What size should a YouTube thumbnail be?
YouTube's current recommendations for custom thumbnails:
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels for videos, 2160 x 3840 for Shorts
- Minimum: 640 pixels wide for videos, 640 pixels tall for Shorts
- Aspect ratio: 16:9 for videos, 9:16 for Shorts, 1:1 for podcast playlists
- Format: an image format such as JPG or PNG
- File size: under 2 MB when you upload from a phone, under 50 MB from a computer
Crop to fill or fit with a background?
Crop to fill scales the image until it covers the whole frame and trims whatever spills over. Use it when the subject sits near the middle, then drag the preview or use the position slider to keep faces and text in frame.
Fit with background keeps the entire image and fills the empty space with a blurred copy of it or a solid color. It suits screenshots, square artwork and tall photos, where cropping would cut off something important.
Why won't YouTube accept my thumbnail?
The usual reasons, all from YouTube's own help pages:
- The file is too big: over 2 MB from the mobile app or 50 MB from a computer
- The image is too small: under 640 pixels wide for a video thumbnail
- The account isn't verified, which YouTube requires before custom thumbnails
- The channel hit its daily custom thumbnail limit; YouTube says to try again in 24 hours