Free tool
Resize an image for a YouTube thumbnail (1280 × 720)
The 16:9 size YouTube Studio asks for, sharp on a TV and quick to upload.
Your image is processed on your device and is not uploaded to our servers. Closing the page discards it.Choose an image → adjust → download
Example
Same photo, the size each site wants
The frame shows the part that fits the new shape, with its pixel size.
YouTube thumbnail1,280 × 720
About this setting
What YouTube asks for
YouTube recommends custom thumbnails at 1280 × 720 pixels, at least 640 pixels wide, as JPG, PNG or GIF. The 16:9 shape matches the video player, so the thumbnail fills the frame on phones, computers and TVs alike.
Thumbnails appear at many sizes, down to a small tile in search results and next to other videos. Big faces, strong contrast and three or four words of large text read at every size; busy scenes do not.
Tips
- Look at the preview at a small size: if it does not read as a stamp-sized image, simplify it.
- Keep the lower-right corner clear — YouTube shows the video length there.
- Use JPG for photos and PNG for graphics with flat colours and text.
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FAQ
Good to know
Is 1280 × 720 still the right YouTube thumbnail size?
Yes. It is the size YouTube Studio recommends, and larger 16:9 images are scaled down to it when shown.Can I upload a WebP thumbnail?
YouTube asks for JPG, PNG or GIF. If your picture is WebP, convert it to JPG first, then resize it here.My image is 4:3. What happens to the extra height?
The tool removes equal strips from the top and bottom to reach 16:9. If that cuts off a head, crop it yourself first with the 16:9 crop and place the frame where you want it.
Presets