OFFICIAL SPECS · CHECKED SEPTEMBER 16, 2026
YouTube thumbnail size.
The recommended YouTube thumbnail size for videos is 3840 × 2160 pixels at 16:9, with a minimum width of 640 pixels. Keep the file under 2 MB when uploading from mobile or 50 MB from desktop. Source: YouTube Help.
One table. Different upload rules.
The comparison below records the cited official guidance as checked on . This is a dated comparison across placements and devices, not a historical before-and-after claim. “Not stated” means the linked guidance does not publish that specification.
| Placement / upload device | Dimensions | Aspect ratio | File size limit | Official source | Checked on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Video thumbnail / desktop upload | 3840 x 2160 pixels recommended; minimum width 640 pixels. | 16:9 | Under 50 MB | YouTube Help | 2026-09-16 |
| Video thumbnail / mobile upload | 3840 x 2160 pixels recommended; minimum width 640 pixels. | 16:9 | Under 2 MB | YouTube Help | 2026-09-16 |
| Shorts custom thumbnail / desktop upload | 2160 x 3840 pixels recommended; minimum height 640 pixels. | 9:16 | Under 50 MB | YouTube Help | 2026-09-16 |
| Shorts custom thumbnail / mobile upload | Not available: custom Shorts thumbnails can only be added in YouTube Studio on a computer. | Not stated by YouTube in the cited guidance. | Not stated by YouTube in the cited guidance. | YouTube Help | 2026-09-16 |
| Podcast playlist thumbnail | Not stated by YouTube in the cited guidance. | 1:1 | Mobile: under 10 MB; desktop: under 50 MB. | YouTube Help | 2026-09-16 |
| Channel banner | Recommended: 2560 x 1440 px (especially for TV). Minimum upload: 2048 x 1152 px. Text/logo safe area at that minimum: 1235 x 338 px. | 16:9 | 6 MB or smaller | YouTube Help | 2026-09-16 |
| Channel profile picture | Renders at 98 X 98 px. Upload pixel dimensions: not stated by YouTube in the cited guidance. | Upload ratio: not stated by YouTube in the cited guidance. | Should not exceed 15 MB | YouTube Help | 2026-09-16 |
Download this exact table as CSV · UTF-8 · includes source URLs and the check date.
Read the limits in context
Custom thumbnails: YouTube requires a verified account. Its current Shorts instructions allow custom image uploads in YouTube Studio on a computer, not mobile. The image-format examples listed for thumbnails are JPG and PNG. Official thumbnail guidance.
Vertical video previews: the same guidance says a 16:9 custom thumbnail is replaced by an auto-generated 4:5 thumbnail on home, explore and subscription pages; the custom image remains on the watch feed, watch history and non-mobile platforms. This is a display rule, not another image-upload size.
Banners: the branding page distinguishes the minimum upload size from the recommended size. Its companion tips page separately says “at least 2560x1440 px” for best display on all devices. Both statements are retained here: branding specifications and banner tips. Keep the safe-area dimensions tied to the minimum-size canvas; do not treat them as dimensions for every canvas.
Profile pictures: 98 X 98 px describes rendering, not a published upload-resolution recommendation. The branding page lists JPG, GIF, BMP and PNG, excludes animated GIFs, and states the file limit. The tips page recommends a square or round image without specifying a numeric upload ratio. Profile picture guidelines · Profile picture tips.
All official statements in this section were checked on September 16, 2026. Where the sources use different wording, it is shown separately rather than converted into a new requirement.
Conversions you can actually use
These are worked calculations, not additional YouTube requirements. The video dimensions and ratio come from the official table above; example inputs are labelled below.
Reduce width : height
For the recommended video image, divide both dimensions by their greatest common divisor, 240:
3840 ÷ 240 = 16
2160 ÷ 240 = 9
3840 : 2160 = 16 : 9
To check another image without rounding, compare width × 9 with height × 16. Equal values mean an exact 16:9 ratio.
Find the missing pixel dimension
At 16:9, height = width × 9 ÷ 16. Using an example width of 1280 pixels:
1280 × 9 ÷ 16 = 720 pixels
For a 3840-pixel width: 3840 × 9 ÷ 16 = 2160. The first result is a calculated example, not the current official recommended resolution.
Pixels to inches or centimetres
Physical size needs a pixel-density assumption. With an example density of 300 pixels per inch (PPI):
3840 ÷ 300 = 12.8 inches
12.8 × 2.54 = 32.512 cm
Formulas: inches = pixels ÷ PPI; cm = inches × 2.54. One inch is exactly 2.54 cm by unit definition. 300 PPI is this example's input, not a YouTube rule. Pixel dimensions alone do not determine a physical size.
How many bytes is 2 MB?
In decimal units, 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes, so:
2 × 1,000,000 = 2,000,000 bytes
Binary units differ: 1 MiB = 1,048,576 bytes, so 2 MiB = 2,097,152 bytes. These are unit definitions and arithmetic, not a measurement of YouTube's uploader. The cited YouTube page says MB but does not give an exact byte threshold or define its MB convention.
Our tester uses 2,000,000 bytes as a conservative interpretation of the mobile-video label. YouTube's own upload result remains authoritative. Pixel count does not determine encoded file size: check the actual exported bytes.
Put the dimensions to work
Preview your image across layouts, or resize it and inspect the actual exported file size.
Check your thumbnail →Resize your thumbnail →
The resizer starts at a 1280 × 720 preset. Choose Custom dimensions and enter the dimensions from the table for your intended placement.
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