Turn a cover image, portrait shot, or campaign visual into a YouTube thumbnail. Use the official 1280 x 720 recommendation, or choose an optional 4K 16:9 output when you need a higher-resolution source image.
Check where the subject, headline, and key visual land before export. You can drag and zoom inside the preview so the main content is less likely to feel cramped or cropped in the final thumbnail.
Upload an image to preview the current YouTube thumbnail size.
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Upload an image first, then download the current YouTube thumbnail size.
Create YouTube thumbnails at 1280 x 720 (16:9). Upload an image, preview framing within the cover canvas, adjust subject and text placement for readability, and export as JPG, PNG, or WebP. Optional 4K 16:9 output is also available.
After uploading, the image previews automatically inside a 1280 x 720 (16:9) canvas. Drag to reposition the subject and zoom to adjust focus, so faces, titles, and key visuals are clearly visible at thumbnail display size.
Export thumbnails as JPG, PNG, or WebP at the default 1280 x 720 (YouTube's recommended size). A 3840 x 2160 4K 16:9 option is also available when you need a higher-resolution source file.
All preview, resize, and export operations run in the browser. The source image is never sent to a server. Useful when the thumbnail contains an unpublished video, campaign cover, portrait, or internal artwork.
YouTube Help recommends 1280 x 720 thumbnails, a minimum width of 640 pixels, and a 16:9 aspect ratio. Use 1280 x 720 by default, or export 3840 x 2160 when you need a 4K 16:9 image.
1280 x 720 is the thumbnail size recommended in YouTube Help and the working size many creators use by default for video cover images.
Open reference3840 x 2160 uses the same 16:9 ratio and can be useful when you want a higher-resolution source file or plan to keep editing. It is not required for a standard thumbnail upload.
Both 1280 x 720 and 3840 x 2160 use a 16:9 layout. The closer your source image is to that ratio, the easier framing and crop adjustments become.
Common questions about YouTube thumbnail size, framing, and export format.
YouTube Help recommends 1280 x 720 px, a minimum width of 640 px, and a 16:9 aspect ratio.
The most common ratio is 16:9. It fits the thumbnail layout used across the YouTube home feed, search results, and video lists.
1280 x 720 is the official recommended and most common thumbnail size, while 3840 x 2160 is an optional 4K 16:9 output. The larger size can be useful for high-resolution source files, but it is not required for a standard upload.
The current YouTube Help page mentions a minimum width of 640 pixels. If you are preparing a standard thumbnail, working at 1280 x 720 or above is usually the safer route.
YouTube Help says video thumbnail files should be under 2 MB. If the file is too large after export, you can run it through an image compression tool.
A practical way to choose is: 1. Use JPG when the thumbnail is mostly a portrait, scene image, or large gradient background. 2. Use PNG when it contains big titles, outlined text, icons, or sharp high-contrast design elements. 3. Check the 1280 x 720 preview again before exporting and make sure the text still reads clearly. 4. If the file ends up too large, compress it afterward. In practice, you need to judge both clarity and file size together.
No. Resize, padding, crop, and export all run locally in the browser, and the source image is not sent to the server. That matters more when the thumbnail is tied to an unreleased video, campaign asset, or brand content.
After preparing a YouTube thumbnail, you can compress, convert, or create share images.
