YouTube thumbnail size and your image resized to fit.
A YouTube thumbnail is 1280 x 720 pixels, a 16:9 ratio, at least 640 pixels wide, saved as JPG, PNG or GIF and under 2 MB. Load an image or pick a frame from your video, set the framing and download it at the right size, for Shorts, Reels and TikTok covers too.
Free, no sign-upYou can also drag the preview to reframe.
How to resize a YouTube thumbnail
- 01
Load an image or video
Use finished artwork, a photo or the video itself. For a video, pick the frame with the slider or step one second at a time.
- 02
Pick the size and framing
YouTube, Shorts, Reels, TikTok or an Instagram post. Fill crops the edges, Fit keeps the whole image. Drag the preview to position it.
- 03
Download as JPG or PNG
For a YouTube thumbnail in JPG, we adjust the quality so the file stays under 2 MB. The result shows the final dimensions and file size.
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
YouTube recommends 1280 x 720 pixels, a 16:9 ratio, with a minimum width of 640 pixels. The file can be JPG, PNG or GIF and must be under 2 MB. Other ratios are accepted, but they show up with black bars or cropped in some places, so it pays to get the 16:9 right before you upload.
A 1920 x 1080 image works too, as long as it stays under 2 MB. The sharpness gain is small, since thumbnails almost always display smaller than that. The table collects the cover sizes creators ask about most.
| Where | Size | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube thumbnail | 1280 x 720 px | 16:9 | At least 640 px wide, JPG, PNG or GIF, under 2 MB |
| Shorts cover | 1080 x 1920 px | 9:16 | Chosen in the YouTube app when you post |
| Reels cover | 1080 x 1920 px | 9:16 | The profile grid shows only the center, at 3:4 |
| TikTok cover | 1080 x 1920 px | 9:16 | A frame from the video, with optional text |
| Instagram post (portrait) | 1080 x 1350 px | 4:5 | Takes up more room in the feed |
| Square post | 1080 x 1080 px | 1:1 | Shows in full everywhere |
What size is a Reels, Shorts or TikTok cover?
All three use 1080 x 1920 pixels, a 9:16 ratio, the same as vertical video. The difference is what happens outside the video. On an Instagram profile, the grid shows only the center of a Reels cover: until 2025 it was a 1:1 square, now it is a 3:4 crop of 1080 x 1440. Keeping the face and the title inside the central square covers both cases.
On Shorts and TikTok, the cover is usually a frame from the video itself, picked when you post. It still pays to check which parts the buttons and profile name cover. Turn on the covered areas in the preview to see where text stays visible.
- Reels: title and face in the center, inside the 3:4 profile crop.
- Shorts: keep text out of the bottom band, where the title and channel name sit.
- TikTok: the bottom band is the tallest, with the handle, caption and sound.
- Instagram feed: 1080 x 1350 takes more screen than a square.
How do you upload a thumbnail in YouTube Studio, Instagram and TikTok?
In YouTube Studio, open Content, click the video and, under Details, find Thumbnail and choose Upload file. If the option is missing, the channel is not verified yet: phone verification unlocks custom thumbnails. On Instagram, when you post the Reel, tap Edit cover and pick the image from your camera roll. On TikTok and Shorts, the cover is chosen on the posting screen.
If the image comes from an editor, you can export the frame right there. In Premiere Pro, use the Export Frame button on the Program Monitor. In DaVinci Resolve, right-click the viewer, choose Grab Still and export it from the Gallery. In Final Cut Pro, use Share and Save Current Frame. Then load it here and set the size.
Why is my thumbnail blurry or rejected?
It is almost always one of these: the file is over 2 MB, the ratio is not 16:9, or the original was small and got enlarged. The tool handles the first two and tells you when the image had to be enlarged, so you can look for a bigger version.
Another common issue is key text in the bottom right corner, where YouTube shows the video length. With the covered areas on, that corner is marked in the preview.
- Over 2 MB: download as JPG and we lower the quality until it fits.
- Black bars: use Fill and drag to the framing you want.
- Blurry image: start from an image at least 1280 px wide.
- Hidden text: move it out of the length badge corner.
More than a thumbnail. The rest of the video comes out ready too.
See also
Frequently asked questions
What is the best YouTube thumbnail size?
1280 x 720 pixels, a 16:9 ratio. That is the size YouTube recommends, with a minimum width of 640 pixels, as JPG, PNG or GIF, under 2 MB. In this tool, choose YouTube thumbnail and the image comes out at exactly that size.
What is the maximum file size for a YouTube thumbnail?
Under 2 MB. Anything larger and YouTube rejects the upload. When you download as JPG, we try lower qualities step by step until the file fits and show you the final size. As a PNG, if it goes over, we tell you to switch to JPG.
Can I use a 1920 x 1080 thumbnail?
Yes. The ratio is the same, 16:9, and the width is well over the minimum. The catch is file size: a bigger image crosses 2 MB more easily. For most channels, 1280 x 720 looks just as sharp on screen with a smaller file.
What size is a Reels cover?
1080 x 1920 pixels, 9:16. On your profile, Instagram shows only the center of the cover, now as a 3:4 crop of 1080 x 1440 (it used to be a square). Keep the face and the title in the middle so they show in the video and in the grid.
How do I make a thumbnail from a frame of my video?
Load the video in the tool, pick the moment with the slider or the one second buttons, and set the framing. To land on an exact frame, with frame by frame stepping and timecode, use the frame extractor and then bring the image here.
Why can't I upload a custom thumbnail on YouTube?
Custom thumbnails are only available to verified channels. In YouTube Studio, verify the channel by phone. After that, the Upload file option shows up in the video's Details. Channels with active strikes can also lose the feature until the issue is resolved.
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