Drop in an image and get a 1280 by 720 thumbnail under the 2 MB limit. Choose crop to fill or fit with a blurred background, move the crop, and download a JPG or PNG. Runs in your browser.
How to use
- Add your image. Drop a JPG, PNG or WebP. A larger image gives a sharper thumbnail.
- Fill the frame. Crop to fill covers the whole thumbnail. Fit keeps the full picture over a blurred copy. Move the crop with the sliders.
- Choose the format. JPG is smaller and best for photos. PNG is sharper for text and graphics but larger. The tool lowers JPG quality as needed to fit the size limit.
- Download. Check the size shown under the preview and download the file.
Features
Exact YouTube size
1280 by 720 pixels, a 16:9 ratio, as YouTube recommends.
Stays under 2 MB
The tool tunes JPG quality to land under the limit and tells you the final size.
Crop or fit
Fill the frame, or keep the whole picture over a soft blurred background.
Safe-area guide
A guide shows the bottom-right corner where YouTube places the video length badge, so you do not put text under it.
Private
Your image is resized in your browser and never uploaded.
What people use it for
- Resize a design from any editor to exactly 1280 by 720.
- Bring a heavy PNG under YouTube's 2 MB limit.
- Turn a wide photo into a thumbnail without stretching it.
- Fit a vertical or square image onto a blurred 16:9 background.
- Check where YouTube's video length badge will cover your design.
- Prepare a custom thumbnail for a video you already uploaded.
YouTube thumbnail requirements
YouTube recommends custom thumbnails at 1280 by 720 pixels, with a minimum width of 640 pixels and a file size under 2 MB, in JPG, PNG or GIF format. The aspect ratio is 16:9. Custom thumbnails need a verified YouTube account, so if you cannot see the upload option, verify your channel first.
These numbers are from YouTube's help pages at the time of writing. YouTube has tested larger limits for some accounts, so check the help page if you are unsure.
Thumbnail tips that matter
Keep the subject large and the text short. A thumbnail is seen very small in search and in the feed, so details disappear. Leave the bottom-right corner clear because the video length badge sits there. Use strong contrast between the subject and the background.
Use the background remover to cut a subject out cleanly, then place it on a bold background in your editor and use this tool for the final size.
Crop to fill or fit on a blurred background
Crop to fill scales the image until it covers the whole 1280 by 720 frame and cuts off what does not fit, and the position sliders let you choose which part to keep. Fit keeps the entire picture and fills the leftover space with a blurred, darkened copy of the same image, which looks tidy for square or vertical pictures and for graphics you cannot crop.
Keeping the file under 2 MB
YouTube asks for thumbnails under 2 MB. A JPG is almost always small enough. PNG is sharper for text and flat graphics but can be large. If you choose PNG and the result is over the limit, the tool makes a JPG instead and tells you, lowering the quality in small steps until it fits.
A short checklist for thumbnails that get clicked
Make one subject large and clear. Use three to five words of text at most, in a heavy font with strong contrast. Keep important details out of the bottom-right corner, where the length badge appears. View the thumbnail at a small size before you upload, because most people see it smaller than a postage stamp.
Do not mislead. A thumbnail that promises something the video does not deliver may earn a click but loses the viewer in seconds, and YouTube's policies forbid misleading thumbnails.
Troubleshooting
YouTube says my thumbnail is too big
It is over 2 MB. Export as JPG, or let the tool lower the quality until it fits.
The thumbnail looks blurry after resizing
The source image was smaller than 1280 by 720. Start from a larger image or the original design file.
I cannot upload a custom thumbnail at all
Custom thumbnails need a verified YouTube account. Verify the channel in YouTube Studio first.
Part of my text is hidden
The video length badge covers the bottom-right corner. Turn on the preview guide and move your text away from the red area.
Limits and good to know
- Very small source images will look soft when enlarged to 1280 by 720.
- PNG files with lots of detail may not fit under 2 MB. The tool switches to JPG and tells you.
- This tool resizes images. It does not design the thumbnail.
Related searches
- youtube thumbnail size
- resize image for youtube thumbnail
- 1280x720 thumbnail
- compress thumbnail under 2mb
- thumbnail maker size
- youtube thumbnail dimensions
- thumbnail aspect ratio 16:9
- jpg or png for thumbnail
FAQ
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
1280 by 720 pixels with a 16:9 ratio, a minimum width of 640 pixels and a file size under 2 MB.
JPG or PNG?
JPG for photos because it is smaller. PNG for sharp text and graphics if it fits under the size limit.
Is my image uploaded?
No. It is processed in your browser.
Why can I not upload a custom thumbnail?
Custom thumbnails need a verified YouTube account.
Can I do thumbnails for Shorts?
Shorts are shown in a vertical feed, so a landscape thumbnail has little effect there. Focus on the first frame of the video itself.
What is the best thumbnail format?
JPG for photos and busy images, PNG for sharp text and flat graphics if the file stays under 2 MB.
Can I use a GIF as a thumbnail?
GIF is accepted but is shown as a still image, so there is no benefit.
Do thumbnails need to be exactly 1280 by 720?
It is the recommended size. Any 16:9 image with a width of at least 640 pixels works, but 1280 by 720 is the safest.