YouTube Image Sizes
On YouTube, the thumbnail is the highest-impact image you’ll ever make — it decides the click. The spec is simple: 1280×720, 16:9, under 2MB.
The channel banner is trickier: you upload 2560×1440, but TVs, desktops and phones each crop it differently — everything essential must live inside the central 1546×423 safe area.
| Use | Pixels | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thumbnail | 1280×720 | 16:9 | Max 2MB (JPG/PNG). Minimum width 640px. |
| Channel banner | 2560×1440 | 16:9 | Safe area for all devices: central 1546×423. |
| Profile picture | 800×800 | 1:1 | Displayed as a circle. |
| Shorts frame | 1080×1920 | 9:16 | Full-screen vertical, same canvas as Reels/TikTok. |
| Video watermark | 150×150 | 1:1 | The small subscribe watermark in the player corner. |
Pro tips for YouTube
- Thumbnails over 2MB get rejected — compress after designing (our compressor targets an exact size).
- Test your thumbnail at small size: it must read at 168px wide, which is how most people see it.
- For the banner, put logo + slogan inside the safe area and let the rest be texture/background.
Workflow: crop to the right ratio → resize to the exact pixels → compress lightly before upload. Every tool runs in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the exact YouTube thumbnail size?
- 1280×720 pixels (16:9), under 2MB, minimum 640px wide. JPG is usually the best balance of quality and size.
- Why does my banner look cut off on mobile?
- Each device crops the 2560×1440 upload differently. Keep everything important inside the central 1546×423 safe area and it will survive every crop.
- How do I get a thumbnail under 2MB?
- Export at 1280×720, then run it through a compressor with a target below 2MB — ours does it in the browser without uploading the image.
Other platforms
🔒 Your files never leave your device. Every tool linked on this page runs entirely in your browser.