How to get a YouTube thumbnail
Copy the link of a YouTube video from the address bar or the Share button, paste it into the box and click Get thumbnails. The thumbnail appears in every size YouTube stores, from Full HD down to small. Click Download under the size you want. Links to regular videos, Shorts, live streams, embeds and youtu.be short links all work, and so does a plain 11-character video ID.
Thumbnail sizes
| Name | Size (pixels) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full HD (maxresdefault) | 1280 × 720 | Only exists if the video was uploaded in HD or has a custom thumbnail. |
| Standard (sddefault) | 640 × 480 | 4:3 with black bars above and below a 16:9 image. |
| High quality (hqdefault) | 480 × 360 | Available for every video. |
| Medium (mqdefault) | 320 × 180 | 16:9, no black bars. |
| Small (default) | 120 × 90 | The tiny version used in some lists. |
If a size shows "not available", YouTube doesn't have it for that video; older and low-resolution uploads often have no Full HD version.
What creators use it for
- Researching what works. Collect thumbnails from the top videos in your niche to study their colours, faces, text and composition.
- Getting your own thumbnails back. Recover a thumbnail you made but no longer have the file for.
- Blog posts and newsletters. Show a still of a video you're linking to or writing about.
- Checking how a thumbnail looks small. The medium and small sizes show how it looks in suggested videos and on phones, where most views happen.
Copyright
A thumbnail belongs to the creator who made it. Using your own thumbnails is fine, and showing a thumbnail next to a link to the video, for commentary, reviews or research, is common practice. Don't reuse someone else's thumbnail as your own, in ads or on products without permission. When you design your own, make it 1280 × 720 pixels with the Image Resizer and pair it with a strong title from the YouTube Title Generator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I download a YouTube thumbnail in HD?
Paste the video link, click Get thumbnails, then click Download under Full HD (1280 × 720). If Full HD isn't available, use Standard or High quality.
Why is the HD thumbnail not available?
YouTube only creates the 1280 × 720 version for videos uploaded in HD or with a custom thumbnail. Older videos may only have smaller sizes.
Does it work with YouTube Shorts?
Yes. Paste the Shorts link and you'll get the same thumbnail sizes.
Is it legal to download YouTube thumbnails?
Viewing and saving them is fine, but they're owned by the video's creator. Get permission before reusing someone else's thumbnail commercially.
Do I need a YouTube account or API key?
No. Just paste the link. Thumbnails load directly from YouTube's image servers.
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