YouTube Shorts Thumbnail Size: 2160 × 3840 px, 9:16
Crop a photo to the 2160 × 3840 px YouTube Shorts thumbnail, a 9:16 JPG or PNG. The saved file stays under the 2 MB mobile limit, or the cropper says so, and it runs in your browser.
How to crop a YouTube Shorts thumbnail
- Choose the photo. The cropper opens at YouTube Shorts thumbnail, 9:16 at 2160 × 3840 px, with the social presets open.
- Move the frame so the main subject sits in the middle of the strip, where it stays visible on a small screen.
- Press Download crop. When the file would be over 2 MB, the cropper saves it again at a lower quality, once per step.
- Upload the file in YouTube Studio on a computer, because YouTube Help says custom Shorts thumbnails are added only there at present.
The Shorts thumbnail size and where to upload it
The size on this page comes from YouTube Help, "Add custom thumbnails on YouTube", read on 30 October 2026: 2160 × 3840 pixels for a Short, with a minimum height of 640 pixels, as a JPG or PNG. For an uploaded file the article recommends a 9:16 aspect ratio.
The same article says custom Shorts thumbnails are, for now, added only in YouTube Studio on a computer, and that the account must be verified. That matters more than the pixels, so I put it in the steps. The article also lists 2 MB for mobile uploads and 50 MB for desktop; this page lowers the quality of a JPEG or WebP to get under 2 MB, and the Downloaded line says so if a file stays over, as a large PNG can.
The YouTube Shorts thumbnail sizes
| Thumbnail | Pixels | Ratio | Mobile limit | Desktop limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shorts thumbnail (this page) | 2160 × 3840 | 9:16 | 2 MB | 50 MB |
| Minimum height | 640 px | 9:16 | 2 MB | 50 MB |
| Video thumbnail (its own page) | 3840 × 2160 | 16:9 | 2 MB | 50 MB |
Source: YouTube Help, "Add custom thumbnails on YouTube", read on 30 October 2026. The table holds no measured file sizes.
Why 9:16 and not the Short's own canvas
A Short is a vertical video, and its thumbnail uses the same 9:16 shape. The cropper's YouTube Shorts thumbnail preset gives 2160 × 3840 px, the size the help article asks for.
The cropper also has a Vertical / Shorts canvas preset at 1080 × 1920 px. That one is for a video frame, not for the thumbnail, so use the Shorts thumbnail preset on this page when you make the picture for the Short's cover.
Keeping the thumbnail sharp
2160 × 3840 px is twice the width of the 1080 × 1920 px canvas. This page leaves Prevent upscaling off, so a photo narrower than 2160 pixels is enlarged to the exact size, and the enlargement is softer than the original.
A landscape photo leaves only a narrow vertical strip when it becomes 9:16. Start from a photo taken in portrait, or from the largest copy you have, so the strip is sharp.
Tips for a Shorts thumbnail
- Start from a sharp, large photo. A narrow copy is enlarged to 2160 pixels wide and loses detail.
- Keep the main subject in the upper part of the frame, clear of the captions and controls at the bottom.
- Use large, simple shapes and a few words; a thumbnail is seen at a small size.
- Save a photograph as JPEG. The 2 MB limit is easier to meet with JPEG than with PNG.
- Check the Downloaded line before you upload: it should read 2160 × 3840 px, and it must not say the file is over the mobile limit.
Privacy
Your image never leaves your device. Opening, cropping and saving all happen in your browser, so nothing is uploaded or stored, and you do not need an account. The saved file does not keep the original EXIF, GPS or XMP data.
Frequently asked questions
What is the size of a YouTube Shorts thumbnail?
YouTube Help gives 2160 × 3840 pixels for a Short's custom thumbnail, a 9:16 shape with a minimum height of 640 pixels. Upload it as a JPG or PNG. This page saves exactly 2160 × 3840 pixels.
What aspect ratio should a Shorts thumbnail be?
The help article recommends 9:16 for an uploaded Shorts thumbnail. The preset on this page uses that ratio, so the frame keeps its shape while you move it. A landscape photo leaves only a narrow vertical strip, so start from a portrait photo when you can.
Can I add a Shorts thumbnail from my phone?
YouTube Help says custom Shorts thumbnails are currently added only in YouTube Studio on a computer, from a verified account. You can crop the file here on any device, then upload it from a computer.
What is the file size limit for a Shorts thumbnail?
YouTube Help lists 2 MB for uploads from a mobile device and 50 MB from a desktop. This page lowers the quality of a JPEG or WebP to get it under 2 MB. If the file is still over 2 MB at the lowest step, or is a PNG, which is never lowered, the Downloaded line says so.
Is the YouTube Shorts thumbnail cropper free to use?
Yes. Crop the photo, read the saved size in the Downloaded line, and download the file. The photo stays in your browser, nothing is uploaded, and no account is needed.
Related tools and guides
- Image Cropper: Crop images to exact ratios or popular preset sizes.
- YouTube Thumbnail Cropper for 16:9 Videos: Crop a photo to a 16:9 YouTube thumbnail at 3840 × 2160 px. The saved file stays under 2 MB, the mobile upload limit, or the cropper says so.
- Crop a Photo into a Circle: Cut a round profile picture or avatar out of any photo. Save it as a PNG or WebP with see-through corners, or as a JPG on the colour you choose.
- Image Resizer: Resize images by pixels, percentage or longest side.
- Put your photos together in one image: Join photos side by side, stacked or in a grid, with adjustable gaps and borders.
- Add text to your photo and keep it readable: Put captions on a photo with a gradient, tint or box behind them and a live contrast check.
- What Is Bokeh in Photography? How I Use Blur Without Losing the Photograph: Keeping a sharp subject in a thumbnail while the background falls away.