YouTube thumbnail downloader the video's cover, in every resolution.
A YouTube thumbnail downloader saves the cover image you see before pressing play. Paste the link of a video, a Short or a live stream, or just its ID, and see every size YouTube publishes for it, from the 1280 x 720 maximum down to the 120 x 90 one. Download it as JPG or WebP.
Free, no sign-upThe JPG is YouTube's original file. The WebP is converted from that JPG at 90% quality. When YouTube also has its own WebP, the YouTube's WebP link opens that original in a new tab.
The thumbnail belongs to the channel owner. Use it as a reference, to study covers, or for your own videos. To publish someone else's image, ask them first.
Want to make your own 1280 x 720 cover from a frame of your video? Make a YouTube thumbnail
How to download a YouTube video thumbnail
- 01
Copy the link
On YouTube, tap Share and copy the link, or copy the address from your browser bar. Videos, Shorts and live streams all work.
- 02
Paste it here
Paste the link in the field. The sizes show up right away, with the resolution and file size of each, and the missing ones are flagged.
- 03
Download the right size
Pick a size and download it as JPG, the original file, or as WebP, which is smaller. The file name carries the video ID and the resolution.
What thumbnail sizes does YouTube have?
For every video, YouTube publishes the same cover in several sizes, each with a fixed name in the image address. The three smallest exist for any public video. The two largest depend on the video: they are often missing on old videos or ones uploaded at low resolution, and on some brand new videos they take a little while to show up.
Watch the aspect ratio. Maximum and Medium are 16:9, like the video. SD, High and Small are 4:3, so a horizontal video shows up in them with black bars above and below. To use the full cover without bars, go for Maximum. If it does not exist, Medium is 16:9 with no bars, only smaller.
| Size | Name in the address | Resolution | Always there? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum | maxresdefault | 1280 x 720 (16:9) | No |
| SD | sddefault | 640 x 480 (4:3) | No |
| High | hqdefault | 480 x 360 (4:3) | Yes |
| Medium | mqdefault | 320 x 180 (16:9) | Yes |
| Small | default | 120 x 90 (4:3) | Yes |
Why does the HD thumbnail (maxresdefault) not show up?
When a size does not exist, YouTube answers with an error or with a grey 120 x 90 image instead of the cover. That is why so many sites show a grey box when the HD version is missing. Here, we measure every image that comes back: if it does not have the promised resolution, the size shows as unavailable instead of downloading the grey square.
The maximum version is usually missing when the video was uploaded at low resolution, when it is old or when it was just published. If the video is yours and you changed the cover recently, wait a few minutes and try again: the new image can take a moment to reach every size.
Can I use another channel's thumbnail?
A thumbnail is the work of whoever made it, and the rights belong to the channel owner. Downloading one to look at it closely, compare covers, build a reference board or study what works in your niche is the most common use, and the one this tool is meant for.
Publishing someone else's image as if it were yours is a different matter. In a reaction video, article or review, credit the source and, whenever you can, ask for permission. For your own channel, the best path is to recover the cover of one of your older videos, or to make a new one from a frame of your video with the thumbnail maker.
- Reference and studying covers: fine.
- Recovering the cover of your own video: fine.
- Reposting another channel's cover: ask for permission.
JPG or WebP: which format should you download?
The JPG is the file YouTube serves, untouched: it is what you want to keep or edit. WebP is a newer format that stores the same picture in a smaller file and opens in every current browser. It works well for websites and blogs, where page weight matters.
The WebP you download here is converted from the JPG of the same resolution, at 90% quality. When YouTube also has its own WebP, we show a link to open that original in a new tab. To upload a cover to YouTube, use JPG or PNG at 1280 x 720 and under 2 MB.
More than the cover. Paste the link and get the video ready.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a YouTube thumbnail in high quality?
Paste the video link in the field and download the Maximum size, 1280 x 720. It is the largest one YouTube publishes. If it shows as unavailable, the video does not have that version: download SD (640 x 480) or Medium (320 x 180, with no black bars).
Can I download the thumbnail of a YouTube Short?
Yes. Paste the Short's link (youtube.com/shorts/...) just like a regular video. The sizes and names are the same, and the result shows which ones exist for that Short.
How do I download a YouTube thumbnail on my phone?
In the YouTube app, tap Share and then Copy link. Open this page, paste the link and tap Download JPG on the size you want. The image goes to your downloads folder, and on an iPhone you can save it to Photos from the share menu.
What is the right thumbnail size for YouTube?
YouTube asks for 1280 x 720 pixels, 16:9, at least 640 pixels wide and up to 2 MB as JPG, PNG or GIF. That matches the Maximum version you download here. To make your own at that size, use the thumbnail maker.
Why do I get a grey image instead of the thumbnail?
Because YouTube returns a grey 120 x 90 frame when the requested resolution does not exist for that video. Here, we measure the image before showing it, so missing sizes appear as unavailable.
Does it work with private or removed videos?
No. YouTube only publishes thumbnails for public or unlisted videos. If the video is private or was removed, no size shows up. Also check that the link is complete: a video ID is always 11 characters long.
Paste a YouTube link and get the clips. We do the rest.
We transcribe the video, mark the chapters for the description and deliver the best moments as vertical clips with animated captions.
See the result on your own recording before adding a card.