YouTube sizes.
Video, thumbnails & channel art.
Use 1920 × 1080 for Full HD video, 1080 × 1920 for vertical Shorts, 3840 × 2160 for video thumbnails, and 2560 × 1440 for a channel banner.
Last verified 2026-11-02Based on YouTube guidelines
YouTube size chart
Video exports and image artwork need different dimensions. Compare eight formats below; working presets are labeled separately from official recommendations.
YouTube video1920 × 108016:9Common working size · px
- Common working size · px
- Common working size · px1920 × 1080
- Ratio
- 16:9
- File size
- 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is reached first
1080p working preset. Unverified accounts are limited to 15 minutes.
YouTube guidelinesYouTube Shorts video1080 × 19209:16Common working size · px
- Common working size · px
- Common working size · px1080 × 1920
- Ratio
- 9:16
- File size
- Up to 3 minutes
9:16 working preset. Square videos can also qualify as Shorts.
YouTube guidelinesThumbnail3840 × 216016:9
- Recommended size · px
- 3840 × 2160
- Ratio
- 16:9
- File size
- Mobile: under 2 MB · Desktop: under 50 MB
Minimum width: 640 px. JPG, GIF or PNG.
YouTube guidelinesChannel banner2560 × 144016:9
- Recommended size · px
- 2560 × 1440
- Ratio
- 16:9
- File size
- 6 MB or smaller
Minimum: 2048 × 1152. Center safe area on this canvas: ≈ 1544 × 423.
YouTube guidelinesShorts thumbnail2160 × 38409:16
- Recommended size · px
- 2160 × 3840
- Ratio
- 9:16
- File size
- Desktop: under 50 MB
Thumbnail image, not the video export. Minimum height: 640 px.
YouTube guidelinesProfile picture800 × 8001:1Common working size · px
- Common working size · px
- Common working size · px800 × 800Displayed at 98 × 98 px
- Ratio
- 1:1
- File size
- 15 MB or smaller
Common working preset; displayed at 98 × 98 px. Static images only.
YouTube guidelinesVideo watermark150 × 1501:1Minimum size · px
- Minimum size · px
- Minimum size · px150 × 150
- Ratio
- 1:1
- File size
- Under 1 MB
Minimum square image size.
YouTube guidelinesPodcast playlist thumbnail1280 × 12801:1
- Recommended size · px
- 1280 × 1280
- Ratio
- 1:1
- File size
- Mobile: under 10 MB · Desktop: under 50 MB
Square playlist artwork, separate from episode thumbnails.
YouTube guidelinesYouTube video size & resolution
1920 × 1080 pixels (16:9) is a common Full HD YouTube video size. Use 3840 × 2160 for a 4K source; the player also adapts to square and vertical video. These are export choices, not a minimum upload requirement.
YouTube video resolution chart
| Resolution | Dimensions · px |
|---|---|
| 4320p / 8K | 7680 × 4320 |
| 2160p / 4K | 3840 × 2160 |
| 1440p | 2560 × 1440 |
| 1080p / Full HD | 1920 × 1080 |
| 720p / HD | 1280 × 720 |
| 480p / SD | 854 × 480 |
| 360p / SD | 640 × 360 |
| 240p / SD | 426 × 240 |
These are YouTube’s listed 16:9 resolutions, from 8K to 240p. Export for your source footage; avoid baking padding or black bars into the video.
Video resolution & aspect ratiosYouTube video file format & upload limits
- Export settings
- MP4 · H.264 · AAC-LC
A practical combination from YouTube’s recommended encoding settings.
- Maximum upload
- 256 GB / 12 hours
Whichever is reached first. Unverified accounts can upload up to 15 minutes; verify your phone number for longer videos.
- Frame rate
- 24 / 25 / 30 / 48 / 50 / 60 fps
Common examples. Upload at the frame rate used when recording; other rates are also accepted.
- Other supported formats
- MOV · AVI · WMV · WebM · MPEG4
Examples from YouTube’s supported-format list. File extensions and codecs are separate settings.
