YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

Every thumbnail size YouTube stores

When a video is uploaded, YouTube saves its thumbnail in a fixed set of sizes. This tool checks each one and shows only the sizes that exist for that video:

The 4:3 sizes add black bars above and below a widescreen picture. For a clean 16:9 image, use 1280 × 720 or 320 × 180.

Is there a 4K or 1080p thumbnail?

No. Creators can upload a thumbnail as large as they like, but YouTube only publishes it at up to 1280 × 720. Sites that offer a "4K thumbnail" are enlarging that same image, which adds pixels but no detail. Here you get exactly the files YouTube has, at their real size.

JPG or WebP?

YouTube keeps every thumbnail as both. JPG opens everywhere, including older editing apps. WebP is usually 25–35% smaller at the same quality and works in every current browser and in most design tools. Neither is converted here: both come straight from YouTube.

Thumbnails of YouTube Shorts

Shorts have thumbnails at the same addresses as regular videos, so a Shorts link works here too. The images are 16:9; the vertical cover you see in the Shorts feed is a crop YouTube makes from the video itself.

The direct thumbnail address

Every thumbnail follows the same pattern, where VIDEO_ID is the 11 characters after v= or /shorts/ in the link:

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.jpg

For WebP, use https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.webp. Swap maxresdefault for any file name in the table above. Each size in the results also has a copy link button.

Using someone else's thumbnail

A thumbnail is usually artwork the creator made, and it's protected by copyright like the video. Saving one for reference, a moodboard or your own video is fine; publishing it as your own work isn't, unless the creator agrees.