Source: https://restorebunny.com/image-sizes/youtube-podcast-thumbnail/ [All image size tools]() # YouTube Podcast Thumbnail Size: Prepare a 1280×1280 Image Prepare a square 1280×1280 YouTube podcast thumbnail. Check whether a show logo or portrait survives the square crop before exporting a playlist image. ## Which dimensions should you use? YouTube recommends a 1280×1280 square thumbnail for a podcast. This is show artwork attached to podcast details, separate from a landscape thumbnail for an individual video episode. **1,280 × 1,280 pixels** · Recommended canvas. Prepare square show artwork for a podcast playlist rather than an episode preview ## Check the crop and prepare your image Free and processed on this device. No account, credits or upload. Your original file is unchanged. Calculate from pixel dimensions, or choose a photo for an actual preview and download. This prepares the image canvas; check file-size limits and the destination’s final crop separately. Have a HEIC or WebP? [Convert a copy first.]() Transparent areas are filled with white in this tool. Image dimensions and placement Source width (pixels)Source height (pixels)Output width (pixels)Output height (pixels)Image placementDownload format Horizontal crop position: 50%Vertical crop position: 50% Output pixels 1280 × 1280 Source pixels kept 1200 × 1200 Image area cropped away 33.3% Resize scale 1.07× This adds pixels to reach the output size. Resizing cannot recover missing source detail; inspect the preview before using it. This removes 33.3% of the source area. Move the crop to keep faces, products and important text visible. ## Compose this image Use the show's name and artwork rather than an episode-specific date unless that is intentional. Choose contain for existing rectangular show artwork if filling would cut the title. Inspect the exported square at a small size; fine subtitle text may become unreadable. ## A worked example A 1800×1200 source fills this 1280×1280 canvas with a crop of about 1200×1200 source pixels, retaining 66.7% of its area. Filling enlarges the retained pixels by 1.07×; new pixels do not prove new detail. A square crop can remove people from the sides of a two-host landscape photo; contain preserves both hosts. ## Before you upload - Confirm you are editing podcast details, not an episode's video thumbnail. - Keep the full show name and any recognizable portrait inside the square. - Check the uploaded podcast image and episode images separately. “Keep whole image” is also called fit or contain; it adds white borders instead of trimming the scene. The exporter sets pixel dimensions and placement. It does not enforce platform byte limits or predict every device’s display crop. [Compress a copy]() if you need a smaller file, then check the destination’s preview. ## Questions about YouTube Podcast Thumbnail ### Should podcast and episode thumbnails be the same size? They serve different placements. Podcast artwork is square; standard video thumbnails use a landscape ratio. Build each from the original artwork. ### Can this turn an audio file into a YouTube podcast? No. This tool prepares still artwork. YouTube's podcast setup and video episode workflow happen in Studio. ## Sources and review - [YouTube Help: create and edit a podcast]() Guidance reviewed on 2026-10-06. Platform requirements can change. These independent preparation tools are not affiliated with the platforms listed. ## Related image tasks - [Inspect source pixels]() - [Reduce the exported file's byte size]() - [YouTube Thumbnail]() - [YouTube Shorts Thumbnail]() - [YouTube Channel Banner]() - [YouTube Video Watermark]()