Do you want to know the perfect size for a YouTube thumbnail and how to create great ones in no time?
Good news: you’re in the right place.
In this article, you will discover the official dimensions recommended by YouTube , best practices for creation , and a revolutionary artificial intelligence tool , ThumbMagic , which allows you to generate professional thumbnails in the right format in seconds.
🎯 YouTube thumbnail size: the official dimensions to respect
YouTube displays thumbnails on all types of devices: smartphones, computers, tablets, and televisions.
To avoid blurry, distorted or cropped images, certain precise dimensions must be respected.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| ✅ Recommended resolution | 1280 x 720 pixels |
| 🔺 Minimum width | 640 pixels |
| ⚖️ Ratio (image format) | 16:9 |
| 💾 Maximum file size | 2 MB |
| 🖼️ Accepted formats | JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP |
💡 Tip: Avoid thumbnails smaller than 1280 x 720 px. Even if they display correctly on mobile, they will be blurry on HD screens and televisions.
🎨 Why your YouTube thumbnail size is essential
Your thumbnail is the first impression a viewer will have of your video.
It is she who determines whether someone clicks or moves on to the next one.
A good miniature should be:
- clear, even in small format.
- readable on mobile,
- well framed,
- and sufficiently contrasted to stand out in the YouTube feed.
👉 A poorly sized or illegible thumbnail can cause your click-through rate (CTR) to drop, while a well-made thumbnail can double or even triple your number of views .
What if you could create this type of visual in just a few seconds?
That’s exactly what ThumbMagic allows.
Enjoy 10% off with promo code CREATE10
⚡ Create perfect YouTube thumbnails with ThumbMagic
ThumbMagic is a smart tool designed by the team behind Submagic , the famous AI editor for subtitles and quick editing.
It allows you to automatically generate YouTube thumbnails in the correct format (1280×720 px) , without any design skills.
Here’s how it works:
- Upload your video to the platform
- Artificial intelligence analyzes expressions, emotions, and key moments
- She selects the most striking image
- The AI then adds readable text, dynamic layout, and contrasting colors.
- In just a few seconds, you get a professional thumbnail ready to publish
And the best part of all this?
You can customize everything: change the text, colors, font, or add your logo.
It’s fast, simple, and perfectly suited for content creators.
👉 Discover ThumbMagic now and use promo code CREATE10 to get 10% off your first credit purchase.
🧠 Best practices for creating an effective YouTube thumbnail
Size is one thing. But visual composition matters just as much.
Here are some pro tips to maximize your impact:
- Maintain a resolution of 1280×720 px for a sharp image
- Limit the text to a maximum of 4 to 6 words, large and legible.
- Use expressive faces : a strong emotion attracts attention
- Increase the contrast : the text should stand out from the background
- Stay consistent : maintain a recognizable style across all your videos
- Test your thumbnails on a smartphone before publishing
💡 With ThumbMagic, you can save your own templates to maintain a consistent visual identity across all your videos.
🧾 Other YouTube visual formats to know
If you want to harmonize your visual identity across your channel, here are the recommended sizes for other visual elements on YouTube:
| Image type | Recommended size | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Video thumbnail | 1280 x 720 px | 16:9 |
| Chain banner | 2560 x 1440 px | Varies depending on the screen |
| Chain icon | 800 x 800 px | 1:1 |
| End screen | 1920 x 1080 px | 16:9 |
💸 How much does ThumbMagic cost?
You can try ThumbMagic for free today: registration includes 3 free thumbnail credits , no credit card required.
Next, you can choose between two simple options:
🌱 Starter – Ideal for beginners
For creators who want to test AI miniature creation at a low cost.
- $11/month → 100 credits
- 1 avatar
- Access to all templates
- “replicate a model” function
(Saves $96 per year)
🚀 Pro – For regular creators and agencies
Perfect for those who publish frequently and want a fast workflow.
- $29/month → 500 credits
- Up to 10 avatars
- AI-powered editing (personalization via prompts)
- Access to all templates
- 2x faster generation
(Saves $240 per year)
👉 And with the promo code CREATE10 , enjoy an immediate 10% discount on your first purchase of credits.
🚀 In summary: the right size + the right tool = more views
Using the correct YouTube thumbnail size (1280×720 px) ensures a sharp and impactful image, but it’s the design that triggers the click.
By combining the right dimensions with a smart tool like ThumbMagic , you save time while boosting your performance.
So, ready to create thumbnails that make people want to click?
➡️ Try ThumbMagic now and use the code CREATE10 to benefit from your exclusive discount.
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