YouTube Shorts thumbnail size and setup
2160 x 3840 pixels at 9:16, minimum height 640 pixels. Custom Shorts thumbnails are uploaded in YouTube Studio on a computer, and your account needs to be verified.
The spec
Shorts thumbnail numbers
Shorts are vertical, so the ratio flips from regular videos. Keep the image 9:16 and tall.
| Recommended resolution | 2160 x 3840 pixels |
|---|---|
| Minimum height | 640 pixels |
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 |
| Where to upload | YouTube Studio on a computer |
| Account requirement | Verified account |
How to set it
Uploading a custom Shorts cover
It's a desktop job in YouTube Studio. Your account has to be verified first.
- +Open YouTube Studio on a computer and go to Content
- +Pick your Short and open its details
- +Upload a 9:16 image in the thumbnail slot
- +Save, then check how it looks on a phone
Where it shows
Where a Shorts cover appears
Shorts mostly play in the swipe feed, so the cover matters where people browse instead: your channel page, search and shelves.
- +Your channel's Shorts tab, as a vertical tile
- +Search results and Shorts shelves
- +Shares and embeds, which may crop it to a different shape
- +Always small, so one subject and a few big words
Design
Make the cover frame work
Treat it like a poster, not a still from the video. One idea, readable at a glance.
- +Center the subject. Shelves and grids crop the edges
- +Put big text in the middle third, away from the top and bottom of the frame
- +Three words or fewer, with a thick stroke or shadow
- +Check it at roughly the size of a small channel-page tile
Common mistakes
What breaks a Shorts cover
Most of these come from reusing a regular 16:9 thumbnail.
- +Uploading a 16:9 image and getting it cropped to the wrong part
- +Text near the very top or bottom where the app overlays its own buttons
- +Using a blurry frame pulled from the video
- +Going under the 640 pixel minimum height
Creator reviews
18,000+ creators have signed up and made 30,000+ thumbnails. Real reviews, collected through Senja.
"I used to spend 1 hour on thumbnails. Now with LaunchLens it takes 10 minutes. I love it. I recommend it for small creators just starting out."
"I was using Photoshop before. The tools like Reshoot and Lightning are exactly what I needed."
"I love how fast it is."
Questions, answered straight.
What size is a YouTube Shorts thumbnail?+
2160 x 3840 pixels at 9:16, per YouTube Help. The minimum height is 640 pixels.
Can I upload a custom Shorts thumbnail?+
Yes, in YouTube Studio on a computer, if your account is verified. Use a 9:16 image.
Why can't I find the thumbnail option for my Short?+
Check that you're in YouTube Studio on a computer and that your account is verified.
Can I reuse my regular 16:9 thumbnail?+
Not as is. A 16:9 image gets cropped in a vertical slot. Rebuild the layout at 9:16 with the subject centered.
How big can the file be?+
The regular thumbnail limits are the safe assumption: 2 MB from mobile and 50 MB from desktop, in JPG or PNG.
Does the cover frame matter if people swipe through Shorts?+
It matters wherever Shorts are browsed instead of swiped: your channel page, search and shelves. A clear cover makes yours easier to recognize there.
Build a vertical cover that reads
Make the image in LaunchLens and export it at 9:16 for Shorts.
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