YouTube
Last updated: Aug 29, 2025
YouTube rewards instant clarity. Thumbnails at 1280×720 should read at a glance; keep faces and words bold. Banners are responsive—put essentials in the center safe area. Shorts are 9:16; leave space for UI. Export crisp JPG/PNG and MP4 (H.264/AAC).
Best Practices
- Thumbnails: 1280×720 with strong contrast and minimal text.
- Center the focal point for TV and mobile viewing.
- Use channel banner safe area for taglines/logos.
- Shorts: 9:16; protect bottom area from UI overlays.
- Export MP4 (H.264/AAC); crisp JPEG/PNG for thumbs.
Pro Tips
- Design at 100%, test at ~10% zoom to simulate small sizes.
- Limit thumbnail text to 2–4 words.
- A/B test variants to improve CTR.
- Use consistent layouts/colors for brand recognition.
- Avoid busy backgrounds behind faces/headlines.
Visual Previews
Thumbnail
16:9 · Image
1280 x 720 px
Preview shows relative aspect only. Export at the listed resolution for best quality.
Channel Banner
16:9 · Image
508px
509px
507px
507px
2560 x 1440 px
Safe/overlay areas (from spec)
Preview shows relative aspect only. Export at the listed resolution for best quality.
Shorts
9:16 · Video
220px
220px
100px
1080 x 1920 px
Safe/overlay areas (from spec)
Preview shows relative aspect only. Export at the listed resolution for best quality.
Sizes
Thumbnail
- Dimensions:
- 1280 x 720 px
- Aspect Ratio:
- 16:9
- Format:
- Image
Channel Banner
- Dimensions:
- 2560 x 1440 px
- Aspect Ratio:
- 16:9
- Format:
- Image
Shorts
- Dimensions:
- 1080 x 1920 px
- Aspect Ratio:
- 9:16
- Format:
- Video
| Type | Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thumbnail | 1280 x 720 px | 16:9 | Image |
| Channel Banner | 2560 x 1440 px | 16:9 | Image |
| Shorts | 1080 x 1920 px | 9:16 | Video |
FAQ
What size should YouTube thumbnails be?
1280×720 (16:9). Keep text minimal and high-contrast.
How do I avoid banner cropping?
Place key content in the central safe area so it appears correctly on TV, desktop, and mobile.
What’s the ideal Shorts format?
Vertical 9:16 (1080×1920). Leave room at the bottom to avoid UI overlap.
YouTube Media Dimensions | SocialSpec
