YouTube Thumbnail Dimensions
The exact pixel dimensions YouTube requires for custom thumbnails, plus how they display across different devices.
| Width | 1280 pixels |
| Height | 720 pixels |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Total Pixels | 921,600 (0.9 MP) |
| Desktop Display | ~246 x 138 px(In search results) |
| Mobile Display | ~168 x 94 px(In mobile feed) |
| TV Display | Up to 1280 x 720 px(Full resolution on Smart TVs) |
- Design at exactly 1280x720 pixels for pixel-perfect results.
- Keep text and faces within the center 80% to avoid cropping.
- Preview your thumbnail at both desktop and mobile sizes before publishing.
- Use bold fonts at 60px+ for readability at small display sizes.
- Consider that YouTube overlays a video duration badge in the bottom-right corner.
Frequently Asked Questions
YouTube thumbnail dimensions are exactly 1280 pixels wide by 720 pixels tall (1280x720). This follows the standard 16:9 HD aspect ratio.
1280x720 is the standard 720p HD resolution. It provides enough detail for sharp display on all devices while keeping file sizes manageable under the 2 MB limit.
On mobile devices, YouTube thumbnails typically display at around 168x94 pixels in the feed. This is why using bold, high-contrast designs with large text is so important.
No. YouTube Shorts thumbnails use a 9:16 vertical format at 1080x1920 pixels, which is the opposite orientation of standard video thumbnails.
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