YouTube photo resizer
Crop photos to the exact sizes YouTube uses for thumbnails, channel banners, podcast art, and profile photos. It runs in your browser (no login, no watermark, no upload).
How to resize a photo for YouTube
- 1
Add a photo from your computer, or drag it into the tool.
- 2
Choose a thumbnail, banner, or profile size.
- 3
Drag and zoom until the frame sits where you want it.
- 4
Download as JPG or PNG, then upload it to YouTube.
YouTube photo sizes worth using
YouTube still uses a few fixed frames for the images around a video (thumbnail, banner, profile, podcast art). Export to one of those sizes first and the site has less reason to clip a title or stretch a banner.
| Format | Size in pixels | Aspect ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Video thumbnail | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 |
| Channel banner | 2560 × 1440 | 16:9 |
| Profile photo | 800 × 800 | 1:1 |
| Podcast thumbnail | 1280 × 1280 | 1:1 |
What YouTube does to a photo you have not resized
Thumbnails display at 16:9. A square dropped into 1280 × 720 loses the top and bottom. Channel banners are 2560 × 1440, but phones and TVs crop different bands, so type on the far left or right often disappears. Profile photos shrink to about 98 × 98 in the UI, so a busy frame turns to mush.
Cropping here first means you choose what stays in the frame, and you send YouTube a file that already matches the slot.
A quick way to pick a format
Use 1280 × 720 for a video thumbnail (16:9, at least 640 pixels wide, under 2 MB). Channel banners are 2560 × 1440. If you cannot make that width, stay at or above 2048 × 1152 and keep logos in the centre safe area (about 1235 × 338 at the minimum size).
Profile photos are 800 × 800. Podcast playlist art is 1280 × 1280. Shorts do not take a custom upload (YouTube picks a frame from the video).
How to keep the download looking sharp
Work from the largest original you have. A banner needs a wide file or the 2560-pixel export will look soft. JPG is the better default for photographs. PNG is the better default for type, logos, and screenshots.
Banners stay under 6 MB. Profile photos stay under 15 MB. If your crop is smaller than the target, we flag that you are about to upscale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I resize an image for YouTube without an app?
Yes. Add a photo here, pick a size, set the crop, and download. The export matches the pixel size YouTube shows, so you can upload it from your phone or desktop next.
What size should a YouTube thumbnail be?
1280 × 720 (16:9) is the recommended size. The shortest side YouTube will accept is a 640-pixel width. Keep the file under 2 MB.
What size is a YouTube channel banner?
2560 × 1440 (16:9) is the recommended banner. The minimum is 2048 × 1152. Keep text and logos near the centre, because TVs, desktops, and phones crop the sides differently.
What size should a YouTube profile photo be?
Export an 800 × 800 square. YouTube shows it small (about 98 × 98), so a simple, centred face or logo reads best. Keep the file under 15 MB.
What size is a YouTube podcast thumbnail?
Podcast playlist art is 1280 × 1280 (1:1), up to 10 MB.
Will this tool make my photo look worse?
A downsize from a clean original should look fine. What usually looks worse is uploading a small banner or a mismatched thumbnail and letting YouTube stretch it. If your crop is smaller than the target, we flag that you are about to upscale.
When should I export PNG instead of JPG?
JPG for photos (smaller, faster to upload). PNG when the image has type, flat colour, or a hard edge that JPG will smear.
Do I have to create an account?
No. There is no sign-up, no watermark, and no cap on downloads.
Does the photo get sent to a server?
No. Cropping and export happen in this browser tab. Close the page and the file is gone from here.