YouTube image sizes (2026)
Every YouTube format in one table — dimensions in pixels, aspect ratios and the notes that keep your images sharp and uncropped.
YouTube formats
| Format | Dimensions | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video thumbnail | 1280 × 720 px | 16:9 | Minimum 640 px wide; under 2 MB. |
| Video (standard) | 1920 × 1080 px | 16:9 | Standard landscape upload. |
| Shorts | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | Vertical; keep the title off the bottom bar. |
| Channel banner (art) | 2560 × 1440 px | 16:9 | Safe area for TV/desktop/mobile is 1546 × 423 px, centred. |
| Channel profile photo | 800 × 800 px | 1:1 | Displays as a circle. |
Tips for YouTube images
Small things that keep every post sharp, uncropped and on brand.
Mind the safe zones
Stories and reels put UI over the top and bottom of the frame on YouTube. Keep captions, logos and CTAs inside the central area so nothing important gets covered.
Export at 2× for crisp results
Upload PNG or high-quality JPG at the pixel sizes shown, or double them. Larger source images downscale cleanly; small ones get soft when the feed stretches them.
These specs change
Networks quietly adjust crops and preview sizes. Treat this as a 2026 snapshot for YouTube, and re-check before a big launch rather than assuming last year's numbers still hold.
Common questions
What is the best image size for YouTube?
For most posts, use the largest recommended format in the table above — on YouTube that gives your image the most space in the feed. When in doubt, a portrait or square crop performs better on mobile than landscape.
What file type should I upload to YouTube?
PNG keeps text and graphics sharp; JPG is fine for photos and keeps the file smaller. Avoid uploading heavily compressed images, since the network re-compresses on upload and artefacts stack up.
Why does my image look cropped or blurry?
Cropping usually means the aspect ratio did not match one the network supports, so it cut to fit. Blur usually means the source was smaller than the display size and got upscaled. Match the ratio and pixel size in the table and both problems go away.
Do I have to resize manually for every network?
No. Social Media Digital Marketer composes each post once and exports it at the right size for every channel automatically, so you are not re-cropping the same graphic for YouTube and everywhere else.
Sizing right is step one — publishing is the rest. See how Social Media Digital Marketer schedules and auto-publishes to YouTube, or browse the other network size guides and the full set of free tools.
Let Social Media Digital Marketer size every YouTube post for you
Compose once and Social Media Digital Marketer exports each post at the right YouTube dimensions automatically — feed, story and reel, on brand, every time.