About this tool
Every size YouTube keeps
YouTube stores several copies of each video's thumbnail on its image servers:
- Max resolution (maxresdefault): 1280×720, only when the creator uploaded a large enough image
- HD 720p (hq720): 1280×720, generated for many newer videos
- Standard (sddefault): 640×480
- High quality (hqdefault): 480×360, available for almost every video
- Medium (mqdefault): 320×180
- Default: 120×90
The 640×480, 480×360 and 120×90 sizes are 4:3, so a widescreen thumbnail gets black bars above and below. We check every size and mark the ones that don't exist, so you never download YouTube's gray placeholder by mistake.
How to download a thumbnail
- Copy the video's link from the address bar or the Share button. Shorts and live links work too.
- Paste it into the box above and press Check.
- Pick a size and press Download, or copy its URL to use somewhere else.
The file comes from YouTube's image server and passes through our page without being stored.
Which size should I use?
For design references or a mood board, use the largest size available. The 320×180 size is handy for spreadsheets and quick previews because it has no black bars.
If the max resolution size is missing, the video was probably uploaded with a small custom thumbnail or before HD thumbnails were common. HD 720p or Standard is the next best choice. The video frames section lists small stills YouTube captures automatically from the video itself.
Use thumbnails responsibly
A thumbnail is the creator's work. Studying one for your own learning or referencing it in a review is one thing; reposting it, putting it in your own video or selling it needs the rights holder's permission. If you're the creator and have a concern about how an image appears here, reach us through the Contact page.