YouTube thumbnail resizer
Resize any image to 1280×720, 1920×1080 or a 1080×1920 Shorts cover, compressed under 2 MB. Nothing is uploaded.
Which size should you pick?
| Use | Size | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Regular video thumbnail | 1280 × 720 px | 16:9 |
| Sharper on TVs | 1920 × 1080 px | 16:9 |
| Shorts cover | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 |
| Podcast playlist | 1280 × 1280 px | 1:1 |
YouTube's help centre lists the requirements for video thumbnails as a 1280×720 resolution (minimum width 640 pixels), a 16:9 ratio, JPG, PNG or GIF, and a file under 2 MB. Full details and an on-screen size explainer are in the YouTube thumbnail size guide; Shorts specifics are in the Shorts thumbnail size guide.
Crop, blur-fill or black bars?
- Fill and crop is right for most photos and screenshots. Use the slider to keep a face or the important part in frame.
- Blurred fill suits vertical phone photos: nothing is cut off and the sides do not look empty.
- Black bars keep the image untouched, but empty bars waste space at feed size.
Want text, a cut-out and an outline on top? Open the resized file in the thumbnail maker, or drop the original straight onto its canvas.
Questions
How do I resize an image to 1280×720 for YouTube?
Choose or drop the image above, keep "YouTube thumbnail 1280×720" selected and press Download. If the picture is not 16:9, pick whether to crop the edges (and which part to keep) or fit it inside with a blurred or black fill.
Will my thumbnail lose quality?
Shrinking a larger image to 1280×720 keeps it sharp. Enlarging a small image (for example a 640-pixel screenshot) cannot add detail, so it will look softer; the checklist warns you when that happens.
How do I get a thumbnail under 2 MB?
Choose JPG. The resizer lowers the JPG quality step by step until the file is under 2 MB, the limit for uploads from the YouTube mobile app. PNG files are lossless and can be larger.
Can I convert a 4:3 or vertical image to a 16:9 thumbnail?
Yes. "Fill and crop" cuts the top and bottom (or the sides) and the slider chooses which part stays. "Fit inside, blurred fill" keeps the whole picture and fills the empty sides with a blurred copy of it, a common look for vertical phone photos.
What size is a YouTube Shorts thumbnail?
1080×1920 pixels (9:16). Pick "Shorts cover 1080×1920" in the size menu. The dashed guide shows the middle area that stays clear of the Shorts title and buttons.
Is my image uploaded?
No. Resizing and compression run in your browser with the canvas API. The file never leaves your device.