Short answer: Make video thumbnails 3,840 by 2,160 pixels, or at least 640 pixels wide, in a 16:9 ratio. Make your channel banner at least 2,048 by 1,152 pixels and keep text and logos inside its central 1,235 by 338 pixels, because the rest gets cropped on some screens.
The image sizes YouTube asks for
YouTube Help lists a size and a file limit for each image on your channel.
| Image | Size | File |
|---|---|---|
| Video thumbnail | 3,840 × 2,160 recommended, at least 640 wide, 16:9 | JPG or PNG; up to 2 MB from a phone, 50 MB from a computer |
| Shorts thumbnail | 2,160 × 3,840 recommended, at least 640 tall, 9:16 | JPG or PNG; up to 50 MB, from a computer only |
| Podcast playlist thumbnail | Square, 1:1 | Up to 10 MB from a phone, 50 MB from a computer |
| Channel banner | At least 2,048 × 1,152, 16:9; 2,560 × 1,440 recommended; safe area 1,235 × 338 | 6 MB or smaller |
| Profile picture | Shown at 98 × 98 | JPG, GIF, BMP or PNG, no animated GIFs; up to 15 MB |
| Video watermark | Square, at least 150 × 150 | Under 1 MB |
From YouTube Help, read November 4, 2026.
Thumbnails: as large as possible
YouTube asks for custom thumbnails as large as possible, because the same image is the preview in the embedded player. It recommends 3,840 by 2,160 pixels for videos, with a minimum width of 640, as JPG or PNG.
Aim for 16:9 for videos, 9:16 for Shorts and 1:1 for podcast playlists. A vertical video with a 16:9 thumbnail gets an automatic 4:5 thumbnail on the home, explore and subscription pages instead.
Custom thumbnails need a verified account, and they must follow the Community Guidelines. YouTube can reject a thumbnail and add a strike to the account. A new thumbnail can take a while to appear.
Our image formats guide covers when to use JPG or PNG, and our image compression guide covers keeping files light.
Banner: keep the safe area clear
Your banner is the background at the top of your channel. YouTube uses the same image on computers, phones and TVs, but shows it differently on each, so parts of it get cropped.
Upload at least 2,048 by 1,152 pixels in 16:9, or 2,560 by 1,440 for TVs. At the minimum size, keep text and logos inside the central 1,235 by 338 pixels. Skip shadows, borders and frames, and keep the file at 6 MB or less.
Profile picture and watermark
Your profile picture appears on your channel, your videos and your public actions across YouTube, and it renders at 98 by 98 pixels. Upload a JPG, GIF, BMP or PNG of up to 15 MB; animated GIFs aren’t accepted.
A video watermark promotes your channel inside your videos. It needs a square image of at least 150 by 150 pixels and under 1 MB, and it doesn’t show on videos set as made for kids.
How to update your channel images
- Verify your YouTube account so you can upload custom thumbnails.
- Design video thumbnails at 3,840 by 2,160 pixels in 16:9, and Shorts thumbnails at 2,160 by 3,840.
- Save them as JPG or PNG within the size limit of the device you upload from.
- In YouTube Studio, open Content, pick a video and upload the file under Thumbnail.
- Make a banner of at least 2,048 by 1,152 pixels with text and logos inside the 1,235 by 338 safe area.
- In YouTube Studio, go to Customization and then Profile to change the banner, profile picture and watermark.
- Check the channel on a computer, a phone and a TV before you share it.
Our YouTube ads guide covers running ads with those videos.
Before you publish
- Video thumbnails are 16:9 and at least 640 pixels wide.
- Files are JPG or PNG within the size limit.
- Your account is verified for custom thumbnails.
- The banner is at least 2,048 by 1,152 pixels.
- Text and logos sit inside the 1,235 by 338 safe area.
- The profile picture reads well at 98 by 98 pixels.
RememberDesign thumbnails large, at 3,840 by 2,160, and keep banner text inside the safe area. YouTube shrinks and crops both for each screen.
If you need the videos themselves, see our video production service.
Quick answers about YouTube image sizes
What size should a YouTube thumbnail be?
YouTube recommends 3,840 by 2,160 pixels for video thumbnails, with a minimum width of 640 pixels, in a 16:9 ratio. Upload a JPG or PNG of up to 2 MB from a phone or 50 MB from a computer.
What size is a YouTube banner?
At least 2,048 by 1,152 pixels, in a 16:9 ratio, and 6 MB or smaller. YouTube recommends 2,560 by 1,440, especially for TV, and keeps text and logos safe inside the central 1,235 by 338 pixels.
Why can’t I upload a custom thumbnail?
Custom thumbnails need a verified account. Without one, you can still pick a suggestion that YouTube generates. Thumbnails must also follow the Community Guidelines, or YouTube can reject them and add a strike to the account.
What size should a Shorts thumbnail be?
YouTube recommends 2,160 by 3,840 pixels, with a minimum height of 640 pixels, in a 9:16 ratio. For now, custom Shorts thumbnails can only be added in YouTube Studio on a computer.
What size is a YouTube profile picture?
YouTube shows it at 98 by 98 pixels on your channel, your videos and your public actions. Upload a JPG, GIF, BMP or PNG file of 15 MB or less; animated GIFs aren’t accepted.
Sources
Read on November 4, 2026. YouTube Help: Add custom thumbnails on YouTube and Manage your channel branding.