| Placement | Size | Ratio | Verified | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard video upload | 1920×1080 | 16:9 | 2026-10-06 | |
| 720p upload | 1280×720 | 16:9 | 2026-10-06 | |
| 4K upload | 3840×2160 | 16:9 | 2026-10-06 | |
| Custom video thumbnail | 1280×720 | 16:9 | 2026-10-06 |
Which ratio should you deliver?
YouTube rows on this page come from https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6375112. Last verified 2026-10-06. If a placement is missing, we did not have an official URL we were willing to cite.
Standard video upload: 1920×1080 (16:9). YouTube recommended upload encoding lists 16:9 frame sizes including 1920×1080. 720p upload: 1280×720 (16:9). Same recommended encoding table includes 1280×720. 4K upload: 3840×2160 (16:9). Recommended encoding table includes 3840×2160. Custom video thumbnail: 1280×720 (16:9). YouTube help: thumbnail 1280×720, under 2 MB, JPG/GIF/PNG.
Convert from a 16:9 master
Most cameras and desktop editors still start at 16:9. To reach 9:16, crop 607×1080 or pad 1920×3414 from a 1920×1080 source.
Open any table row in the calculator to set the width or the height in pixels. That is faster than retyping a cheat sheet.
What this page will not claim
Safe-zone UI chrome, bitrate caps and file-type limits change often. We list ratio and pixel size only when the cited help page states them.
Ads placements can differ from organic placements. The Meta and TikTok rows used here are the public ads/help specs, labelled as such.
Notes that apply only to YouTube Aspect Ratio
YouTube’s recommended upload encoding table is a landscape 16:9 list: 1920×1080, 1280×720, 3840×2160 and neighbours. Shorts-style 9:16 is a separate product surface; this page does not invent a Shorts pixel pair that the encoding article does not state as a numbered row.
Thumbnails are documented at 1280×720 (16:9), under 2 MB, JPG/GIF/PNG. A 16:9 master already matches. A 9:16 still needs pad or a centre crop before you upload a custom thumb.
A YouTube aspect ratio of 16:9 plays full screen on a television and in the landscape player. Shorts want the upright 9:16 frame instead. Export the landscape master at 1920×1080 or 1280×720, and cut a separate vertical file when the same footage has to fill a phone. One upload cannot satisfy both players without bars or a crop.
Frequently asked questions
Where do these sizes come from?
Only official help or ads-spec URLs listed in Sources.
What is last verified?
The date we last checked that URL. It is not a promise the vendor will not change the spec tomorrow.
How do I convert my existing file?
Use crop or pad from the 16:9 example, or open the converter.
Why is a size missing?
We omitted it rather than invent a pixel pair.