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FitMyImage

YouTube thumbnail size: 16:9, under 2 MB

A 16:9 JPG or PNG at least 640 pixels wide and under 2 MB when uploaded from the mobile app (50 MB on desktop). YouTube recommends 3840 × 2160. The preset below applies every part of the rule and shows the result before you download.

Must be underKB or MB
Exact pixel size and other options
If the shape differs
or drop images here to get them under 2 MBJPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC and more. Nothing is uploaded. You can also paste a screenshot.

How it works

  1. The preset is set to 1920 × 1080 px, JPG, up to 2 MB.
  2. Drop your photo. It is cropped around the centre to the exact shape, then compressed until it fits.
  3. Check the row: size, pixels, and whether it cleared the minimum.
  4. Download, and upload it to the portal.

The rule as published

Item
Video thumbnail
Pixels
640 × 360 to 3840 × 2160 px
Shape
16:9
Format
JPG
File size
up to 2 MB
Also
Recommended 3840 × 2160 for videos; 2160 × 3840 (9:16) for Shorts; 1:1 for podcast playlists
Also
JPG or PNG
Also
Desktop uploads allow 50 MB; the mobile app allows 2 MB for video thumbnails
Source
YouTube Help, Add video thumbnails: image size and resolution (official page)
Checked
2026-11-08

Before you upload

  • The preset outputs 1920 × 1080 under 2 MB, which uploads from any device and looks sharp on a TV. If you designed at 4K and upload from a desktop, use the resize tool's 4K preset to keep 3840 × 2160 instead.
  • Thumbnails are shown as small as 168 pixels wide in a feed, so large text and one face beat fine detail.
  • If an upload fails on mobile data, set a lower limit; 500 KB is plenty for a 1080p JPG.

Questions

Is 1280 × 720 still fine?

Yes. It clears the 640 pixel minimum and is 16:9. The help page now recommends 3840 × 2160 so thumbnails stay sharp on 4K screens; the preset's 1920 × 1080 is a middle ground that stays well under 2 MB.

Why 2 MB when desktop allows 50 MB?

2 MB is the limit in the mobile app and the one people hit. A file under 2 MB uploads everywhere.

PNG or JPG?

JPG for photos and gradients, PNG for flat graphics with sharp text. Both are accepted; the preset writes JPG, and the convert tool makes a PNG if you prefer.

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