YouTube Shorts are built for vertical viewing, so the cover image that represents your video should be vertical too. The recommended Shorts thumbnail size is 1080×1920 pixelsin a 9:16 aspect ratio. That is the same shape as a phone screen and the same shape YouTube uses on the Shorts shelf, your channel page and subscription feeds.
Shorts thumbnail dimensions
- Recommended: 1080×1920 pixels
- Aspect ratio: 9:16
- File format: JPG or PNG
- Max file size: 2 MB
- Safe zone: keep text and faces away from the very top and bottom edges, where UI overlays can cover them.
Where the Shorts thumbnail appears
YouTube shows Shorts thumbnails in three places: the Shorts shelf (full 9:16), the channel page grid (cropped to a vertical card), and the subscription feed. Because the image is vertical, you have more height than a normal channel thumbnail, but the same rule applies: a single subject, large text and high contrast win the click.
Design tips for vertical Shorts covers
- Center your subject: faces and objects work best when they sit in the middle third of the frame.
- Stack text vertically: three short words stacked top to bottom read faster than a long horizontal sentence.
- Test on mobile: zoom out until the image is 1 inch tall. If it still communicates the idea, it will work on the shelf.
- Use bright, saturated colours: dark thumbnails blend into the black background of the Shorts feed.
How to download or check a Shorts thumbnail
If you want to study a competitor's Shorts cover or save your own before uploading, use our Shorts thumbnail downloader. Paste any Shorts link and it will pull the vertical cover image. You can also run the image through the thumbnail checker to see how it looks on a phone screen. For normal channel thumbnails, stick to the 1280×720 size in our thumbnail size guide.