How to make a YouTube thumbnail the right size
Quick answer: To make a YouTube thumbnail the right size, keep Thumbnail 16:9 selected, add your image and press Resize and download.
- Keep Thumbnail 16:9 selected. It's 1280 × 720, the size YouTube recommends.
- Add your image and press Resize. Screenshots, photos or designs all work. The 2 MB limit is already filled in.
- Download. Upload it in YouTube Studio under Details → Thumbnail.
YouTube thumbnail rules
1280 × 720 pixels (16:9), at least 640 px wide, JPG, PNG or GIF, and under 2 MB. This tool makes a JPG that meets all of them.
Channel art sizes
Banner: 2560 × 1440, with the important part in the middle 1546 × 423 so it shows on phones. Profile picture: 800 × 800, shown as a circle.
Frequently asked questions
Why does YouTube reject my thumbnail?
Usually because it is over 2 MB. This tool keeps it under 2 MB automatically.
Can I use a vertical image?
Yes. Choose Fit with border to keep the whole image with bars at the sides, or Fill and crop to fill the frame.
Is the image uploaded anywhere?
No. It's made on your device; you upload it to YouTube yourself.