YouTube thumbnail size
The YouTube thumbnail size to upload is 1280×720 pixels. YouTube thumbnail dimensions that stay sharp are 16:9, a minimum width of 640 pixels, and a file under 2 MB in JPG, PNG, or GIF.
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A huge image still looks soft if the ratio is wrong
YouTube fits the thumbnail into a 16:9 frame. A square export gets cropped or letterboxed, and a file under 640 pixels wide looks blurry on a TV even if it looked fine in a folder.
The duration sits on the bottom-right of the thumbnail in search and on the watch page. Words placed there disappear behind the timestamp.
Export a thumbnail at the right size
- 1
Set the canvas to 1280×720
That is the YouTube thumbnail size YouTube recommends. Wider than 1280 is unnecessary. Narrower than 640 is too small.
- 2
Keep the frame at 16:9
YouTube thumbnail dimensions that are not 16:9 get cropped. Design inside the rectangle you will actually upload.
- 3
Leave the bottom-right empty of text
The timestamp covers that corner. Put the face and the few words in the center and the left.
- 4
Export under 2 MB
JPG, PNG, or GIF. If the PNG is over 2 MB, export a JPG. Then match the thumbnail to a title someone would search.
YouTube thumbnail size at a glance
- ●Recommended upload: 1280 × 720 pixels.
- ●Minimum width: 640 pixels.
- ●Aspect ratio: 16:9.
- ●File size: 2 MB maximum.
- ●Formats: JPG, PNG, or GIF.
- ●Safe area: keep words out of the bottom-right corner, where the video length is drawn.
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
Upload
1280 × 720 pixels, 16:9.
Minimum
640 pixels wide. Below that, the image looks soft.
File
2 MB max. JPG, PNG, or GIF.
Safe area
Center and left. The bottom-right holds the duration.
The title has to match the picture
A sharp 1280×720 thumbnail still fails if the title promises a different video. Write the title for the same claim the picture makes.
Match the thumbnail with a searchable title
The picture is 1280×720. The title is the words next to it. Generate that title in YouTube Studio with Youtube Optimizer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the YouTube thumbnail size?
1280×720 pixels. That YouTube thumbnail size is 16:9. The minimum width is 640 pixels, and the file must be under 2 MB.
What are YouTube thumbnail dimensions?
YouTube thumbnail dimensions are 1280 pixels wide by 720 pixels tall. Keep that 16:9 ratio so YouTube does not crop the frame.
What size is a YouTube thumbnail on a phone?
You still upload 1280×720. Phones show a smaller version of the same 16:9 image, so large type in the center survives better than small type at the edges.
Can I upload a GIF thumbnail?
Yes, if it is under 2 MB. YouTube does not play it as a video in the feed. Treat it as a still.