YouTube Thumbnail Aspect Ratio Calculator
YouTube thumbnails are 16:9 at 1280×720 pixels, under 2MB, in JPG, PNG or GIF. Chapter cards, end screens and community images follow different sizes — the calculator below solves any 16:9 variant.
Ratio locked to YouTube Thumbnail. Enter either side, get the other.
Enter a width or height above.
Common YouTube Thumbnail sizes
| Pixels | Usage |
|---|---|
| 1280×720 | Thumbnail (recommended) |
| 1920×1080 | Same ratio, max quality |
| 2560×1440 | Channel banner (safe area 1546×423) |
| 800×800 | Channel icon |
Frequently asked questions
What size should a YouTube thumbnail be?
1280×720 pixels (16:9), minimum width 640px, under 2MB. Starting at 1280×720 guarantees sharpness on all devices and TV apps.
Can I upload a 4K thumbnail?
Yes — 1920×1080 or 3840×2160 are both 16:9 and will be accepted, but YouTube downscales to 1280×720, so there is no visible benefit beyond archiving quality.
Why was my thumbnail blurred?
Thumbnails under 640px wide are upscaled and can look blurry. Always export at 1280×720 or larger with minimal compression.