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YouTube sizes
for the channel and every video.

YouTube thumbnails are 3840 × 2160 px (1280 × 720 px still works), the channel banner is 2560 × 1440 px with text kept in a central safe area, and videos are 16:9, commonly 1920 × 1080 px.

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Quick reference

Almost everything on YouTube is 16:9, but each format is seen differently. Use the table for the exact numbers, then open a format for its crops, file limits and the size to set in Semurai Canvas.

Formats, sizes and aspect ratios
FormatSizeRatioDetails
YouTube thumbnail3840 × 2160 px16:9Details: YouTube thumbnail
YouTube banner2560 × 1440 px16:9Details: YouTube banner
YouTube video1920 × 1080 px16:9Details: YouTube video

Every format in detail

  • YouTube thumbnail

    YouTube recommends a 3840 × 2160 px thumbnail (16:9); 1280 × 720 px, the long-standing standard size, still works. The minimum width is 640 px, and JPG or PNG files can be up to 2 MB from a phone or 50 MB from a computer.

    Details

  • YouTube banner

    A YouTube banner (channel art) is 2560 × 1440 px (16:9), at least 2048 × 1152 px and up to 6 MB. Keep text and logos in the centred safe area: 1235 × 338 px at the minimum size, about 1544 × 423 px at 2560 × 1440.

    Details

  • YouTube video

    YouTube video dimensions are 16:9: YouTube lists resolutions from 426 × 240 px (240p) to 7680 × 4320 px (8K), and 1920 × 1080 px (1080p) is the common size; Shorts are vertical, usually 1080 × 1920 px (9:16).

    Details

How the YouTube sizes fit together

Thumbnails, the channel banner and regular videos share the 16:9 shape, but each one needs a different kind of design.

The thumbnail is mostly seen small, in search and suggestions, so it needs few, large words. The banner is cut to a thin strip on phones and computers, so only its centre counts. The video fills the player, so match its resolution to what you recorded.

Vertical sizes for Shorts

Shorts are the exception: they are square or vertical, and 1080 × 1920 px (9:16) is the common size.

Their thumbnails are vertical too, at 2160 × 3840 px. Make them as separate designs instead of cropping a wide thumbnail.

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FAQ

Questions about these sizes

Which YouTube sizes do I need for a new channel?

A channel banner at 2560 × 1440 px, a square profile picture and a thumbnail for every video at 3840 × 2160 px (or 1280 × 720 px). The videos themselves are 16:9, commonly 1920 × 1080 px.

Are all YouTube sizes 16:9?

Videos, video thumbnails and the channel banner are all 16:9. Shorts and their thumbnails are vertical 9:16, and podcast playlist thumbnails are square.

Can I turn a thumbnail into a channel banner?

Yes. Both are 16:9, so Resize in Semurai Canvas can turn a 3840 × 2160 px thumbnail into a 2560 × 1440 px banner without changing the shape. Then move the title into the centred safe area, because phones and computers cut away everything outside it.

Other platforms and formats

Sources

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