YouTube Thumbnail Size and Dimensions
Thumbnail dimensions can vary by source and available image variant. Here is a practical reference for common YouTube thumbnail image files.
| Variant | Common filename | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum available | maxresdefault.jpg | Highest available source thumbnail when provided |
| Standard | sddefault.jpg | Standard larger thumbnail |
| High quality | hqdefault.jpg | High-quality thumbnail |
| Medium | mqdefault.jpg | Medium thumbnail |
| Default | default.jpg | Basic thumbnail |
What aspect ratio should a thumbnail use?
YouTube video thumbnails are commonly presented in a wide 16:9 format. Exact source dimensions can differ by thumbnail variant and availability.
How do I check a thumbnail?
Paste a public video URL into the ThumbGrab YouTube Thumbnail Downloader. The tool checks available variants and lets you save them.