---
title: "What Size Is a YouTube Thumbnail? | ImageQuarry"
url: https://www.imagequarry.com/faq/what-aspect-ratio-for-youtube-thumbnails/
last_updated: 2026-10-20
---

# What size is a YouTube thumbnail?

16:9 for regular videos. YouTube's help page suggests 3840 x 2160 pixels for video thumbnails, with a minimum width of 640 pixels, in JPG or PNG. For Shorts it suggests 9:16, at 2160 x 3840 pixels.

YouTube's help page lists upload limits of 2 MB for video thumbnails on mobile and 50 MB on desktop, and treats the aspect ratios as recommendations.

Thumbnails are seen small, so design for a phone screen: one clear subject, high contrast and a few large words at most. YouTube shows a timestamp in the bottom right corner, so keep important elements out of it.

Text in AI images can come out misspelled, so check every letter, or add the words afterwards in a design tool.

_Source: YouTube Help, add video thumbnails, checked October 20, 2026._

Next step: [Can AI generate readable text in images?](https://www.imagequarry.com/faq/can-ai-generate-readable-text-in-images/)

## Related questions

- [What is the difference between 16:9 and 9:16?](https://www.imagequarry.com/faq/what-is-the-difference-between-16-9-and-9-16/): Same shape, turned: 16:9 is wide, 9:16 is tall.
- [How do I leave room for a headline in an AI image?](https://www.imagequarry.com/faq/how-do-i-leave-room-for-text-in-an-image/): Name where the empty space goes and how big it is.
- [Can AI generate readable text in images?](https://www.imagequarry.com/faq/can-ai-generate-readable-text-in-images/): Often, for short text; always proofread it.
- [What aspect ratio does TikTok use?](https://www.imagequarry.com/faq/what-aspect-ratio-for-tiktok/): 9:16 vertical.

Last reviewed 2026-10-20 by ImageQuarry.

## Make a thumbnail people notice

Describe one clear subject and leave space for the title.