What size is a YouTube thumbnail?

YouTube recommends 3840 × 2160 pixels for a video thumbnail. That frame is 16:9, and the width should be at least 640 pixels. A Shorts thumbnail is 2160 × 3840, which is 9:16, at least 640 pixels tall. YouTube names JPG and PNG. A custom thumbnail needs a verified account. This page checks those published figures. It does not upload an image, and the size does not predict views.

Check a thumbnail

YouTube's published sizes

These figures are from YouTube Help, Add custom thumbnails on YouTube, as read on 2 November 2026. 1280 × 720 is 16:9 and wider than 640, so it meets the minimum and the ratio. It is smaller than 3840 × 2160. Podcast playlist thumbnails use 1:1. That help page does not give them a pixel size. A mobile podcast thumbnail stays under 10 MB, and a desktop one stays under 50 MB.

Piece	Figure
Video, recommended	3840 × 2160
Video ratio	16:9
Video minimum	640 wide
Short, recommended	2160 × 3840
Short ratio	9:16
Short minimum	640 tall
Desktop file	Under 50 MB
Mobile video file	Under 2 MB

YouTube also says a vertical video that uses a 16:9 thumbnail is shown with an automatic 4:5 thumbnail on the home, explore, and subscription pages. The custom thumbnail still appears on the watch feed, watch history, and non-mobile platforms. A 9:16 video frame is a different measurement. The aspect ratio calculator turns a width into that height.

Estimated earnings per 1,000 views are a different question. The YouTube RPM calculator divides the earnings you type by the views you type.

Questions about the thumbnail size

What size is a YouTube thumbnail?

YouTube recommends 3840 × 2160 pixels for a video thumbnail, in a 16:9 frame, at least 640 pixels wide. JPG or PNG. A desktop upload stays under 50 MB. A mobile upload of a video thumbnail stays under 2 MB.

Is 1280 × 720 still a YouTube thumbnail size?

1280 × 720 is 16:9 and wider than 640, so it meets the minimum and the ratio. YouTube's current recommendation is the larger 3840 × 2160 frame.

What size is a YouTube Shorts thumbnail?

YouTube recommends 2160 × 3840, a 9:16 frame, at least 640 pixels tall. Custom Shorts thumbnails are added in YouTube Studio on a computer.

Is this YouTube thumbnail size checker free?

Yes. It runs in your browser. There is no account and no charge.

Will the recommended size get more views?

No. This checks pixels and file size against YouTube's published thumbnail guidance. Views depend on the video, the account, and the platform.

Vlozy makes the video and can publish it to the YouTube account you connect. This page only checks the thumbnail figures. See what Vlozy does.