Free thumbnail grabber
YouTube Thumbnail Downloader
Save the thumbnail of any YouTube video or Short in HD. See every size YouTube stores, view it full size, and download the original JPG.
- Free, no sign-up
- Up to 1280 × 720
- Works with Shorts
- No watermark
At a glance
What is the YouTube thumbnail downloader?
The BeyondComments YouTube thumbnail downloader is a free tool that shows and saves the thumbnail of any public YouTube video or Short. Paste a link to see every size YouTube stores, from 1280 × 720 down to 320 × 180, then view it full size, copy its URL, or download it as a JPG. No sign-up is required.
Updated · Built by BeyondComments
- Price
- Free, no account needed
- Works with
- Videos, Shorts, youtu.be links, video IDs
- Largest size
- 1280 × 720, when the video has one
- Other sizes
- 640 × 480, 480 × 360, 320 × 180
- File format
- JPG, straight from YouTube
- Also shows
- Each image's direct URL
How it works
How to download a YouTube thumbnail
It takes a few seconds and works the same on desktop and mobile. You only need the video's link.
- 01
Copy the video link
Open the video or Short on YouTube and copy its link from the address bar or the Share button. A plain 11-character video ID works too.
- 02
Paste it and press Get thumbnails
The downloader finds the video ID and loads every thumbnail size YouTube stores for it. Sizes that don't exist are marked as unavailable.
- 03
Download, view, or copy
Download the size you need as a JPG, open it full size in a new tab, or copy its direct image URL.
Reference
YouTube thumbnail sizes and URLs
YouTube stores several copies of every thumbnail. Each one has a predictable address: https://img.youtube.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/FILE.jpg
| Size | File name | Resolution | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max resolution | maxresdefault.jpg | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 | Only exists when the video has an HD thumbnail |
| Standard | sddefault.jpg | 640 × 480 | 4:3 | Letterboxed with black bars on widescreen videos |
| High quality | hqdefault.jpg | 480 × 360 | 4:3 | Available for almost every video; letterboxed |
| Medium quality | mqdefault.jpg | 320 × 180 | 16:9 | Available for almost every video; no black bars |
Using thumbnails
Can you use a downloaded thumbnail?
Your own thumbnails
Download your own thumbnails to reuse them in community posts, a website, or a portfolio, or to recover a file you've lost.
Research and reference
Save thumbnails from your niche to compare layouts, colors, and text. Studying a design is different from republishing it.
Other creators' thumbnails
Thumbnails are usually protected by copyright. Ask the creator for permission before you reuse one in your own video, ad, or product.
Not legal advice
Fair use and copyright rules depend on how you use an image and where you live. When in doubt, ask the owner.
Making your own
YouTube's custom thumbnail requirements
16:9 for videos, 9:16 for Shorts
YouTube recommends a widescreen 16:9 image for videos and a vertical 9:16 image for Shorts.
At least 640 pixels wide
YouTube recommends 3840 × 2160 for videos, with a minimum width of 640 pixels.
JPG or PNG
Upload the thumbnail as a common image format such as JPG or PNG.
File size limits
Desktop uploads allow up to 50 MB. Uploads from the mobile app are limited to 2 MB for video thumbnails.
FAQ
YouTube thumbnail downloader questions
Want to know what viewers thought of a video, not just how it looked? Try the YouTube comment analyzer.
How do I download a YouTube thumbnail?
Copy the video's link, paste it into the thumbnail downloader, and press Get thumbnails. Choose a size and press Download to save it as a JPG. It works on desktop and mobile, with no sign-up.
What is a YouTube thumbnail grabber?
A thumbnail grabber is a tool that finds the thumbnail images YouTube stores for a video and lets you view or save them. This one shows every available size and each image's direct URL.
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
The largest stored thumbnail is usually 1280 × 720 pixels (maxresdefault). YouTube also stores 640 × 480 (sddefault), 480 × 360 (hqdefault), and 320 × 180 (mqdefault) versions. The 4:3 sizes add black bars to widescreen thumbnails.
Why is the max resolution thumbnail missing?
YouTube only creates a 1280 × 720 version when the video has an HD thumbnail. Older and low-resolution uploads may not have one. Use the 640 × 480 or 480 × 360 size instead.
Can I download a YouTube Shorts thumbnail?
Yes. Paste a Shorts link (youtube.com/shorts/…) and the downloader loads the images YouTube stores for that Short. Some Shorts only have the smaller sizes.
Can I view a thumbnail without downloading it?
Yes. The preview shows the largest available size, and Open full size shows the original image in a new tab, so the tool also works as a YouTube thumbnail viewer.
How do I get a YouTube thumbnail URL?
Every size has a Copy URL button. The URLs follow the pattern https://img.youtube.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.jpg, where VIDEO_ID is the 11-character ID from the video's link.
Is it legal to download YouTube thumbnails?
Viewing and saving a thumbnail for reference is common. Thumbnails are usually protected by copyright, though, so ask the creator before reusing one in published work. This isn't legal advice.
Does it reduce the image quality?
No. The downloader saves the exact JPG file that YouTube serves for each size, without resizing or recompressing it.
Is the thumbnail downloader free?
Yes. It's free, with no account, watermark, or download limit.
Want a summary of what viewers are saying?
The YouTube comment analyzer groups feedback into a summary, topics, and sentiment. Sign in to try up to 50 comments free. No credit card required.