Quick answer: make YouTube thumbnails 1280 × 720 px (16:9), at least 640 px wide. Keep the file under 2 MB if you might upload from the mobile app (the computer limit is 50 MB). Channel banners must be at least 2048 × 1152 px and under 6 MB, with text inside the central 1235 × 338 px.
Check your image — make sure your thumbnail or banner meets YouTube's limits. The free Image Requirements Checker reads your actual file, shows which placements it fits, previews every crop and explains what to change. It runs in your browser; your image is never uploaded.
YouTube image sizes at a glance
| Image | Size | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Thumbnail — recommended | 1280 × 720 px (16:9) | Practical standard; YouTube lists up to 3840 × 2160 |
| Thumbnail — minimum width | 640 px | Platform limit |
| Thumbnail — file size | Up to 50 MB from a computer, 2 MB from the mobile app | Platform limits |
| Thumbnail — format | JPG or PNG | Official |
| Channel banner — recommended | 2560 × 1440 px (16:9) | Official recommendation |
| Channel banner — minimum | 2048 × 1152 px | Platform limit |
| Channel banner — safe area | 1235 × 338 px in the centre | Official |
| Channel banner — file size | Up to 6 MB | Platform limit |
| Profile picture | Square; shown at 98 × 98 px; up to 15 MB (JPG, GIF, BMP or PNG, not animated) | Official |
Thumbnails
YouTube's help center asks for a 16:9 thumbnail at least 640 px wide, in JPG or PNG. It now lists 3840 × 2160 px as the resolution to aim for, but 1280 × 720 px remains the practical standard: it is sharp on every screen and far easier to keep under the mobile file limit.
Recommended, minimum and file size: the difference
- Recommended (1280 × 720 px): what you should export. Larger, up to 3840 × 2160, is also fine.
- Minimum (640 px wide): a hard limit — narrower images are rejected.
- File size: up to 50 MB when you upload from a computer, but only 2 MB from the YouTube mobile app. A 1280 × 720 JPG is normally well under 2 MB.
Common thumbnail mistakes
- Using a shape other than 16:9, which leaves black bars or gets cropped.
- Putting text in the bottom-right corner, where YouTube shows the video length.
- Text too small to read at phone size — check it at a few hundred pixels wide.
- Exporting a huge PNG that is over the 2 MB mobile limit.
Channel banner
The banner is the most cropped image on YouTube. Upload at least 2048 × 1152 px (16:9) — YouTube recommends 2560 × 1440 px for TVs — and keep the file under 6 MB.
Safe area: TVs show the whole banner, computers show a wide strip across the middle, and phones show even less. Only the central 1235 × 338 px is guaranteed to appear on every device, so put your name, logo and any text there and treat the rest as background.
Profile picture
YouTube shows your profile picture as a circle at 98 × 98 px and accepts JPG, GIF (not animated), BMP or PNG up to 15 MB. Upload a square image well above that size, with the face or logo centred.
YouTube Shorts
Shorts use the full 9:16 frame, and the buttons, title and auto-captions cover parts of it. Our YouTube Shorts safe zone guide shows the measured areas to keep clear, and the Social Video Safe Zone Checker checks your video against them.
Practical recommendations
- Thumbnails: 1280 × 720 JPG, large readable text, nothing important bottom-right.
- Banners: design at 2560 × 1440 with all text inside the central 1235 × 338.
- Check the file size if you upload from your phone.
Frequently asked questions
What size should a YouTube thumbnail be?
1280 × 720 px is the practical standard. YouTube requires at least 640 px wide and lists up to 3840 × 2160 px.
What is the YouTube thumbnail aspect ratio?
16:9. Other shapes may be shown with black bars or cropped.
How large can a YouTube thumbnail file be?
Up to 50 MB when you upload from a computer and 2 MB from the YouTube mobile app, according to YouTube's help center.
What is the YouTube banner safe area?
The central 1235 × 338 px of a 2560 × 1440 px banner. It is the only part guaranteed to show on every device.
Why is my YouTube banner cropped on my phone?
Phones and computers show only a strip across the middle of the banner. Keep text and logos inside the 1235 × 338 px safe area.
Sources and how to read these values
Last reviewed: 8 October 2026, the same review as the Image Requirements Checker.
Each value above is labelled: a platform limit is documented by the platform and uploads outside it fail; an official recommendation comes from the platform's own help pages; a third-party recommendation is widely published but not confirmed on an official page; practical guidance is our advice. Platforms change their layouts without notice, so check important images in the app itself.
- YouTube Help: add video thumbnails (minimum width, formats, 50 MB / 2 MB)
- YouTube Help: manage your channel branding (banner, safe area, profile picture)