What size should a YouTube thumbnail be?

A 16:9 image at 1280 x 720 is the long-standing recommendation and scales down well to every thumbnail position.

Should I make a separate image for every platform?

Usually you only need a few: a square or 4:5 for feeds, a 9:16 for stories and short video, and a 16:9 for thumbnails and link previews.

Does the export tool upload my image?

No. Social image exports are generated locally in your browser and are never uploaded.

Guide1 min readUpdated June 25, 2026

Social media image sizes that work everywhere

Short answer

Design to a few dependable aspect ratios rather than chasing exact pixel specs: 1:1 and 4:5 for feed posts, 9:16 for stories and short video, and 16:9 for thumbnails and shared links. Export at a high resolution within the right ratio and the image looks right across platforms.

Why ratios beat exact sizes

Platforms tweak their exact pixel recommendations often, but the underlying shapes are stable. If you export in the right aspect ratio at a generous resolution, the platform scales it cleanly. Get the ratio wrong and it crops or letterboxes your image no matter how many pixels it has. See Common aspect ratios explained.

The shapes to design for

1:1 square — versatile feed post, profile images
4:5 portrait — feed posts that claim more vertical space
9:16 vertical — stories, Reels, Shorts, TikTok
16:9 widescreen — video thumbnails and link preview images

Dependable starting resolutions

Square feed post: 1080 x 1080 (1:1)
Portrait feed post: 1080 x 1350 (4:5)
Vertical story or short: 1080 x 1920 (9:16)
Video thumbnail: 1280 x 720 (16:9)

Always confirm the current specThese shapes are stable and the resolutions above are widely used, but each platform publishes its own current numbers. Check the platform's help center when a pixel-perfect requirement matters.

Try it: Social Image ExportExport images to common platform presets with fill-crop or fit-with-background, locally.Open tool