The right size for every image and video you upload to YouTube, taken from YouTube Help and dated. Each guide comes with a free checker that tells you if your file is ready.
| Asset | Size | Shape | Max file size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video thumbnail | 3840 × 2160 pixels recommended, at least 640 pixels wide | 16:9 | 2 MB from a phone, 50 MB from a computer |
| Shorts thumbnail | 2160 × 3840 pixels recommended, at least 640 pixels tall | 9:16 | 50 MB from a computer |
| Channel banner | 2560 × 1440 pixels recommended, 2048 × 1152 pixels minimum | 16:9 | 6 MB |
| Banner safe area | 1235 × 338 pixels at the minimum size | centered | – |
| Video | 1920 × 1080 (HD) or 3840 × 2160 (4K) | 16:9 | – |
| Shorts | Vertical or square | 9:16 or 1:1 | up to 3 minutes long |
| Profile picture | Shown at 98 × 98 pixels | square, shown as a circle | 15 MB |
| Video watermark | At least 150 × 150 pixels | square | 1 MB |
Sources: YouTube Help on thumbnails, channel branding, video resolutions and Shorts.
Size guides and checkers
- SIZESThumbnail sizeThe official YouTube thumbnail size, minimum width, format and file limits for videos and Shorts, plus a free checker that tests your image in your browser.
- SIZESBanner sizeThe official YouTube banner size, minimum dimensions, safe area for text and logos, and file limit, with a free checker that marks the safe area on your image.
- SIZESVideo sizeThe YouTube video aspect ratio and every recommended resolution from 240p to 8K, with a free calculator that checks your width and height.
- SIZESShorts sizeThe YouTube Shorts aspect ratio, video size, maximum length and thumbnail size, from YouTube Help, with a free calculator to check your dimensions.
- SIZESProfile picture sizeHow big a YouTube profile picture is shown, which formats and file sizes YouTube accepts, and a free preview of your image in a circle at small sizes.
Three rules that apply everywhere
Start big, then export
Design at the recommended size and export a smaller copy only if you need one. Scaling a small image up always looks soft, while a large image scaled down stays sharp.
Keep the important part in the middle
YouTube shows the same image on phones, computers and TVs. Banners get cropped at the sides and top, and thumbnails get covered by the video length in one corner. Faces and text belong near the center.
Check the file before you upload
Most upload errors come from three things: the wrong shape, an image that is too small, or a file that is too heavy. The checkers on each guide catch all three in a few seconds, without uploading anything.