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YouTube Thumbnail Size
The YouTube thumbnail size is 1280 × 720 pixels at a 16:9 aspect ratio, with a maximum file size of 2 MB. This guide gives you the exact size, the accepted formats, the safe area to keep your text and faces inside, and a free aspect-ratio checker that tells you in seconds whether your image will fit without cropping.
Aspect-ratio checker
Enter your image width and height in pixels. The checker compares them with 16:9.
| Your aspect ratio | 1.78 : 1 |
| Target ratio (16:9) | 1.78 : 1 |
| Nearest 16:9 height for your width | 720 px |
| Setting | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Recommended size | 1280 × 720 px |
| Minimum width | 640 px |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 |
| Maximum file size | 2 MB |
| Formats | JPG, PNG, GIF |
How it works
A YouTube thumbnail is the small preview image viewers see before they click a video. YouTube shows it at many sizes — large on a desktop home page, tiny on a phone — so the image has to stay clear and readable at every size. The recommended size, 1280 × 720 pixels, is the same resolution as 720p HD video. It is sharp on large screens, small enough to stay under the 2 MB file limit, and it matches the 16:9 shape of the video itself, so nothing is cropped.
The checker on this page tests any width and height against 16:9. It divides width by height to get your ratio, compares it with 16 ÷ 9 (about 1.78), and passes the image if the two match within a small tolerance for rounding. If your image is not 16:9, it tells you the nearest 16:9 height for your width, so you can resize or crop with a clear target — for example, a 1000-pixel-wide image needs a height of about 563 pixels. It also flags images under 640 pixels wide, because YouTube will not accept them as custom thumbnails even if the ratio is right.
The safe area matters as much as the size. YouTube places its own overlays on top of your thumbnail: the video length badge sits in the bottom-right corner, and on some screens a play button or title covers the centre. Anything under those overlays is hidden, so faces, logos, and the words that sell the video belong in the middle, away from the corners and edges. Leave a margin of about 10 percent of the width on each side and your key content will survive on every device. This page covers video thumbnails only — for channel art and profile pictures, see the Logo Size Guide in Related tools below.
Worked example
Suppose you designed a thumbnail that is 1280 pixels wide and 720 pixels tall, and you want to check it before uploading.
Step 1: Enter 1280 as the width and 720 as the height in the checker.
Step 2: Divide width by height: 1280 ÷ 720 = 1.78.
Step 3: Compare with 16:9, which is 16 ÷ 9 = 1.78. The two match exactly.
Step 4: Check the other rules: 1280 pixels wide is above the 640-pixel minimum, and the image is a JPG under 2 MB.
The tool shows exactly this: ✓ Perfect — 16:9, with a ratio of 1.78 : 1. Now try a square image, 1000 × 1000 pixels: the checker fails it, shows a ratio of 1.00 : 1, and suggests a height of 563 pixels for a 1000-pixel width — the 16:9 height for that width.
FAQ
What is the correct YouTube thumbnail size?
The recommended YouTube thumbnail size is 1280 by 720 pixels, which is a 16:9 aspect ratio. The minimum width is 640 pixels, and the file must be under 2 MB. JPG, PNG, and GIF are all accepted.
What happens if my thumbnail is not 16:9?
YouTube crops or stretches a thumbnail that is not 16:9 to fit, which can cut off text or faces at the edges, or leave black bars. Use the aspect-ratio checker on this page to test your width and height before you upload.
What is the safe area on a YouTube thumbnail?
The safe area is the middle part of the thumbnail that is never covered by YouTube's own overlays. The video length badge covers the bottom-right corner, and on some screens the play button or title covers the centre. Keep faces and key words in the middle, away from the corners.
Which file format is best for a YouTube thumbnail?
JPG is usually the best choice because it keeps the file small and under the 2 MB limit while looking sharp. PNG is better when your thumbnail has crisp text or a logo on a flat background, but the file is larger. GIF works too, but only as a still image.
How big should the text be on a thumbnail?
Use three to five words at most, in a large bold font. At 1280 by 720 pixels, main words should be at least 90 pixels tall so they stay readable when the thumbnail is shown small on a phone. Keep the words short, high contrast, and inside the safe area.