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Free · Nothing uploaded · Light and dark mode

YouTube Thumbnail Preview

See your thumbnail and title the way viewers will: on the home feed, in search, next to other videos and on a phone.

Drop your thumbnail here, or choose a file

JPG or PNG · 1280 × 720 or larger · stays on your device

51/100
Where it shows
YouTube theme

Paste links to videos you compete with. Their thumbnails show around yours, so you can see which one stands out.

By using TubeKit, you agree to our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and the YouTube Terms of Service.

YouTube thumbnail size guide

From YouTube Help. Export at 1280 × 720 px or larger, 16:9, as a JPG or PNG.

ItemSize
Recommended size3840 × 2160 px
Common size1280 × 720 px (sharp on most screens)
Minimum width640 px
Aspect ratio16:9
File formatsJPG, PNG
Maximum file size50 MB from a computer, 2 MB from the phone app
Shorts thumbnails2160 × 3840 px, 9:16
Full guide: YouTube thumbnail size for videos and Shorts

How to test a YouTube thumbnail

  1. 01

    Add your thumbnail

    Drop your image above or choose a file, then type the video title. Nothing is uploaded.

  2. 02

    Check every view

    Switch between Home, Search, Up next and Mobile, in light and dark mode, and see where the title gets cut off.

  3. 03

    Compare with competitors

    Paste links to videos you compete with. If yours doesn't stand out next to them, change the colors, text or face.

See your YouTube thumbnail the way viewers will

A thumbnail that looks great full screen can disappear at 168 px wide. Test it where people actually see it.

Four YouTube views
Home feed, search results, the Up next column and the phone app, laid out like YouTube.
Real competitors
Put real videos next to yours to see which thumbnail gets the click.
Light and dark mode
Many viewers watch in dark mode. Make sure your colors work on both backgrounds.
Private by design
Your thumbnail stays in your browser. No upload and no sign-in.

YouTube thumbnail checklist before you publish

Run through these checks with the preview above. They take a minute and catch the problems viewers notice first.

Readable on a phone
Many viewers browse on small screens. Keep text to a few large words and make sure it still reads in the mobile view, in light and dark mode.
Clear the bottom-right corner
YouTube shows the video length in the bottom-right corner of every thumbnail. Keep faces, text and logos out of that spot.
Title and image work together
Check where your title gets cut off in each view. Put the words that matter first, and don't repeat in the title what the image already says.
Stands out next to competitors
Add the videos you expect to appear beside. If your thumbnail blends in with their colors and layout, change one of them.

Frequently asked questions

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