The short version
- The YouTube thumbnail size is 1280×720 pixels, a 16:9 ratio that matches the video player.
- Thumbnails appear at many sizes, from a television screen to a small suggestion in a sidebar, so they must read when very small.
- YouTube places the video length in the bottom right corner of the thumbnail, so keep text and faces out of that corner.
- A few large words work far better than a sentence; the title under the thumbnail can carry the rest.
- Strong, saturated backgrounds stand out against both YouTube's light and dark themes, where pure white or black blend in.
On this page
The YouTube thumbnail size is 1280×720 pixels, a 16:9 frame that matches the video player. Design at that size, but judge the result at the size of a postage stamp, because that's how most people will see it: in search results, in the home feed on a phone and in the list of suggested videos. Keep text to a few large words, keep the bottom right corner clear for the video length, and make the main subject readable at a glance.
YouTube thumbnail size and format
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Size | 1280×720 px |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 |
| File types | JPG, PNG or GIF (static) |
| Colour profile | sRGB |
| Covered by YouTube | The bottom right corner, where the video length appears |
Thumbnail 16:9
1280 × 720
Shorts cover 9:16
1080 × 1920
Channel art
2560 × 1440
Design for the smallest size it will appear
The same thumbnail shows up large on a television, medium on a laptop and small in a phone's suggestion list. Every rule below follows from that range. If a thumbnail works small, it will work large; the reverse is rarely true.
A full sentence. Readable at full size; at thumbnail size the words shrink to a grey stripe.
Two words, huge. Readable across the room, and the video title below can say the rest.
- 1
Pick one subject
A face, an object or a few words. Not all three competing for the same small rectangle.
- 2
Use three to five words at most
The title under the thumbnail is where the sentence goes. The thumbnail adds a hook, not a repeat.
- 3
Set type heavy and large
Bold or display weights with thick strokes. Display fonts lists good options. Thin type disappears when small.
- 4
Keep the bottom right clear
The video length sits there. Move text and faces towards the top or left.
- 5
Shrink it to check
View it at about the width of your thumb on a phone. If you can't read it, simplify until you can.
Faces or type: which works better
Both work, for different kinds of video. The question is which one tells the viewer faster what they'll get.
Lead with a face
- When the person is the draw: vlogs, interviews, reactions
- Expression shows the tone of the video instantly
- Crop close; a small figure in a wide scene reads as nothing
- Keep the face away from the bottom right corner
Lead with type
- When the topic is the draw: tutorials, explainers, lists
- A few words make the promise concrete
- Needs strong contrast against the background
- Works well with a bold, consistent background for a series
Many strong thumbnails combine them: a face on one side, two or three words on the other. What matters is that each element is big enough to survive being small.
Backgrounds that stand out in both themes
YouTube is used in light and dark mode. A thumbnail with a white background melts into the light theme; one with a near-black background melts into the dark theme. Saturated, mid-toned colour stands out against both.
For a series, keep the same background look on every episode and change only the words or the image. Viewers learn to spot your videos in a feed by that consistency long before they read a word. YouTube thumbnail design covers layouts and series systems in more depth, and social media image sizes lists every other format.
Export thumbnails as PNG when they're mostly type and colour, or high-quality JPEG when they're mostly photo. Gradiently has the YouTube thumbnail and Shorts cover built in, and copy to sizes turns one finished thumbnail into a matching Shorts cover or post.
Make the thumbnail and title work together
Viewers see the thumbnail and the title as one unit. If the thumbnail repeats the title word for word, you've wasted half your space. Let each do a different job: the title says what the video is, the thumbnail shows why it's worth watching, with a result, a face, a before and after, or two words that add a twist.
Questions people ask
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
1280×720 pixels, a 16:9 ratio.
How much text should a YouTube thumbnail have?
Three to five words at most, set large and heavy. The video title below the thumbnail can carry the full sentence.
What part of a YouTube thumbnail is covered?
The bottom right corner, where YouTube shows the video length. Keep text and faces out of it.
Should YouTube thumbnails have faces?
Faces work well when the person is the reason to watch, such as vlogs and interviews. Type works better when the topic is the draw. Many thumbnails combine the two.
What file type should a YouTube thumbnail be?
JPG, PNG or static GIF. Use PNG for designs that are mostly type and colour, and high-quality JPEG for photos.
Written by Gradiently
The team behind Gradiently, a design tool built around Marks: living gradients that make everything you design look like yours.
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