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YouTube Thumbnail Size 2026
Thumbnails drive clicks. 1280×720 is the required 16:9 size. This guide also lists channel banners, playlist thumbnails, and Shorts covers so every YouTube surface looks consistent.
YouTube Image Size Requirements (2026)
| Format | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Video thumbnail | 1280×720 | 16:9. Under 2 MB |
| Channel banner | 2560×1440 | Safe zone is the center |
| Channel icon | 800×800 | Displayed as a circle |
| Playlist thumbnail | 1280×720 | Same as video thumbnails |
| Shorts thumbnail | 1080×1920 | 9:16 vertical |
Primary recommendation: 1280×720 pixels (16:9 thumbnail)
Key Requirements
- Custom thumbnails must be 1280×720, 16:9, and under 2 MB.
- JPG, PNG, GIF, or BMP. JPG is usually smallest.
- Keep faces and titles in the center. YouTube UI overlays the bottom-right duration.
- Do not use more than 90% of the frame as text if you want a clean, clickable thumbnail.
How to Resize for YouTube
- 1
Design or export a 16:9 still
Shoot or screenshot a frame, then add type in your editor if needed.
- 2
Resize with the YouTube preset
AutoSizer outputs 1280×720 plus channel and Shorts sizes.
- 3
Upload in YouTube Studio
Replace the auto-generated thumbnail with your resized file.
Pro Tips
- Batch a whole video series so every thumbnail shares the same layout.
- Export a Shorts 1080×1920 crop from the same shoot when you cross-post.
- Avoid tiny type. Thumbnails are often the size of a postage stamp on mobile.
Related Guides
FAQ
1280×720 pixels at 16:9. Keep the file under 2 MB.
2560×1440 pixels. Keep important content in the center because TV, desktop, and mobile crop differently.
Yes. The free plan includes 2 images per day. Solo is $2/month for unlimited processing and AI smart cropping.
Browser Process keeps images on your device. Cloud and Solo API images are stored temporarily and cleaned after about 2 days when retention is enabled. We do not share your images with third parties.
Ready to resize for YouTube?
Batch resize up to 10 images — 2 images per day on the free plan.
Open YouTube Resizer