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12 channels publish today and 5 are in platform review. Skryvo reads each post back to confirm it went live.
YouTube thumbnail size
Pick a size, drop in an image, and download a thumbnail exactly as YouTube wants it, for videos or Shorts. Your image never leaves your device.
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
3840 × 2160 pixels, a 16:9 ratio, is the size YouTube now recommends, with a minimum width of 640 pixels. Upload it as a JPG or PNG. From a computer the limit is 50 MB; from the phone app it is 2 MB, so a 1280 × 720 JPG is the safe choice there. Many guides still give 1280 × 720 as the only size; it works, but looks softer on large screens.
What size is a YouTube Shorts thumbnail?
2160 × 3840 pixels, a 9:16 ratio, with a minimum height of 640 pixels. Custom Shorts thumbnails can only be added in YouTube Studio on a computer, and like video thumbnails they need a verified account.
Why can't I upload a custom thumbnail?
YouTube lets you upload your own thumbnail once your account is verified; until then you choose one of the suggested frames. If the upload fails, check the file is a JPG or PNG under the size limit for where you are uploading: 2 MB in the phone app, 50 MB on a computer.
YouTube image sizes
| Image | Size (pixels) | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Thumbnail | 3840 × 2160 | 16:9, YouTube's recommended size. Up to 50 MB from a computer; the phone app takes 2 MB. |
| Thumbnail, light | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 and small enough for the phone app's 2 MB limit. The minimum width is 640. |
| Shorts thumbnail | 2160 × 3840 | 9:16. Custom Shorts thumbnails are added in YouTube Studio on a computer. |
| Channel banner | 2560 × 1440 | 16:9, 6 MB or less. Keep text and logos in the centre safe area, shaded outside it. |
| Profile picture | 800 × 800 | Shown as a circle and rendered at 98 × 98. JPG, PNG, BMP or still GIF, up to 15 MB. |
Sizes from YouTube Help on custom thumbnails and channel branding, read on October 22, 2026. The profile picture size is our recommendation.
YouTube thumbnail size: questions
What is the best YouTube thumbnail size?
3840 × 2160 pixels (16:9), the size YouTube recommends. Use 1280 × 720 if you upload from the phone app, where the limit is 2 MB.
What is the minimum YouTube thumbnail size?
640 pixels wide for video thumbnails and 640 pixels tall for Shorts thumbnails.
What file types work for YouTube thumbnails?
JPG or PNG. This tool downloads a JPG at the exact size you pick.
Is my image uploaded anywhere?
No. Cropping and resizing happen in your browser.
Making the channel art too? Use the YouTube banner size tool, and publish at the best time to post on YouTube.
Images sized. Now the posts.
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