

Keep the file size under 2MB to be able to successfully upload it to YouTube. The maximum upload size of a YouTube thumbnail image is 2MB.

You could use a simple aspect ratio calculator to make sure your thumbnails follow this ratio. Why 16:9 ratio? Because that’s the ratio used most often in YouTube players and previews. Aspect ratio is derived by comparing the width of the image to its height and expressing this comparison as a ratio.Īn aspect ratio of 16:9 means your thumbnail image should be 16 units wide and 9 units tall. Your thumbnail image should maintain an aspect ratio of 16:9. An image with a width lower than 640 pixels cannot be set as a thumbnail for a video on YouTube. While 1280 pixels is the ideal width, the minimum recommended width of a thumbnail image is 640 pixels. If you use low-resolution images, they’ll look pixelated when used as a preview image in the embedded player, or a suggestion for the next watch.įor this reason, you want a high-resolution image that won’t look blurred when scaled up. The larger size has to do with the quality of the image. The best YouTube thumbnail size is 1280 x 720 pixels. All the following recommendations come directly from google, so it’s safe to say that they’re reliable. YouTube Thumbnail Best Practices YouTube Thumbnail Dimensions: Everything You Need to Knowīelow is a list of technical requirements for a YouTube thumbnail image. How to Create a YouTube Thumbnail with Picmaker How to Enable Custom Thumbnails on YouTube YouTube Thumbnail Dimensions: Everything You Need to Know

Moreover, it helps you improve your channel’s brand recognition apart from attracting more eyeballs to your content.īecause of thumbnails being pivotal in getting more views for your YouTube videos, we’ve put together a guide on everything you need to know about custom thumbnails for YouTube, specifically, we’ll look at: Because of YouTube primarily being a visual platform, the thumbnail image is the first thing your viewers will see before they read the title of your video.įor this reason, a thumbnail plays a huge part in deciding whether a person will watch or ignore a video. Well, your thumbnail image is your video’s first impression. It might be because your video thumbnails are failing to grab their attention or give the viewers a good first impression. You’ve spent hours making your videos entertaining and informative. The thumbnail should have a minimum width of 640 pixels and follow an aspect ratio of 16:9.Įver feel like your YouTube videos aren’t getting the attention they deserve?

Optimize your thumbnail image for the best dimensions: 1280 pixels wide and 720 pixels tall.
