Creative Tools
YouTube Thumbnail Size Calculator
See the recommended 1280×720 size, or enter a custom width for 16:9 height and a rough file-size estimate.
What size should a YouTube thumbnail be?
YouTube’s recommended thumbnail size is 1280×720 pixels at a 16:9 aspect ratio. Enter any custom width to compute the matching height, and optionally estimate a rough file size from megapixels times a bytes-per-pixel factor (JPEG compression varies wildly, so treat size as order-of-magnitude only). Safe title area and face framing still matter more than exact pixels once you meet the resolution floor — leave margin so cropped previews on mobile do not clip text. Export sharp focal points near the centre third when possible. For general crop maths see aspect ratio; for print-oriented dimensions use print size.
Worked example
Width 1280 → height 720. At ~0.5 bytes/pixel, rough size ≈ 1280×720×0.5 ≈ 450 KB before real JPEG quantisation.
Limits and assumptions
Platform rules can change. File-size estimate ignores chroma subsampling and encoder quality settings.
Frequently asked questions
Is 1280×720 required?
It is the common recommendation; larger 16:9 images are often accepted but are scaled — confirm current YouTube help docs.
PNG or JPEG?
JPEG is typical for photos; PNG for sharp UI text. File-size estimate is a generic bytes×pixels model.
What about Shorts?
Shorts use vertical video; this tool targets classic 16:9 thumbnails.
Why is my export heavier than the estimate?
High quality settings and less compression increase bytes per pixel — raise the bpp field to match.