YouTube Thumbnail Sizeand Crop Tool
The YouTube thumbnail size is 1280 by 720 pixels. Crop your image to it, check that the video length badge does not cover anything important, and download a file compressed under YouTube’s 2 MB limit.
Drop a photo here
JPEG, PNG and WebP work everywhere; HEIC opens in Safari. You can also paste a screenshot.
Never uploaded. It all happens in your browser.
You get
- Video thumbnail1280 × 720
Your files stay on this device. Nothing is uploaded, and location data is removed from every export.
The size, in full
The tool exports these exact pixel sizes, and compresses a file only when the network has a size limit.
| Size | Pixels | Shape | File |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube video thumbnailYouTube rejects thumbnails over 2 MB, so the export is compressed to fit. | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 | JPEG or PNG, under 2 MB |
How it works
- 1
Upload your image
Choose a still or a designed thumbnail. It opens in your browser and is never uploaded.
- 2
Crop around the badge
Move and zoom until the subject is clear of the length badge in the bottom right corner.
- 3
Download it compressed
Save the thumbnail at 1280 by 720 pixels, already under 2 MB.
What makes a YouTube thumbnail work at every size
YouTube asks for 1280 by 720 pixels at 16:9, the shape of the player. Most of the time it shows the thumbnail far smaller: in search, beside another video, on a phone. A thumbnail that reads at a glance at those sizes beats one packed with detail.
YouTube rejects thumbnail files over 2 MB. A detailed PNG at 1280 by 720 can go over, which is where uploads fail. The tool compresses the export until it fits, so the file uploads first time.
The video length sits in a badge at the bottom right of the thumbnail, and progress bars and hover buttons can appear over it too. The tool shades that corner so you can keep text and faces clear of it.
Questions
- What is the YouTube thumbnail size?
- 1280 by 720 pixels, 16:9, the same shape as the video player. YouTube shows it much smaller most of the time, so make sure it reads at a glance.
- What is the YouTube thumbnail file size limit?
- 2 MB, as a JPEG or PNG. Larger files are rejected. The tool compresses the export until it fits, so you do not have to guess at quality settings.
- Why can’t I upload a custom thumbnail?
- YouTube only lets channels that have verified a phone number upload custom thumbnails. Once verified, check the file is a JPEG or PNG under 2 MB.
- Can I schedule a video with a custom thumbnail?
- Yes. In Posty, attach the image with the video, and Posty sets it as the custom thumbnail when it uploads the video at the scheduled time.
- Is my image uploaded anywhere?
- No. Your image opens in your browser and is processed on your own device; it is never sent to Posty or anyone else. Saving a download re-encodes the image, which also strips the EXIF data your camera stored, including GPS location. You do not need an account.
More tools
Every tool runs in your browser, with nothing to install. See all tools
- YouTube bannerCrop channel art to the YouTube banner size with the TV, computer, tablet and phone areas drawn on.
- YouTube ShortsCrop a title card or cover image to the vertical Shorts frame with YouTube’s button areas shaded.
- Post checkerCheck a caption and media against the publishing rules of nine networks before you post.
- Image resizerCrop one photo to post, Story, cover and banner sizes across every major network at once.
Schedule the video and its thumbnail
Posty uploads YouTube videos at the time you schedule, with the visibility you choose, and applies the thumbnail you attach. Plan the video, the title and the thumbnail together on one calendar.
Plans from $29 per workspace a month. Schedule YouTube Videos