Competitor research
Collect the thumbnails of top videos in your niche and compare their text, faces and colours side by side.
Free YouTube tool
YouTube Thumbnail Downloader
Paste a YouTube link to download its thumbnail in HD, up to 1280 × 720, plus every smaller size. Works with videos, Shorts and live streams, on your phone or computer.
1Copy the video linkFrom the address bar, or Share → Copy link in the app.
2Paste it aboveWe find every size YouTube has for that video.
3Download the size you needUsually the largest, 1280 × 720.
How it works
How do I download a YouTube thumbnail?
Copy the video's link, paste it into the downloader at the top of this page, and click Download next to the size you want. The largest version is 1280 × 720 pixels when YouTube has one. It's free, adds no watermark, works in any browser and needs no account.
Last updated . Sizes checked against the YouTube Data API reference.
- Copy the video linkOn a computer, copy it from the address bar. In the YouTube app, tap Share, then Copy link.
- Paste it into the downloaderThe thumbnails load straight away. We check every size YouTube stores for that video.
- Download the size you needThe largest available version is shown first. Smaller sizes are listed beside it.
youtube.com/watch?v=…youtu.be/…youtube.com/shorts/…youtube.com/live/…youtube.com/embed/…Video ID
Video IDs
Where is the video ID in a YouTube link?
Every YouTube video has an 11-character ID made of letters, numbers, hyphens and underscores. It comes after v= in a normal link, or after the last slash in short, Shorts and live links.
You don't need to find it yourself: the downloader reads any of these formats. Knowing where it is helps if you use the URL method below, or if a link has extra tracking parameters after the ID.
iAnything after & or ?si= (timestamps, playlists, share tracking) isn't part of the ID and can be ignored.
- Standard link
youtube.com/watch?v=aqz-KE-bpKQ&t=42s - Short link
youtu.be/aqz-KE-bpKQ?si=x7Qp - Shorts
youtube.com/shorts/aqz-KE-bpKQ - Live stream
youtube.com/live/aqz-KE-bpKQ - Embed code
youtube.com/embed/aqz-KE-bpKQ
Without a tool
Can you download a YouTube thumbnail without a tool?
Yes. YouTube serves every thumbnail at a public address: https://img.youtube.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.jpg. Replace VIDEO_ID with the video's ID, open the address in your browser, then right-click the image and choose Save image as.
If the page shows a small grey placeholder instead of the thumbnail, that video has no 1280 × 720 version. Swap maxresdefault for sddefault or hqdefault and try again. The downloader above does this check for you and only shows sizes that exist.
Prefer a smaller file? The same images are available as WebP at i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.webp.
Thumbnail addresses for any videoTemplate
https://img.youtube.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.jpg | File name | Size | Ratio | Exists for |
|---|---|---|---|
| maxresdefault.jpg | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 | Some videos |
| sddefault.jpg | 640 × 480 | 4:3 | Some videos |
| hqdefault.jpg | 480 × 360 | 4:3 | All videos |
| mqdefault.jpg | 320 × 180 | 16:9 | All videos |
| default.jpg | 120 × 90 | 4:3 | All videos |
iSizes and availability as documented in the YouTube Data API reference.
Choosing a size
Which thumbnail size should you download?
Download the 1280 × 720 version whenever it exists. It's the largest standard file and the only large one without black bars. Here's the same thumbnail at three sizes YouTube stores.
Maximum resolution
Sharp enough for slides, mood boards and blog posts. Full 16:9 frame with nothing added.
Standard definition
Squeezed into a 4:3 frame, so it comes with black bars. Crop them off before you use it.
Medium quality
True 16:9 but small. Fine for a list or a link preview, blurry if you enlarge it.
Example thumbnail: Big Buck Bunny © Blender Foundation, CC BY 3.0. Making your own thumbnail? YouTube's upload size is different. See the thumbnail size checker.
iPhone and Android
How do I save a YouTube thumbnail on my phone?
Open the video in the YouTube app, tap Share, then Copy link. Open this page in your phone's browser, paste the link, and tap Download. The image saves to your Downloads folder, or to Photos on iPhone.
