Source: https://restorebunny.com/image-sizes/youtube-shorts-thumbnail/ [All image size tools]() # YouTube Shorts Thumbnail Size: Prepare a 2160×3840 Image Fit a still image to YouTube's current 2160×3840 Shorts thumbnail recommendation. See the portrait crop and required enlargement before downloading a copy. ## Which dimensions should you use? YouTube currently recommends 2160×3840 pixels in a 9:16 ratio for Shorts thumbnails, with a minimum height of 640 pixels. Its help page describes custom Shorts thumbnail upload in Studio on a computer for verified accounts. **2,160 × 3,840 pixels** · Recommended canvas. Make a portrait preview for the Shorts thumbnail upload workflow ## 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 2160 × 3840 Source pixels kept 608 × 1080 Image area cropped away 68.4% Resize scale 3.56× This adds pixels to reach the output size. Resizing cannot recover missing source detail; inspect the preview before using it. This removes 68.4% of the source area. Move the crop to keep faces, products and important text visible. ## Compose this image A landscape still can lose most of its scene in a portrait crop. Start with a portrait frame when possible. Inspect any caption against the actual Shorts preview; this canvas does not simulate YouTube's interface overlays. A downloaded image is only the preparation step; confirm that the upload option is available to your account. ## A worked example A 1920×1080 source fills this 2160×3840 canvas with a crop of about 608×1080 source pixels, retaining 31.6% of its area. Filling enlarges the retained pixels by 3.56×; new pixels do not prove new detail. The narrow crop removes much of a landscape frame; a portrait source is a better starting point when the whole subject matters. ## Before you upload - Use the Shorts workflow rather than a landscape video preset. - Keep the speaker or product visible after the narrow crop. - Review the uploaded result in the actual YouTube surfaces you use. “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 Shorts Thumbnail ### Can I reuse a horizontal video thumbnail for a Short? You can prepare a portrait copy, but fill may cut away the subject or title. Contain preserves the horizontal frame with substantial space above and below. ### Does this preview include Shorts interface safe zones? No. It shows image fitting and cropping. Check captions, buttons and overlays in YouTube's own preview. ## Sources and review - [YouTube Help: custom thumbnail recommendations]() 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 Channel Banner]() - [YouTube Podcast Thumbnail]() - [YouTube Video Watermark]()