FileFleetPrivacyAll tools

How to make a YouTube thumbnail from your video

YouTube thumbnails are 1280 × 720 pixels and must be under 2 MB. Save the best moment of your video as a full-resolution picture, resize it to 1280 × 720, and compress it if it’s over 2 MB.

  1. 1Save a frame from video
  2. 2Resize for YouTube
  3. 3Compress image
Start step 1: Save a frame from video

Each step passes your file to the next, so you only add it once. Nothing is uploaded.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Save the best frame

    Play or drag to the moment you want and save it as a PNG. It comes from the video itself, so it’s sharper than a screenshot.

    Open Save a frame from video
  2. 2

    Size it to 1280 × 720

    Choose the Thumbnail size. The picture fills the frame exactly, ready for YouTube.

    Open Resize for YouTube
  3. 3

    Keep it under 2 MB

    A 1280 × 720 PNG is often over YouTube’s 2 MB limit. Compressing it, or saving it as a JPG, brings it well under.

    Open Compress image

Questions

Can I add text to the thumbnail?

Not in FileFleet yet. Add text in any editor after step 2, then come back for step 3 to keep it under 2 MB.

More guides