom strip. On videos someone has already watched, a red progress bar covers the bottom of the image.
- Hover preview. On the home feed the video may start playing in place of the thumbnail. The image has to win the click before that.
- Edges. Leave some breathing room: some layouts round the corners and trim a few pixels.
Other YouTube image sizes
| Image | Recommended size | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Video thumbnail | 1280×720 (16:9) | Up to 2 MB |
| Channel banner | 2560×1440 | 1546×423 center safe area, visible on every device |
| Profile picture | 800×800 | Shown as a circle, very small |
| Shorts | Vertical 9:16 video (1080×1920) | The Short’s cover follows its own rules, set when you publish |
How to make a thumbnail at the right size
- 1Start your file at 1280×720. In Photoshop, Canva or Figma, create a custom canvas with that size.
- 2Keep the main subject in the center and away from the bottom-right corner.
- 3Export as JPG (80–90% quality) or PNG and make sure the file is under 2 MB.
- 4Before uploading, check how it looks at small sizes. Our free thumbnail preview tool shows the image on the home feed, in search, on mobile and in the sidebar.
With EdThumb, thumbnails are generated in 16:9 and downloaded at 1280×720, under the 2 MB limit.