- Copy the link in the YouTube appTap Share under the video (or the arrow on Shorts), then Copy link.
- Paste it hereTap the Paste button next to the link field, or long-press the field and choose Paste.
- Save the imageTap Download. On iPhone, if the image opens instead, press and hold it and choose Save to Photos.
Why people download thumbnails
What can you use a downloaded thumbnail for?
Most downloads are for research and reference: studying what makes other videos get clicked, or getting back a file you made yourself.
Mood boards and briefs
Show a designer or client the style you're after instead of describing it. Note the video link next to each image.
Recover your own thumbnail
Lost the original file? Download the thumbnail from your own video to reuse it in a post or newsletter.
Reviews and articles
Illustrate a review, case study or round-up that discusses the video, with a credit and a link back.
Using it responsibly
Can you use someone else's YouTube thumbnail?
YouTube's Terms of Service don't allow downloading content unless YouTube authorizes it or you have permission from YouTube and the rights holder. Private reference use is lower risk than republishing, because the artwork belongs to the creator who made it.
✓Lower risk
- Private research, swipe files and mood boards
- Your own thumbnails, from your own videos
- Discussing or reviewing the video, with credit and a link
!Ask the creator first
- Using it as your own video's thumbnail
- Putting it in ads, products or paid templates
- Editing it and passing it off as your work
The file you download is YouTube's compressed preview, not the creator's original design. This is general guidance, not legal advice. If you're unsure, ask the creator.
Troubleshooting
Why doesn't my thumbnail download look right?
There's no HD version
YouTube only creates the 1280 × 720 file for some videos. Some older uploads and Shorts stop at 640 × 480 or 480 × 360. There's no way to get a bigger file than YouTube stores.
It has black bars
The 640 × 480 and 480 × 360 files are 4:3, so a wide thumbnail gets bars above and below. Download the 1280 × 720 or 320 × 180 version, or crop it in the thumbnail resizer.
It looks blurry
Small versions lose detail when you enlarge them. Use the largest size available, and keep it at or below its original size in your layout.
“We couldn't find thumbnails”
The video is private, deleted or the link is incomplete. Check that the link plays in YouTube when you're signed out, then paste it again.
FAQ
YouTube thumbnail downloader FAQ
Can I download a YouTube thumbnail in 4K?
Not from the standard file names. The largest of them is 1280 × 720, and that's the largest size this tool downloads. YouTube's API lists 1920 × 1080, 2560 × 1440 and 3840 × 2160 sizes for some videos, so check the real pixel size of any “4K thumbnail” before you trust it.
Do I need a browser extension?
No. This downloader works in any browser on a computer or phone. There's nothing to install and no account to create.
Will the creator know I downloaded their thumbnail?
Pineable doesn't notify creators. We haven't verified what YouTube records when a thumbnail image loads, so we can't promise anonymity.
How do I get the thumbnail of a playlist?
Playlists don't have a separate thumbnail file. YouTube shows the thumbnail of one of the videos in it, usually the first. Open that video and paste its link here.
Does it work for Shorts and live streams?
Yes. Paste a Shorts link, a live stream link or a link to the replay after the stream ends. Some Shorts have only the smaller sizes, and the tool shows only the sizes that exist.
Is there a download limit?
No. Download as many thumbnails as you need, with no watermark.
Is this YouTube thumbnail downloader free?
Yes. It's free to use with no account, no watermark and no download limit. The images come straight from YouTube's public thumbnail servers.
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
YouTube recommends uploading thumbnails at 3840 × 2160 for videos (16:9) and 2160 × 3840 for Shorts (9:16), as JPG or PNG, under 2 MB from a phone or 50 MB from a computer. The largest standard file you can download is 1280 × 720, and YouTube stores smaller copies at 640 × 480, 480 × 360, 320 × 180 and 120 × 90. Check your own design with the thumbnail size checker.
More free tools
Make your own thumbnail
Collecting references? Start with the best ones.
Browse hand-picked YouTube thumbnails from channels that do it well.
Browse thumbnail designs