PixelSpec

YouTube thumbnail downloader

Paste a YouTube link or video ID to see every thumbnail size the video has, then download the one you need. Handy for studying what works before you design your own at YouTube's documented 3840 by 2160.

Which thumbnail size should I grab?

Take maxresdefault when it exists. It is 1280 by 720, the largest image YouTube serves at a predictable thumbnail URL. Below it, sddefault is 640 by 480, hqdefault is 480 by 360 and mqdefault is 320 by 180.

One naming trap is worth knowing: the hqin hqdefault means high quality, not high definition. Plenty of tools label that 480 by 360 image the HD version, which it plainly is not. If you want the sharpest copy of someone else's thumbnail, maxresdefault is the only one that qualifies.

Making your own thumbnail

Designing your own is a different question, because YouTube documents a larger target than it serves back through these URLs: 3840 by 2160 at 16:9, with a minimum width of 640 pixels, in JPG, GIF or PNG. The file limit depends on where you upload from, 2 MB in the mobile app and 50 MB on desktop. Our YouTube thumbnail size page has the full rules and a resizer preloaded to that size.

Frequently asked questions

How do I download a YouTube thumbnail?
Paste the video link or its 11-character ID above and press Get thumbnails. You will see every available size, from the 1280 by 720 maxres image down to smaller versions, each with a download button.
Why is the maxres thumbnail missing?
Not every video has a 1280 by 720 maxresdefault image; older or lower-resolution uploads stop at sddefault (640 by 480) or hqdefault (480 by 360). If maxres does not load, use the next size down.
Is hqdefault the HD thumbnail?
No. The hq in hqdefault stands for high quality, not high definition. It is a 480 by 360 image, well below any HD resolution. The largest YouTube serves at a predictable URL is maxresdefault at 1280 by 720.
Is it legal to download a thumbnail?
Thumbnails are copyrighted by their owner. Downloading one for reference or personal use is common, but do not republish someone else's thumbnail as your own.
Do you upload or store the video?
No. The tool simply points at the public thumbnail images hosted by YouTube. Nothing about your request is stored on our side.