YouTube Thumbnail Aspect Ratio
Why 16:9 is the required aspect ratio for YouTube thumbnails and how to ensure your images display correctly without cropping or letterboxing.
| Required Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Decimal Ratio | 1.778:1 |
| Recommended Size | 1280 x 720 px |
| Other 16:9 Sizes | 1920x1080, 2560x1440, 3840x2160 |
| Wrong Ratio Result | Letterboxing (black bars)(YouTube adds bars to maintain ratio) |
| Safe Zone | Center 80%(Avoid placing elements at extreme edges) |
- Always design in exactly 16:9 (1280x720) to avoid any cropping or letterboxing.
- If starting from a different ratio, crop to 16:9 rather than stretching the image.
- Keep critical elements away from the bottom-right corner where YouTube places the video duration.
- The YouTube logo or subscribe button may overlay corners on some displays.
- Test your design at different aspect ratios to ensure nothing important gets cut off.
Frequently Asked Questions
YouTube thumbnails use a 16:9 aspect ratio, the same as standard HD video. The recommended dimensions are 1280 pixels wide by 720 pixels tall.
If your thumbnail is not 16:9, YouTube will add black bars (letterboxing) to fit the 16:9 frame. For example, a square image would have black bars on the left and right sides. This looks unprofessional and wastes valuable space.
You can upload a square image, but YouTube will add black bars on the sides to make it fit the 16:9 player. Square thumbnails are not recommended as they waste screen space and look unprofessional.
No. YouTube Shorts use a 9:16 vertical aspect ratio (1080x1920 pixels), which is the opposite of standard video thumbnails.
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