The YouTube thumbnail size to use for a regular video is 3,840 × 2,160 px, which is a 16:9 ratio. For Shorts, use 2,160 × 3,840 px at 9:16. Keep the width at 640 px or more and save as JPG, PNG.
If you have searched for the size of a youtube thumbnail, the size for a thumbnail on YouTube, or simply what size is a YouTube thumbnail, the short answer is above. The rest of this page explains when to use which size, how YouTube displays it, and how to get your image into the right shape.
Which YouTube thumbnail size to use
The right thumbnail size for YouTube depends on the kind of video you are publishing.
| Content | Size | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Regular video (landscape) | 3,840 × 2,160 px | 16:9 |
| Shorts (vertical) | 2,160 × 3,840 px | 9:16 |
| Podcast playlist | No pixel size given | 1:1 aspect ratio (no pixel size given) |
Landscape for regular videos
For standard videos, go with 3,840 × 2,160 px. YouTube Help now recommends this size for videos. You may still see an older, smaller figure quoted in tutorials, but the official page has moved on, so follow the current recommendation.
Vertical for Shorts
For Shorts, the recommended size is 2,160 × 3,840 px at 9:16. The minimum height is 640 px. Custom thumbnails for Shorts can currently be added only in YouTube Studio on a computer, so plan to do that step at your desk.
Square for podcasts
Podcast playlist thumbnails use a 1:1 aspect ratio (no pixel size given). YouTube does not give a pixel size for them, so build a square image large enough to stay sharp and check the result in Studio.
How YouTube displays and handles your thumbnail
The thumbnail is shown in many places, and the platform scales it down to fit. A design that looks clear at full size can become hard to read when small, so keep the idea simple: one clear subject, a few words at most, strong contrast.
There is one behavior worth knowing for vertical content. Vertical videos with 16:9 custom thumbnails are replaced by an auto-generated 4:5 thumbnail on the home, explore and subscription pages. In other words, if you upload a vertical video and give it a landscape custom thumbnail, that thumbnail may not be what viewers see in those spots. If your video is vertical, design for the vertical shape.
File types and limits
- Accepted file types: JPG, PNG.
- Minimum width: 640 px.
- Max file size on desktop: 50 MB for video, Shorts and podcast thumbnails.
- Max file size on mobile: 2 MB for video thumbnails; 10 MB for podcasts.
The official page describes formats as examples such as JPG or PNG and does not publish a complete list, so stick with JPG or PNG to be safe. The mobile limit is much tighter than the desktop one, which matters if you upload from your phone. A large 3,840 × 2,160 px PNG can easily be too heavy, so export a JPG or compress it before uploading.
Safe zone and where to keep text
YouTube does not publish an official thumbnail safe zone. That means there is no confirmed rule for where the duration badge or other overlays sit, so do not rely on a specific number from a blog post.
A practical habit is to leave some breathing room around the edges and keep key text and faces away from the very corners. Then check how the thumbnail looks in Studio and on your phone before you publish. Treat this as a design habit, not an official rule.
If you also design a channel banner, that one does have an official safe area. See our YouTube banner size guide for the details.
How to resize an image to the YouTube thumbnail size
Use the free resizer on this page. Menus and labels can differ a little as the tool is updated, but the flow is the same.
- Open the resizer on this page and add your image from your device.
- Choose the YouTube thumbnail preset that matches your video: landscape for regular videos or vertical for Shorts.
- Check the target size. For landscape it should be 3,840 × 2,160 px, and for vertical 2,160 × 3,840 px.
- Move and scale the image so your subject and text sit where you want them in the frame.
- Export as JPG, PNG. Pick JPG if you need a smaller file.
- Check the file size against the limits above, then upload it in YouTube Studio.
If you post the same artwork on other networks, the Social Media Image Resizer can help you make versions for each one.
Common mistakes
- Using an outdated size. Older tutorials quote a smaller figure. Follow 3,840 × 2,160 px from the current official recommendation.
- Wrong ratio. A landscape thumbnail should be 16:9. Stretching an image to fit distorts faces and text.
- Going below the minimum. Keep the width at 640 px or more.
- Ignoring the mobile limit. If you upload from a phone, stay within 2 MB for video thumbnails; 10 MB for podcasts.
- Landscape art on a vertical video. It may be replaced by an auto-generated thumbnail on some pages, as noted above.
- Too much text. Thumbnails shrink a lot. Fewer words read better.
- Treating a safe zone as official. There is no confirmed one, so test your design instead.