How to download a YouTube thumbnail
- Open the video on YouTube and copy its link. On a phone, tap Share, then Copy link.
- Paste the link above and press Get thumbnails.
- Choose a size. Max resolution is the sharpest when it exists.
- Click Download, or open the image and save it.
YouTube thumbnail sizes
| Name | Size (px) | File name on YouTube |
|---|---|---|
| Max resolution | 1280 × 720 | maxresdefault.jpg |
| Standard | 640 × 480 | sddefault.jpg |
| High quality | 480 × 360 | hqdefault.jpg |
| Medium | 320 × 180 | mqdefault.jpg |
| Small | 120 × 90 | default.jpg |
Standard and high quality images are 4:3, so a 16:9 thumbnail appears with black bars at the top and bottom. Max resolution and medium are 16:9 with no bars.
What creators use it for
- Studying the thumbnails of top videos in your niche before designing your own.
- Recovering your own thumbnail when you lost the original file.
- Adding a video preview image to a blog post, newsletter or presentation.
Designing your next thumbnail? Test it against others with the thumbnail and title preview.
Last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How do I download a YouTube thumbnail?
Copy the video’s link from the address bar or the Share button, paste it above and pick a size. Click Download, or open the image and save it with a right-click or a long press on mobile.
What is the highest quality available?
Max resolution, 1280 × 720 pixels, when the creator uploaded an HD custom thumbnail. Older or auto-generated thumbnails may only exist up to 640 × 480. The tool tells you when a size isn’t available.
Does it work with YouTube Shorts?
Yes. Paste a link like youtube.com/shorts/… and you get the same set of sizes. Shorts thumbnails are stored in the same horizontal format, so the vertical frame appears in the middle.
Can I use someone else’s thumbnail?
Thumbnails are the work of the channel that published them and are protected by copyright. Downloading one for reference, research, a review or your own video is common, but don’t reuse it as your own without permission.
Why is the max resolution image grey or tiny?
That video simply has no HD thumbnail. YouTube then returns a small placeholder. Use the High quality or Standard size instead.
Do you store the links I paste?
No. The link is read in your browser to build the image addresses on YouTube’s own image server. Nothing is saved.