YouTube guide
YouTube thumbnail size (3840×2160px)
What YouTube says about image sizes, and what SizeSpec outputs for it. Checked .
What we output
- Size
- 3840 × 2160 px
- File size goal
- Under 2.0 MB
- Framing
- Crop to fill
What YouTube says
- Tip3840 x 2160 px, aspect ratio 16:9.
- RuleAt least 640 px wide.
- RuleJPG or PNG.
- RuleUp to 2 MB when uploading from a phone; up to 50 MB from a computer.
We aim for 2 MB so the file works from a phone too, and shrink gently (never below 1920 px wide) if a detailed picture needs it. Shorts thumbnails are a different shape (9:16) and not covered by this preset.
Source: YouTube Help: Add video thumbnails. Marketplace rules change, so check the source before relying on a figure.
Resize your photos to the YouTube spec
- 01Open the studio and choose the YouTube video thumbnail preset.
- 02Drop in your photos, in any size or shape.
- 03Download one ZIP: every photo at 3840 × 2160 px, compressed toward 2.0 MB.
Your first pack each month is free, and your photos are never uploaded.
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Questions
What size should YouTube photos be?
3840 × 2160 px. Aim for under 2.0 MB.
Does YouTube crop or fit the photo?
YouTube photos are cropped to fill the full 3840 × 2160 px frame, with nothing added around the edges.
Where do these YouTube numbers come from?
From YouTube Help: Add video thumbnails, checked November 3, 2026. Marketplace rules change, so check the source before relying on a figure.
Anything else to watch for with YouTube?
We aim for 2 MB so the file works from a phone too, and shrink gently (never below 1920 px wide) if a detailed picture needs it. Shorts thumbnails are a different shape (9:16) and not covered by this preset.