YouTube Thumbnail Resizer
Resize an image to YouTube thumbnail size: 16:9, up to 3840 × 2160, at least 640 px wide, as JPG or PNG within 2 MB.
Use YouTube Thumbnail Resizer
Correct dimensions do not guarantee acceptance; YouTube content policies still apply. Free, no sign-up. Runs in your browser; nothing you enter is uploaded.
How to use it
Make a 16:9 YouTube thumbnail from a photo or design. Fill and crop fills the frame; Fit inside keeps the whole image with bars.
- Upload a photo or design.
- Pick a size, then choose Fill and crop or Fit inside.
- Choose JPG or PNG and check the preview for cropped text or blur.
- Download the file and check that it is 2 MB or less before uploading to YouTube Studio.
How it works
16:9 crop: if W·9 ≥ H·16, crop width = H·16/9; else crop height = W·9/16
Picture kept = min(W·9, H·16) ÷ max(W·9, H·16)
Largest whole-pixel size = 16·k × 9·k with k = floor(min(W/16, H/9)), from 640 × 360 up to 3840 × 2160
Example
Jaipur jewellery shop, ₹1,25,000 set
Crop a bridal-set photo for a 20% sale, keeping the necklace and “Now ₹1,00,000” headline in view.
Questions
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
YouTube recommends 3840 × 2160 pixels at 16:9, with a minimum width of 640 px (checked 26 October 2026). The smallest 16:9 option is 640 × 360.
How big can the thumbnail file be?
YouTube allows 2 MB on mobile and 50 MB on desktop. This tool targets 2 MB for both. Lower JPG quality to reduce file size; PNG has no quality setting.
Will a small picture be stretched to 3840 × 2160?
Only if you pick that size. A 1920 × 1080 image becomes 2× larger at 3840 × 2160 and may look soft; choose 1920 × 1080 instead.
Can I turn a vertical photo into a thumbnail?
Yes. Fill and crop keeps only 42% of a 3024 × 4032 portrait photo; move the frame to keep the subject. Fit inside keeps the whole photo with bars at the sides.
Should I save the thumbnail as JPG or PNG?
YouTube accepts both. Choose JPG to reduce file size by lowering quality. PNG preserves detail but a detailed 3840 × 2160 image can exceed 2 MB.
Can I resize a Shorts thumbnail?
This tool covers 16:9 video thumbnails, not 2160 × 3840 Shorts thumbnails.
Sources
- YouTube Help: Add video thumbnails (opens in a new tab)
Checked 26 Oct 2026.
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