resize image for youtube thumbnail
youtube thumbnails are 16:9, 1280 × 720 pixels, under 2 mb. set the exact size here and download a ready jpg.
runs on your device · free · no sign-up
loading tool…
how to resize image for youtube thumbnail
- drop one or more images on the box above.
- pick a preset such as instagram post or youtube thumbnail, or type your own width and height.
- lock the aspect ratio to keep proportions, or unlock it and choose how to handle a different shape.
- choose png, jpg or webp and download the image, or the zip for a batch.
youtube recommends 1280 × 720 pixels with a minimum width of 640 px and a file under 2 mb for jpg, gif or png. this preset fills the frame with your picture, cropping a little off the top and bottom if the photo is not 16:9. text should stay out of the bottom right corner, where the video duration label sits.
the thumbnail is shown very small in search and on phones, so use big faces, high contrast and a few words at most. if the result is over 2 mb, which is rare at 1280 × 720, lower the quality slider, or run it through compress image.
more ways to resize image
frequently asked questions
what is the youtube thumbnail size?
1280 × 720 pixels (16:9), at least 640 px wide, jpg, gif or png, up to 2 mb.
why is my thumbnail rejected as too big?
the limit is 2 mb. a 1280 × 720 jpg at quality 85 is typically 150 to 400 kb. a png with lots of detail can be much larger, so switch to jpg.
can i use a vertical photo?
youtube shows a 16:9 frame, so a vertical photo needs either heavy cropping or colored bars on the sides. choose fit inside with bars to keep it whole.