YouTube Thumbnail Size Guide

The current YouTube thumbnail size, aspect ratio, file formats and file-size limits for videos and Shorts, with blank canvases to download.

YouTube thumbnail specifications
	Videos	Shorts
Recommended size	3840 × 2160 pixels	2160 × 3840 pixels
Aspect ratio	16:9	9:16
Minimum	At least 640 pixels wide	At least 640 pixels tall
File formats	JPG or PNG
Maximum file size	Desktop upload: 50 MB for video, Shorts and podcast thumbnails Mobile upload: 2 MB for video thumbnails, 10 MB for podcasts

Source: YouTube Help: Add video thumbnails on YouTube. Last checked October 11, 2026. YouTube can change these at any time; the source page is the authority.

Choosing a size in practice

Any 16:9 image at least 640 pixels wide works for a regular video. The larger recommended size looks sharper on televisions and large monitors, but it also makes a bigger file, and uploads from a phone have a much lower size limit than uploads from a computer. If you upload from your phone, a smaller 16:9 image such as 1280 × 720 keeps you safely under that limit.

Shorts are vertical

Shorts use a 9:16 cover, the same shape as the video. YouTube notes that a vertical video given a wide 16:9 thumbnail has it replaced by an automatically generated one on the home, explore and subscription pages, so make the cover vertical too.

Podcasts are square

Podcast playlists use a 1:1 image instead of 16:9.

Size is not the same as readability

Most people first see a thumbnail small, on a phone. A correctly sized image can still be unreadable there, so check yours with the thumbnail preview tool before you publish.

Download a blank canvas

A white PNG at the exact size, made in your browser, to open in any image editor.

Need a thumbnail to go with it?

Describe your video and the AI thumbnail maker designs one for you.

Make a thumbnail with AI

Questions

What size should a YouTube thumbnail be?

YouTube recommends 3840 x 2160 pixels for videos, in a 16:9 shape, and no narrower than 640 pixels. Smaller 16:9 images such as 1280 x 720 are still accepted.

What size is a YouTube Shorts thumbnail?

YouTube recommends 2160 x 3840 pixels for Shorts, in a 9:16 shape, and no shorter than 640 pixels.

What file formats does YouTube accept for thumbnails?

YouTube asks for image formats such as JPG or PNG.

How large can a thumbnail file be?

Desktop upload: 50 MB for video, Shorts and podcast thumbnails. Mobile upload: 2 MB for video thumbnails, 10 MB for podcasts.

Is 1280 x 720 still a good thumbnail size?

Yes. It is 16:9 and above the 640-pixel minimum, and it keeps the file small, which matters when you upload from a phone. The larger recommended size simply looks sharper on big screens.