I need to make a YouTube thumbnail
Get the exact size right so your thumbnail looks sharp on every device and doesn't get rejected for being too big.
A YouTube thumbnail should be 1280×720px (16:9 aspect ratio) and under YouTube's 2MB upload limit. Crop your image to 16:9, resize it to 1280×720, and compress it so it stays under 2MB. Our Crop, Resize and Compress tools do each step in your browser. No design software or account needed.
3 tools for this
Each one is free, private and runs in your browser. No sign-up, no watermark.
Image Resizer
Resize any image to exact pixel dimensions with an optional aspect-ratio lock and ready-made social presets, free and fully in your browser.
Crop Image
Cut an image down to the exact part you want. Drag a crop box, snap to a ratio like 1:1 or 16:9, and export the trimmed area: free, private, in your browser.
Image Compressor
Shrink JPG, PNG and WebP images without a visible quality drop. Set the quality yourself, or compress to an exact target size like 100 KB. Free, entirely in your browser.
How to fix it
Follow these steps and you'll have it sorted in a couple of minutes.
- 1
Crop to 16:9
Use Crop Image to set a 16:9 ratio so the thumbnail fills YouTube's frame with no black bars.
- 2
Resize to 1280×720
Set those exact pixels in Image Resizer: the recommended thumbnail resolution.
- 3
Keep it under 2MB
YouTube rejects thumbnails over 2MB. Run Compress if your export is larger.
- 4
Frame the subject
Crop tight and place your subject boldly for a clear, clickable composition.
- Uploading a thumbnail over 2MB and getting rejected: compress it first.
- Using a low-resolution image that looks pixelated when YouTube scales it up. Start at 1280×720.
- Putting key text at the very bottom-right, where the duration stamp covers it.
Frequently asked questions
More problems we solve
Ran into one of these too? Here's the fix.
- What size should my image be for Instagram?Uploading the wrong ratio means Instagram crops your subject or squashes it. Match the pixels below and it stays sharp and framed.
- My image file is too largePhone photos are often 3–8MB. Compress (and if needed resize) to hit a 100KB or 50KB upload limit while still looking clean.
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Ready? Start with Image Resizer
Free, private and instant: everything runs in your browser.