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Guide - The Right Image Sizes for YouTube

The right image size on YouTube can make all the difference between someone clicking on your video—or scrolling right past it. Here, we’ll guide you through the optimal formats for thumbnails, banners, and everything in between.

The Right Sizes on YouTube in 2026

Updated: March 26, 2020

YouTube is a platform where visual content determines whether viewers stick around—and the right image format matters more than many people realize. Whether you’re uploading a thumbnail, designing a channel banner, or creating an end screen, you need the right dimensions.

A pixelated thumbnail or a cropped banner can make even high-quality video content look amateurish.
In this guide, we’ve compiled the latest recommendations for 2026. We cover everything from optimal thumbnail dimensions to how to ensure your channel banners, profile pictures, and end screens look sharp on all devices.

Table of Contents

Profile picture (Channel icon)

  • Recommended size: 800 x 800 px
  • Format: JPG, PNG, GIF (non-animated)
Illustration showing an image size of 800x800

Channel Banner (Channel Art)

  • Recommended size: 2560 x 1440 px
  • Safe zone (for all devices): 1546 x 423 px in the center of the image. This is the area that is guaranteed to be visible on both mobile devices and computers. Anything outside this area may be cropped on smaller screens.
Illustration showing the image size 2560x1440

YouTube Shorts

  • Recommended size: 1080 x 1920 px (9:16)
  • Length: Up to 60 seconds.
  • Tip: Just like on Reels and TikTok, keep text away from the edges so it doesn’t overlap with the interface.
Illustration showing the image size 1080x1920

Video thumbnail

  • Recommended size: 1280 x 720 px
  • Aspect ratio: 16:9
  • Maximum file size: 2 MB
  • Tip: Use high contrast and clear text. The thumbnail is often more important than the title itself when it comes to getting people to click.
Illustration showing the image size 1280x720
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