Resize to YouTube Thumbnail Size

Get the exact 1280 x 720 px size YouTube recommends. YouTube recommends 1280 x 720 and a file under 2 MB.

1280 x 720 px16:9 Runs on your device

YouTube Thumbnail · Step 1 of 3 · Add your photo

Drop an image to resize

or paste with Ctrl+V · JPG PNG WebP HEIC GIF · max 25 MB

1280 x 720 pxBatch ready

Processed on this device. Nothing is uploaded.

Example

Before and after

We ran this sample through the youtube thumbnail tool above. The numbers under each image are measured from the real files.

Sample input: 2400 x 3500 px · 964 KB · JPG — **Before**2400 x 3500 px · 964 KB · JPG

Result from this tool: 1280 x 720 px · 167 KB · JPG · 300 DPI — **After**1280 x 720 px · 167 KB · JPG · 300 DPIShown smaller here

How to

How to resize a photo to youtube thumbnail size

1.
Add a photo. From your gallery, your camera or a screenshot.
2.
Fill or fit. Fill crops to 16:9 from the center. Fit keeps the whole photo with a border.
3.
Download. A 1280 x 720 px image, ready to post on YouTube.

Why this size

YouTube sizes at a glance

YouTube recommends 1280 x 720 and a file under 2 MB. Uploading the exact size means YouTube does not crop or re-compress your image in ways you did not choose.

The tool scales once, straight to 1280 x 720, from your original pixels, so the result stays sharp. Start from a photo at least as large as 1280 x 720: enlarging a small image cannot add detail. For a small old photo, the AI upscaler can redraw it larger first.

Use	Size
Thumbnail	1280 x 720 px (16:9)
Minimum width	640 px
File size	Under 2 MB
Formats	JPG, PNG, GIF

Tips

Tips that make a difference

Start from the original photo

Use the photo from your camera or gallery, not a screenshot or a copy forwarded in a chat. Scaling down to 1280 x 720 keeps it sharp; scaling up a small image makes it soft.

Uploads get compressed again

Most platforms, YouTube included, re-compress images after upload. A JPG at the exact size gives them the least to change, so colors and edges stay closer to your original.

Avoid

Common problems and fixes

The upload failsThumbnails must be under 2 MB and JPG, PNG or GIF. Download a JPG here; if it is still over, compress it to 1 MB.
The text is unreadable on phonesThumbnails are shown small. Use a few large words and strong contrast.
The image looks blurry after postingYouTube enlarges images that are smaller than its size, which makes them soft. Start from the original photo, at least as large as the size above.

FAQ

YouTube Thumbnail: questions

1280 x 720 pixels, 16:9, under 2 MB. The minimum width is 640 pixels.

16:9, the same shape as the video player.

Download it as a JPG here; at 1280 x 720 it is usually well under 2 MB. If not, compress it to 1 MB.

Only if you choose Fill and the shapes differ. Choose Fit to keep the whole photo with a border instead.

No. Resizing happens in your browser.

Checked

How we checked this page

Checked by the SizePort team on 3 October 2026.

We compare every size and rule on this page with the official sources below, and test the tool with sample photos before it goes live. Rules and platforms change, so if something here is out of date, tell us and we will correct it.