YouTube recommends 1280 × 720 pixels (16:9) for custom thumbnails, under 2 MB. The right size keeps your thumbnail sharp on TVs and crisp on phones.
Your photo is cropped from the centre to the exact shape and resized with high-quality resampling — all inside your browser, so it’s never uploaded.
YouTube thumbnail size
| YouTube thumbnail | |
|---|---|
| Size | 1280 × 720 px |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 |
| Platform | YouTube |
Tips
- YouTube’s limit is 2 MB — use Compress if your thumbnail is bigger
- The bottom-right corner is covered by the video length — keep text away from it
- Big faces and 3–5 words of text work best at small sizes
How to resize image for YouTube thumbnail
- Drop your photos.
- The YouTube thumbnail size is already selected.
- Download — ready to upload.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
1280 × 720 pixels, a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Will my photo be stretched?
No. It’s cropped from the centre to the right shape first, then resized — never stretched or squashed.
Are my images uploaded to a server?
No. Everything happens inside your browser on your own device. Your images are never uploaded, stored or seen by anyone — check your browser's Network tab, or turn on airplane mode after the page loads and see that it still works.
Is it really free?
Yes. No sign-up, no watermark, no daily limits and no paid “HD” downloads.
Do downloads still contain my location?
No. Every file you download is saved without hidden metadata like GPS location, camera serial number or owner name.