What Size Are YouTube Thumbnails?

YouTube thumbnails might look small on screen, but they play a huge role in getting clicks. Using the right size and resolution helps your videos look sharp, professional, and consistent across all devices — from phones to TVs.

The official YouTube thumbnail size

YouTube recommends a thumbnail size of 1280 × 720 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio). Even though it appears smaller in search results, this full-HD size ensures your image looks great on all screen types, including large displays and embedded players.

• ✅ Resolution: 1280 × 720 pixels
• ✅ Minimum width: 640 pixels
• ✅ Aspect ratio: 16:9
• ✅ File formats: JPG, PNG, or GIF
• ✅ Max file size: 2 MB

Why YouTube requires high resolution

Even though thumbnails are often displayed small, YouTube still uses them in large formats — for example, when videos appear in recommendations or autoplay previews. That’s why uploading a low-resolution image can make your video look pixelated or blurry.

Common mistakes to avoid

• ❌ Uploading images smaller than 1280×720 — they’ll get stretched and lose quality.
• ❌ Using the wrong aspect ratio (like square or 4:3) — this causes awkward cropping.
• ❌ Ignoring text visibility — test how your thumbnail looks on mobile before uploading.

Pro tip: design for clarity, not just size

When designing your thumbnail, prioritize bold text, strong contrast, and simple visuals. Even with perfect dimensions, cluttered or tiny details won’t stand out. You want viewers to understand your message instantly — even at a glance.

Conclusion

The ideal YouTube thumbnail size is 1280×720 pixels with a 16:9 ratio. Keeping your thumbnails high-quality, readable, and consistent makes your videos look more professional and improves your click-through rate. Small details, big difference. 📸