Select Files
or drag and drop files here
Select an image file to resize
The Challenge
YouTube requires thumbnails at 1280×720 pixels (16:9) with a 2MB file size limit. Uploading images below 640px width causes pixelation. Oversized DSLR files exceed the limit. Wrong aspect ratios get cropped unpredictably, cutting off text and faces that drive click-through rates.
YouTube thumbnail size requirements
YouTube recommends 1280×720 pixels with a 16:9 aspect ratio for all custom thumbnails. The minimum width is 640 pixels — anything smaller gets stretched and pixelated. Files must be under 2MB in JPG, PNG, GIF, or BMP format. Thumbnails display at different sizes across devices: small previews in search results, medium in suggested videos, and large on TV screens. Starting at 1280×720 ensures clarity across all contexts. Some sources recommend designing at higher resolutions like 1920×1080 or even 3840×2160 for TV viewers, but 1280×720 remains the standard that balances quality with file size.
Common thumbnail upload mistakes
- File over 2MB — compress to JPG at 85-90% quality before uploading
- Wrong aspect ratio — non-16:9 images get black bars or awkward cropping
- Resolution below 640px width — thumbnail appears blurry on all devices
- Text in outer edges — gets cut off in search results and suggested video previews
- Using PNG for photo-based thumbnails — unnecessarily large file size, use JPG instead
YouTube thumbnail checklist
- 1280×720 pixels at 16:9 aspect ratio
- Under 2MB file size (JPG at 85-90% quality recommended)
- JPG, PNG, GIF, or BMP format
- Key text and faces within central 1235×338 safe zone
- High contrast — readable at small preview sizes on mobile
- No misleading content — YouTube penalises clickbait thumbnails
- Custom thumbnail enabled (requires verified YouTube account)
Good vs bad YouTube thumbnails
JPG vs PNG for YouTube thumbnails
Use JPG for photo-based thumbnails with gradients, faces, or detailed backgrounds — files stay between 100-500KB at 85-90% quality. Use PNG for graphics with text overlays, logos, or flat colour backgrounds where sharp edges matter. PNG files are larger (often 1-2MB) but preserve text clarity. If your PNG exceeds 2MB, switch to JPG or compress before uploading. YouTube accepts both formats without quality loss on their end.
How to resize for YouTube thumbnails
- Upload your source image — works with any resolution or aspect ratio.
- Tool automatically resizes to 1280×720 pixels (16:9 ratio).
- If your source image is not 16:9, crop to 16:9 first using our crop tool to prevent distortion.
- Download resized thumbnail as JPG. File size will be under 2MB.
- Upload to YouTube Studio: Content → select video → click thumbnail → Upload thumbnail.
Step-by-Step Workflow
Upload image to pre-configured 1280×720 tool
Preview resized thumbnail
Download and upload to YouTube Studio
Specifications
- Dimensions
- 1280×720 pixels
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9
- Minimum width
- 640 pixels
- Max file size
- 2 MB
- Accepted formats
- JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP
- Safe zone for text
- Central 1235×338 pixels
Best Practices
- Keep text within the central 1235×338 pixel safe zone — outer areas get cropped in small previews
- JPG at 85-90% quality keeps files under 500KB with no visible quality loss
- Design with mobile in mind — 70% of YouTube views happen on phones where thumbnails display small
- Use high contrast between text and background — thumbnails compete with dozens of others in search
- YouTube's A/B testing feature lets you test up to three thumbnails per video — use it
- Faces with emotional expressions increase click-through rate by up to 30%
- Consistent visual branding across thumbnails builds channel recognition
Frequently Asked Questions
What size should YouTube thumbnails be?
1280×720 pixels with a 16:9 aspect ratio. This is YouTube's recommended size that works across all devices. Minimum width is 640 pixels. Maximum file size is 2MB. Accepted formats are JPG, PNG, GIF, and BMP.
Should I use 1280×720 or 1920×1080 for thumbnails?
1280×720 is the standard recommendation. 1920×1080 works too since it's the same 16:9 ratio — YouTube will scale it down. The larger size may look slightly sharper on TV screens but results in bigger file sizes. Either works; 1280×720 is more efficient.
Why is my YouTube thumbnail blurry?
Most likely your image is below 640 pixels wide, or YouTube compressed a very large file. Resize to exactly 1280×720 and compress to JPG at 85-90% quality before uploading. This gives YouTube a clean file that doesn't need aggressive recompression.
How do I make my thumbnail under 2MB?
Save as JPG at 85-90% quality. A 1280×720 JPG at this quality is typically 200-600KB. If using PNG with text overlays and it exceeds 2MB, switch to JPG or use a compression tool. Avoid saving at 100% quality — the file size doubles with no visible improvement.
Can I upload a thumbnail without verifying my YouTube account?
No. Custom thumbnails require a verified YouTube account. Verify at youtube.com/verify with a phone number. Without verification, YouTube auto-generates three thumbnail options from your video frames.