YouTube Image & Video Sizes
Every YouTube image and video size for 2026: exact dimensions, aspect ratios, and file specs for posts, stories, profiles, ads, and thumbnails — in one reference.
All current YouTubeimage and video dimensions for 2026. Dimensions are in pixels (width × height). Aspect ratios marked with ~ are approximate.
YouTube Thumbnails
| Surface | Dimensions (px) | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video Thumbnail | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 | Max 2 MB. JPG, PNG, GIF, or WebP. Minimum width 640 px. |
YouTube Videos
| Surface | Dimensions (px) | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p HD Upload | 1920 × 1080 | 16:9 | Standard recommended upload resolution for most creators. |
| 4K UHD Upload | 3840 × 2160 | 16:9 | Supported for 4K videos; YouTube re-encodes to its own bitrate ladder. |
| YouTube Shorts | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 | Max duration: 60 seconds for most creators; some have access to 3-minute Shorts. |
YouTube Profile
| Surface | Dimensions (px) | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel Icon | 800 × 800 | 1:1 | Displayed at 98 × 98 px on desktop and 80 × 80 px in-app. PNG preferred. |
YouTube Cover & Banner
| Surface | Dimensions (px) | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel Banner | 2560 × 1440 | 16:9 | Safe zone visible on all devices: center 1546 × 423 px. Max file size 6 MB. |
YouTube Ads
| Surface | Dimensions (px) | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skippable In-Stream Ad | 1920 × 1080 | 16:9 | Skippable after 5 seconds; recommended duration 15–60 seconds. |
| Display Ad (Companion) | 300 × 250 | 6:5 | Appears to the right of the featured video on desktop. |
| Overlay Ad | 480 × 70 | ~7:1 | Semi-transparent; shown at the bottom of the video player on desktop only. |
How it works
- 1
Find the right surface
Browse the grouped tables — Posts, Stories & Reels, Profile, Cover & Banner, or Ads — and locate the surface that matches what you're creating.
- 2
Design at native resolution
Create your asset at the exact pixel dimensions listed. Scale down only after designing at full resolution to keep edges crisp.
- 3
Respect the aspect ratio
Most platforms crop to the listed ratio if you upload a mismatched size. Check the Notes column for safe-zone boundaries before placing text or logos.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best YouTube video size?
The recommended YouTube video size is 1920 × 1080 (16:9). Standard recommended upload resolution for most creators.
What size is the YouTube channel icon?
The YouTube channel icon should be 800 × 800 (1:1). Displayed at 98 × 98 px on desktop and 80 × 80 px in-app. PNG preferred.
What aspect ratio does YouTube use?
YouTube supports multiple aspect ratios depending on the content type. The primary format is 16:9 (1920 × 1080). Always check the spec table above for the exact ratio of each surface.
What file format should I use for YouTube images?
JPEG is best for photographs and complex imagery. PNG is better for graphics, text, or anything with transparency. Keep file sizes as small as possible without visible quality loss to improve load speed and avoid compression artifacts on upload.
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