Paste any YouTube link to view and download its thumbnail in every available resolution, up to 1280 × 720 HD.
Every YouTube video comes with a set of automatically generated thumbnail images at different resolutions. Knowing what each one is, and why some are missing, saves a lot of guesswork.
The thumbnail URL pattern
Thumbnails live on YouTube’s image server at a predictable address:
https://img.youtube.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/SIZE.jpg
The video ID is the 11-character code in the video’s URL, for example the part after v= in youtube.com/watch?v=…, or after youtu.be/. Our YouTube thumbnail downloader extracts it from any link format for you.
There’s also an equivalent server, i.ytimg.com, and WebP versions at /vi_webp/VIDEO_ID/SIZE.webp.
Available sizes
| File name | Resolution | Aspect | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
maxresdefault.jpg |
1280 × 720 | 16:9 | Only if the video was uploaded in HD or has an HD custom thumbnail |
sddefault.jpg |
640 × 480 | 4:3 (letterboxed) | Most videos |
hqdefault.jpg |
480 × 360 | 4:3 (letterboxed) | Always |
mqdefault.jpg |
320 × 180 | 16:9 | Always |
default.jpg |
120 × 90 | 4:3 | Always |
There are also three frame captures, 1.jpg, 2.jpg and 3.jpg (120 × 90), taken from different points in the video.
Why are some 4:3?
sddefault and hqdefault keep YouTube’s original 4:3 format, so a 16:9 thumbnail appears with black bars at the top and bottom. mqdefault and maxresdefault are true 16:9.
Why maxresdefault is missing
If a video was uploaded below 720p, or is very old, YouTube may not generate the 1280 × 720 version. Requesting it returns a small grey placeholder image (120 × 90) instead of an error. Our downloader detects that placeholder and simply hides the size, so you only see thumbnails that really exist.
YouTube Shorts thumbnails
Shorts use the same ID system. Paste a youtube.com/shorts/… link and the same sizes appear. Note that Shorts often display a vertical frame in the feed, while the stored thumbnails are typically landscape.
Uploading custom thumbnails: the specs
If you’re the creator, YouTube recommends:
- Resolution: 1280 × 720 (minimum width 640 px)
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Format: JPG, PNG or GIF (non-animated)
- File size: under 2 MB
- Custom thumbnails require a verified account
Resize and compress with the image resizer to meet the 2 MB limit; at 1280 × 720, a JPG at 85–90% quality is usually well under it.
Design for the small size
Most viewers see your thumbnail at roughly 320 × 180 px or smaller on mobile. That’s why bold, simple thumbnails outperform detailed ones. See How to Design a YouTube Thumbnail That Gets Clicks.
Using other people’s thumbnails
Thumbnails are copyrighted images. Viewing and saving them for reference is common practice, but reusing them publicly needs care. Read Can You Use YouTube Thumbnails? Copyright and Fair Use Explained.
Paste any link below to see every available size.
Try it: YouTube Thumbnail Downloader
Paste any YouTube link to view and download its thumbnail in every available resolution, up to 1280 × 720 HD.