YouTube Shorts video size
1080 × 1920 pixels (9:16) is a common vertical Shorts export. New square or vertical uploads up to three minutes can qualify as Shorts. YouTube’s Shorts creation help lists a maximum resolution of 1080p.
- Vertical working preset
- 1080 × 19209:16
- Square working preset
- 1080 × 10801:1
A Shorts thumbnail is a different asset: its recommended image size is 2160 × 3840. Do not use that image recommendation as the video export requirement.
Preview your YouTube images
Choose an image format, then upload your artwork to check readability and cropping in a YouTube-style layout. The previews do not resize or export your file.
Try your own thumbnail
Upload an image and see how it reads in a YouTube-style layout.
JPG, PNG or WebP · Up to 20 MB · Stays in your browser
Frame it right: compose a stronger shot
Your channel
Layout simulation, not a live YouTube preview. Actual crops and sizes vary by device and placement.
YouTube thumbnail size
The recommended YouTube thumbnail size is 3840 × 2160 pixels (16:9), with a minimum width of 640 pixels. Keep the subject and headline readable when the image is small.
- Recommended size · px
- 3840 × 2160
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9
File sizeMobile: under 2 MB · Desktop: under 50 MB
1280 × 720 is a smaller usable 16:9 canvas, not the current recommended resolution. Use JPG, GIF or PNG, and check the upload limit for your device.
Try your channel banner
Upload one banner and compare what stays visible on mobile, desktop and TV.
JPG, PNG or WebP · Up to 20 MB · Stays in your browser
Mobile · Center crop, approximately 1544 × 423 px.
The outlined area stays visible in this device view. Shaded areas are cropped away.
Approximate crop simulation on a 2560 × 1440 canvas. Desktop widths vary. The safe area is scaled from YouTube’s minimum-canvas guidance; confirm the final crop in YouTube Studio.
YouTube banner size
The recommended YouTube channel banner size is 2560 × 1440 pixels (16:9). The minimum upload size is 2048 × 1152; keep text and logos in the central safe area.
- Recommended size · px
- 2560 × 1440
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9
File size6 MB or smaller
On this 2560 × 1440 canvas, the safe area is approximately 1544 × 423 px, scaled from YouTube’s 1235 × 338 safe area on the minimum 2048 × 1152 canvas. Keep text and logos inside; confirm the crop in YouTube Studio.
Try your Shorts thumbnail
Upload a vertical image and compare a static Shorts feed preview with a channel-grid card.
JPG, PNG or WebP · Up to 20 MB · Stays in your browser
Static image simulation, not a video player. YouTube may use different crops or frames in different placements.
YouTube Shorts thumbnail size
The recommended YouTube Shorts thumbnail size is 2160 × 3840 pixels (9:16), with a minimum height of 640 pixels. This image specification is separate from the Shorts video export.
- Recommended size · px
- 2160 × 3840
- Aspect ratio
- 9:16
File sizeDesktop: under 50 MB
Custom Shorts thumbnails currently require a verified account and YouTube Studio on a computer. Minimum image height is 640 px.
Try your channel picture
See whether your face or logo stays recognizable in a circular crop and at a smaller comment size.
JPG, PNG or WebP · Up to 20 MB · Stays in your browser
The circular display hides the corners of your square image.
Simulated channel and comment layouts. Actual avatar sizes vary by device and placement.
YouTube profile picture size
800 × 800 pixels (1:1) is a common working size for a YouTube profile picture, not an official upload recommendation. YouTube lists a display size of 98 × 98 pixels; keep important details inside the circular crop.
- Common working size · px
- 800 × 800
- Aspect ratio
- 1:1
Displayed at 98 × 98 px
File size15 MB or smaller
800 × 800 is a common working preset, not an official upload recommendation. YouTube states a display size of 98 × 98 px. Use JPG, static GIF, BMP or PNG; animated GIFs are not supported.
