YouTube Thumbnail Size 2026: The Ultimate Guide [+ Free Bulk Downloader]
Creating the perfect YouTube thumbnail starts with using the correct dimensions. This guide covers everything about YouTube thumbnail sizes.
Recommended YouTube Thumbnail Size
The ideal YouTube thumbnail size is 1280 × 720 pixels with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Quick Specs
- Resolution: 1280 × 720 pixels
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Minimum Width: 640 pixels
- Maximum File Size: 2 MB
- Formats: JPG, GIF, PNG
All Available Thumbnail Sizes
| Quality | Dimensions | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Resolution | 1280 × 720 | Full-size, downloads |
| Standard Definition | 640 × 480 | Medium displays |
| High Quality | 480 × 360 | Search results |
| Medium Quality | 320 × 180 | Sidebar |
| Default | 120 × 90 | Small icons |
Download thumbnails using our free YouTube Thumbnail Downloader.
File Requirements
- JPG: Best for photos, smaller file size
- PNG: Best for graphics with text
- GIF: Accepted but not animated
YouTube Shorts Thumbnails
Shorts use vertical format (9:16). YouTube auto-selects a frame - you can't upload custom Shorts thumbnails yet.
Best Practices
- Always use 1280×720 for best quality
- Design for mobile first (70%+ of views are mobile)
- Avoid the bottom-right corner (video length overlay)
- Test at 120×90 to ensure readability
- Keep file size under 2MB
Common Mistakes
- Wrong aspect ratio causes cropping
- Low resolution looks blurry
- Text too small for mobile
- Important content in bottom-right corner