YouTube Thumbnail Resizer
Resize any image to a 1280 x 720 YouTube thumbnail under 2 MB. Crop to fill or fit it with a blurred background, drag to frame it, and download a JPG. It runs in your browser. Free to use.
You get a 1280 x 720 thumbnail under 2 MB, ready for YouTube. Your image is resized in your browser and is never uploaded.
How to resize a YouTube thumbnail
- 1
Upload your image
Upload a JPG, PNG or WEBP of any size or shape: a screenshot, a photo, a design or a frame from your video.
- 2
Frame it
Pick 1280 x 720 (or Full HD, small or Shorts). Crop to fill and drag the picture to choose what stays in view, or fit the whole image with a blurred or solid background.
- 3
Download and upload to YouTube
Download a JPG that is kept under YouTube's 2 MB limit, then add it as the custom thumbnail in YouTube Studio.
When to use the thumbnail resizer
Fix "file too large"
A 4K screenshot or a PNG export is often over 2 MB. The tool saves a JPG at the best quality that still fits.
Vertical photo to 16:9
Turn a portrait phone photo into a landscape thumbnail without stretching it, with a soft blurred background behind it.
Reuse a design
Resize a square post, a banner or a poster to the 16:9 shape YouTube wants, so nothing gets cut off at the edges.
Check it at real size
See your thumbnail at the sizes viewers see it in search and in the sidebar, to make sure the text is still readable.
YouTube thumbnail rules and tips
Use 1280 x 720
YouTube recommends 1280 x 720 pixels in a 16:9 ratio, with a minimum width of 640 pixels.
Keep it under 2 MB
Custom thumbnails must be under 2 MB as JPG, PNG or GIF. A JPG at 1280 x 720 is usually a few hundred KB.
Mind the corner
YouTube shows the video length in the bottom-right corner, so keep text and faces away from it.
Big, short text
Most people see the thumbnail small. Use a few large words and strong contrast, and check the small preview.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
1280 x 720 pixels, a 16:9 ratio. The minimum width is 640 pixels. Files must be under 2 MB and in JPG, PNG or GIF format.
How do I resize an image for a YouTube thumbnail?
Upload the image, keep the 1280 x 720 size, choose Crop to fill or Fit whole image, drag to frame it, and download the JPG. Then upload it as the custom thumbnail in YouTube Studio.
Why does YouTube say my thumbnail is too large?
The file is over 2 MB. Download it here as a JPG: the tool lowers the JPG quality step by step only as much as needed to fit under 2 MB.
Will my image be stretched?
No. Crop to fill keeps the proportions and trims the edges, and Fit whole image keeps all of it and fills the empty space with a blur or a colour.
Can I make a thumbnail for YouTube Shorts?
Yes. Choose the Shorts size for a vertical 1080 x 1920 image.
Is my image uploaded?
No. The resizing happens in your browser on your own device. Your image is never uploaded to our servers.
Is it free?
Yes. It is free to use, with no watermark and no limit on how many thumbnails you resize.