Updated

YouTube Thumbnail Size (2026)

The recommended YouTube thumbnail size is 3840×2160 pixels at a 16:9 aspect ratio, as a JPG or PNG under 50 MB (or 2 MB if you upload from the mobile app). Shorts use 2160×3840 (9:16).

Video thumbnail
3840×2160 px
16:9 · 1280×720 also works
Shorts thumbnail
2160×3840 px
9:16 vertical
Podcast playlist
Square
1:1 aspect ratio
Minimum size
640 px
Width for videos, height for Shorts
File formats
JPG or PNG
The formats YouTube recommends
Max file size
50 MB
From a computer · 2 MB from the mobile app

Source: YouTube Help — Add custom thumbnails, checked October 31, 2026.

Resize to the right size

Crop any image to 4K, HD, or Shorts and export under the 50 MB or 2 MB limit.

Check it in a real feed

See where the timestamp lands and how it looks next to competitors.

Design for the smallest place it appears

You export at 3840×2160, but most people see your thumbnail much smaller: in the desktop sidebar it’s roughly 168×94 pixels, and on a phone it’s about the width of the screen. Text that reads fine at full size can turn into noise.

  • Use three to five words at most, in a heavy font, with strong contrast.
  • Keep faces and text out of the bottom-right corner — the duration badge covers it.
  • Leave the bottom edge clear of detail; the red watched-progress bar sits there.
  • Upload a 9:16 thumbnail for vertical videos, or YouTube may generate a 4:5 one for you.

Frequently asked questions

What size should a YouTube thumbnail be?
YouTube recommends 3840×2160 pixels (4K) with a 16:9 aspect ratio for regular videos. 1280×720 is still accepted and looks fine on phones and laptops; 4K mainly helps on TVs and large monitors.
What size is a YouTube Shorts thumbnail?
2160×3840 pixels at a 9:16 vertical aspect ratio, with a minimum height of 640 pixels.
What is the YouTube thumbnail file size limit?
50 MB when you upload from a computer and 2 MB when you upload from the YouTube mobile app (10 MB for podcasts on mobile). If you design on desktop but upload from your phone, compress to under 2 MB first.
Can I still use 1280×720 thumbnails?
Yes. 1280×720 is the long-standing standard and still works everywhere. YouTube recommends 4K now because it serves sharper thumbnails on TV screens.
Why does my thumbnail look different on the home page?
Vertical videos that use a 16:9 custom thumbnail get an auto-generated 4:5 thumbnail on the Home, Explore, and Subscriptions pages. Upload a 9:16 thumbnail for vertical videos to keep control of what viewers see.
What part of the thumbnail gets covered?
The bottom-right corner is covered by the duration badge, and a red progress bar runs along the bottom edge for videos someone has partly watched. Keep faces and key text away from those areas.