Resize your YouTube Shorts thumbnail
Upload a photo, snap it to the vertical Shorts cover size, and export it ready to upload — no signup, nothing uploaded to a server.
Drop an image here, or click to browse
JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, or BMP
Preview
9:16 verticalNeed a regular video thumbnail instead? Try the YouTube thumbnail resizer.
How it works
Upload your photo
Drag a file in, or select one from your device. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Snap to the vertical size
Use the recommended 1080×1920 preset, or set custom dimensions and scale to fit.
Export & upload
Choose JPG, PNG, or WebP, adjust quality, and download — ready to set as your Shorts cover.
Built for real workflows
Runs entirely on-device
Resizing happens in your browser via the Canvas API. Your photo is never uploaded or stored.
Recommended vertical size
Outputs at 1080×1920 (9:16) — the ratio YouTube Shorts thumbnails and covers use across the app.
Fills the frame automatically
Your photo is scaled to cover the tall 9:16 shape and centre-cropped, so there are never awkward bars.
Pixel-perfect or percentage
Enter exact width and height, or scale proportionally with a single slider.
Format conversion
Export as JPG, PNG, or WebP with adjustable compression quality to control file size.
Instant preview
See the exact result and its file size before you download anything.
Frequently asked questions
What size should a YouTube Shorts thumbnail be?
A 1080×1920 pixel image, a 9:16 vertical ratio, matches how Shorts are displayed and is the safest size to upload as a custom cover.
Why is the shape so tall?
Shorts play full-screen on phones in a vertical orientation, so a tall 9:16 cover image fills the screen without empty bars on either side.
Can I use a regular landscape photo?
Yes. Your photo is automatically scaled to cover the tall frame and centre-cropped, so wide or square source photos still produce a clean 9:16 result.
Is this different from a regular YouTube thumbnail?
Yes — standard YouTube video thumbnails use a wide 16:9 ratio, while Shorts thumbnails use a tall 9:16 ratio to match the vertical, full-screen format.
Are my photos uploaded to a server?
No. Every resize happens locally in your browser using the Canvas API. Files never leave your device, so there's nothing to upload and nothing stored on our end.