--- title: "YouTube image size and specs (2026) | Herofab" description: "YouTube thumbnails are recommended at 3,840 × 2,160 pixels and 16:9 in JPG or PNG; channel banners need at least 2,048 × 1,152 pixels and 6 MB or less." url: https://herofab.app/guides/youtube-thumbnail-and-banner-size language: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- # YouTube image specs YouTube thumbnails are recommended at 3,840 × 2,160 pixels and 16:9 in JPG or PNG; channel banners need at least 2,048 × 1,152 pixels and 6 MB or less. ![Black-dial watch with a mesh strap on white, three-quarter view](https://herofab.app/img/ex/watch-packshot-1100.webp) Made with Herofab · Packshot studio ## All YouTube image requirements Source: [YouTube Help — Add custom thumbnails on YouTube; Manage your channel branding; Disclosing use of GenAI content; Manage products from your store on YouTube](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/72431). Checked 12 October 2026. [Read again · 12 October 2026](https://herofab.app/guides/marketplace-image-rule-changes) - **Thumbnail size:** 3,840 × 2,160 pixels recommended for video thumbnails, with a minimum width of 640 pixels - **Aspect ratio:** 16:9 recommended for video thumbnails, 9:16 for Shorts and 1:1 for podcast playlists - **Shorts thumbnail:** 2,160 × 3,840 pixels recommended, with a minimum height of 640 pixels; custom Shorts thumbnails can currently only be added in YouTube Studio on a computer - **Formats:** Thumbnails in image formats such as JPG or PNG; profile pictures as a JPG, GIF, BMP or PNG file, with no animated GIFs - **File size:** Thumbnails up to 2 MB when uploaded on mobile (10 MB for podcasts) and up to 50 MB on desktop; channel banner 6 MB or smaller; profile picture no more than 15 MB - **Channel banner:** Minimum upload dimension of 2,048 × 1,152 pixels at 16:9; 2,560 × 1,440 pixels recommended, especially for TV - **Safe area:** At the minimum banner dimension, the safe area for text and logos is 1,235 × 338 pixels; the banner is cropped on certain views and devices - **Profile picture:** An image that renders at 98 × 98 pixels - **Video watermark:** A square image of at least 150 × 150 pixels and less than 1 MB - **Not allowed:** Thumbnails containing nudity or sexually provocative content, hate speech, violence, or harmful or dangerous content; banner files with added embellishments such as shadows, borders and frames - **AI images:** Creators must disclose realistic content that is generated or meaningfully altered with AI; using generative AI tools to create or improve a thumbnail does not need to be disclosed - **Shopping products:** Products are reviewed for compliance with Google Merchant Center policies and YouTube policies and are not displayed in YouTube Studio unless approved under both; changing an item's image triggers a new review [Check your images — free](https://herofab.app/tools/image-size-checker) ## What YouTube asks for, covered. Herofab's ad creative tool delivers a 16:9 banner at 2,048 × 1,152 pixels: the minimum upload size for a YouTube channel banner, and below the 3,840 × 2,160 pixels YouTube recommends for thumbnails. Its 9:16 story format, 1,152 × 2,048 pixels, has the ratio YouTube recommends for Shorts thumbnails. When a video shows realistic content generated or meaningfully altered with AI, the disclosure in YouTube Studio is made by the creator. ### At the banner minimum The 16:9 ad banner is 2,048 × 1,152 pixels, the minimum upload size for a channel banner. ### Below the thumbnail recommendation YouTube recommends 3,840 × 2,160 pixels for thumbnails; the 16:9 banner is smaller, and above the 640-pixel minimum width. ### The Shorts ratio The 9:16 story format, 1,152 × 2,048 pixels, has the ratio YouTube recommends for Shorts thumbnails. [Start free](https://app.herofab.app/login?lang=en) ## YouTube, answered. **What image size is right for YouTube?** YouTube thumbnails are recommended at 3,840 × 2,160 pixels and 16:9 in JPG or PNG; channel banners need at least 2,048 × 1,152 pixels and 6 MB or less. **Which image formats can be used for YouTube?** Thumbnails in image formats such as JPG or PNG; profile pictures as a JPG, GIF, BMP or PNG file, with no animated GIFs. Source: YouTube Help — Add custom thumbnails on YouTube; Manage your channel branding; Disclosing use of GenAI content; Manage products from your store on YouTube, checked 12 October 2026. **How large can an image file be for YouTube?** Thumbnails up to 2 MB when uploaded on mobile (10 MB for podcasts) and up to 50 MB on desktop; channel banner 6 MB or smaller; profile picture no more than 15 MB. Source: YouTube Help — Add custom thumbnails on YouTube; Manage your channel branding; Disclosing use of GenAI content; Manage products from your store on YouTube, checked 12 October 2026. **What is not allowed in images for YouTube?** Thumbnails containing nudity or sexually provocative content, hate speech, violence, or harmful or dangerous content; banner files with added embellishments such as shadows, borders and frames. Source: YouTube Help — Add custom thumbnails on YouTube; Manage your channel branding; Disclosing use of GenAI content; Manage products from your store on YouTube, checked 12 October 2026. **What are the rules for AI-generated images in YouTube?** Creators must disclose realistic content that is generated or meaningfully altered with AI; using generative AI tools to create or improve a thumbnail does not need to be disclosed. Source: YouTube Help — Add custom thumbnails on YouTube; Manage your channel branding; Disclosing use of GenAI content; Manage products from your store on YouTube, checked 12 October 2026. **Can I check my images before uploading?** Yes. The free [image size checker](https://herofab.app/tools/image-size-checker) reads each file in your browser and tests it against these rules; the image is not uploaded. **Where do these figures come from?** From YouTube Help — Add custom thumbnails on YouTube; Manage your channel branding; Disclosing use of GenAI content; Manage products from your store on YouTube, read on 12 October 2026. Platforms update their specs; the [official page](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/72431) is the final reference. [Ad creative](https://herofab.app/tools/ad-creative) · [Extend frame](https://herofab.app/tools/extend-image) · [All guides](https://herofab.app/guides/)