Getting your YouTube thumbnail size right is essential. Here's everything you need to know.
YouTube Thumbnail Dimensions
The ideal YouTube thumbnail size is:
- Resolution: 1280 x 720 pixels
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Minimum width: 640 pixels
- File size: Under 2MB
- Formats: JPG, GIF, or PNG
Why These Dimensions Matter
YouTube displays thumbnails in various sizes across different devices:
- Desktop: Large thumbnails on homepage and sidebar
- Mobile: Smaller but still prominent
- TV apps: Larger display, needs high resolution
- Search results: Medium size
The 1280x720 resolution ensures your thumbnail looks sharp everywhere.
Tips for Optimal Quality
- Always use 1280x720: Even if YouTube accepts smaller sizes
- Save as PNG: For graphics with text, PNG preserves sharpness
- Save as JPG: For photo-heavy thumbnails, JPG with 80-90% quality works well
- Check file size: Compress if needed, but prioritize quality
Mobile-First Design
Over 70% of YouTube watch time is on mobile. Design your thumbnails to be readable on small screens:
- Use large text (if any)
- Keep the subject prominent
- Avoid small details that get lost
- Test by viewing at 150px width
Tools That Handle Size Automatically
thumbnail.bot automatically generates thumbnails at the correct 1280x720 resolution, so you never have to worry about dimensions or file sizes.