YouTube Thumbnail Preview and Tester
See your thumbnail and title where YouTube shows them, and check that the text still reads when it is small.
1280 × 720 px (16:9), under 2 MB on YouTube
The length badge sits in the bottom-right corner of every thumbnail, so keep that corner clear of text. Pictures stay on your device.
Close mock-up of the home feed, search results and the Up next list. Your thumbnail is shown next to other videos so you can judge it in context.
How to use the YouTube Thumbnail Preview
- Upload your thumbnail (16:9).
- Type the title, channel name and the figures you want to show.
- Look at the home feed, search and Up next views, on phone and computer, in light and dark.
- If the text is hard to read at small size, change the thumbnail and check again.
At a glance
| Thumbnail size | 1280 × 720 px (16:9) |
|---|---|
| Title | 100 characters; about 60 show in most places |
| Corner badge | The video length covers the bottom-right corner |
| Privacy | Pictures stay in your browser |
Good to know
- The preview is a close mock-up, not a copy of YouTube. Layouts change from time to time.
- Views, dates and other channels are placeholders or the values you type.
Questions
Why test a thumbnail small?
In the feed and in Up next the thumbnail is shown at a small size, so text that looks fine in the editor may be unreadable there.
Which corner should I keep clear?
The bottom-right corner, where the video length badge sits.
Is my thumbnail uploaded?
No. It is shown from your device and never sent anywhere.
More social media tools
- YouTube Channel PreviewSee your banner, picture and video thumbnails on phone and computer. Your pictures and text stay on your device.
- YouTube Shorts Safe Zone CheckerSee which parts of a 9:16 Short are covered by the top bar, the side buttons and the title. Your picture or video stays on your device.
Need a picture for the post? Try the image resizer or image cropper.
CalcMaster is not affiliated with LinkedIn, Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky or TikTok. The names are used only to say which app a tool is made for. The previews are our own mock-ups.