Free Thumbnail Tester

YouTube Thumbnail Size Guide & Preview

YouTube thumbnails must be 1280x720 pixels (HD resolution) with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Maximum file size is 2MB. Preview yours here.

YouTube Thumbnail Preview is a free YouTube optimization tool by Kubes that previews how YouTube thumbnails appear in search results and suggested videos before publishing. Thumbnails are responsible for 90% of a video's click-through rate.

CTR Optimization Data

90%

CTR determined by thumbnail

2-10%

Average YouTube CTR

1280x720

Optimal thumbnail size

Settings

Drop image or click to upload

16:9 recommended

Y
10:34
Y

Your Amazing Video Title That Might Be Too Long

Your Channel

1.2M views2 days ago

Thumbnail
10:30
R

Deepinder Goyal: Zomato, 10-Min Delivery, Founder Mindset & Business In India | FO453 Raj Shamani

Raj Shamani

2.8M views3 weeks ago

Thumbnail
15:44
R

Bill Gates on India, Billion-Dollar Business Opportunities, PM Modi & Children | FO335 Raj Shamani

Raj Shamani

4.1M views2 months ago

Timestamp Check: Make sure your important text isn't covered by the 10:34 badge in the bottom-right corner!

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Mobile Preview
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How to Use the YouTube Thumbnail Previewer

  1. 1

    Upload your thumbnail image.

  2. 2

    Enter your video title.

  3. 3

    Preview in different contexts (search, suggested, mobile).

  4. 4

    Compare multiple thumbnail options.

  5. 5

    Choose the best performing visual.

Why Thumbnails Determine Click-Through Rate

Your thumbnail is responsible for 90% of a video's click-through rate. A thumbnail that stands out in search results can double or triple your views without changing anything else.

Frequently Asked Questions

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The Technical Requirements for YouTube Thumbnails

YouTube's thumbnail requirements aren't arbitrary—they're engineered for optimal display across every device where your video might appear, from smartphones to 4K TVs. Understanding these technical specifications can mean the difference between a professional-looking channel and amateurish presentation. The golden standard is 1280x720 pixels, which represents HD resolution at a 16:9 aspect ratio. This isn't just a recommendation; it's the exact resolution YouTube scales thumbnails from. If you upload anything smaller, YouTube upscales it, creating pixelation and blur. If you upload larger, YouTube downscales it, wasting bandwidth and potentially introducing compression artifacts. Why 16:9 specifically? This aspect ratio matches modern video players and most displays. When viewers watch on desktop, mobile, TV apps, or embed players, a 16:9 thumbnail seamlessly integrates without letterboxing (black bars on sides) or pillarboxing (black bars on top/bottom). Alternative ratios like 4:3 or 1:1 force YouTube to add those unsightly bars or crop your carefully designed thumbnail. The 2MB file size limit exists for performance. Millions of thumbnails load simultaneously across YouTube. Larger files slow page speed, increase bounce rates, and hurt user experience. But here's the pro tip: you rarely need to hit 2MB. Modern compression tools can deliver stunning 1280x720 JPEGs at 200-400KB without visible quality loss. Format matters too. YouTube accepts JPG, GIF, or PNG, but JPG is optimal for photos and gradients, while PNG works better for graphics with sharp edges and text. Most creators use JPG at 80-90% quality for the sweet spot between file size and visual fidelity.

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