YouTube Thumbnail Maker
Turn a picture into a 16:9 YouTube thumbnail that stays within YouTube's upload limits. Free, and it runs on your device.
YouTube Thumbnail Maker frames a picture in the 16:9 shape YouTube asks for. Choose 1280 × 720, which stays under the 2 MB limit for uploading from a phone, or 3840 × 2160, the large size YouTube recommends, for uploading from a computer. Drag the picture to frame it, zoom in on what matters, and download it. To add text, use Add Text to Image.
How to use YouTube Thumbnail Maker
- 1
Add your picture
Drop or choose a screenshot or photo.
- 2
Choose a size and frame it
Pick 1280 × 720 or 4K, then drag and zoom until the subject fills the frame.
- 3
Download
Save the file and upload it in YouTube Studio.
What it does
- Two sizes
- 1280 × 720 for a small file, or 3840 × 2160, the size YouTube recommends.
- Within the upload limits
- JPG and WebP files stay under 2 MB at 1280 × 720 and under 50 MB at 4K.
- Private
- Your picture is processed on your device and never uploaded.
Questions
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
YouTube asks for a 16:9 picture as large as possible: it recommends 3840 × 2160 pixels, with a minimum width of 640 pixels.
What is the file size limit?
2 MB when you upload from a phone and 50 MB from a computer.
Which size should I choose?
1280 × 720 works everywhere and is plenty for most pictures. Choose 4K if your picture is at least that large; enlarging a smaller picture adds no detail.
Can I add text to the thumbnail?
Not in this tool. Use Add Text to Image on the downloaded thumbnail, then upload the result.