Everything you need to know about YouTube thumbnail dimensions, resolution requirements, and best practices for creating click-worthy thumbnails.
YouTube's interface is predominantly white and red. Use colors that stand out, especially in dark mode feeds.
70% of YouTube views are on mobile. Use bold fonts with at least 30% of frame height for main text.
Thumbnails with expressive human faces get 38% more clicks on average.
Avoid placing important elements in the bottom-right corner where video duration appears.
Preview your thumbnail at small sizes (like in search results) to ensure readability.
Consistent style helps viewers recognize your content in the feed.
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Try Thumbify AI Free →The recommended size is 1280×720 pixels with a 16:9 aspect ratio. This ensures your thumbnail looks great on all devices from mobile to desktop.
YouTube accepts JPG, GIF, and PNG formats. We recommend PNG for graphics with text, and JPG for photos. Keep file size under 2MB.
Yes! You need to verify your YouTube account first. Once verified, you can upload custom thumbnails for any video.
