YouTube Thumbnail Size & Specs Guide 2025 (Long-Form + Shorts)
Get the exact pixel dimensions, file size limits, and format requirements for YouTube thumbnails and Shorts covers.
Standard YouTube Thumbnail Specs
Dimensions: 1280 × 720 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio)
Minimum width: 640 pixels
Recommended: 1280 × 720 at 72+ PPI
File formats: JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG
Maximum file size: 2 MB
Aspect ratio: 16:9 (matches YouTube player)
YouTube Shorts Cover Image Specs
Dimensions: 1080 × 1920 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio)
Alternative: Any 9:16 dimension (e.g., 720 × 1280)
File formats: JPG, PNG
Maximum file size: 2 MB
Safe zone: Keep key elements in the center 80% of the image (edges may be cropped on some devices)
Text considerations
Keep important text within the center 90% of the image. YouTube adds borders and UI elements at the edges that can obscure extreme corners.
Recommended text size: Minimum 30% of image height for primary text. Larger text = higher readability at thumbnail scale.
Color mode
Use RGB color mode (not CMYK). CMYK colors are designed for print and will render incorrectly on screen.
How shortube.pro generates compliant thumbnails
- shortube.pro's AI Thumbnail Generator outputs:
- 16:9 thumbnails at 1280×720 (standard YouTube)
- 9:16 thumbnails at 1080×1920 (YouTube Shorts)
All images are PNG format, under 2MB, in RGB color mode — ready to upload directly to YouTube Studio.
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