How to Download a YouTube Thumbnail in HD, Free (Videos and Shorts)
Download any YouTube thumbnail in 1280 by 720 HD for free: paste a link, pick a size, save. Includes Shorts, the URL pattern, and a tester to preview yours.
To download a YouTube thumbnail in HD, paste the link into Hermoso's free thumbnail downloader. It shows every size the video has, from the 1280 × 720 image down to 120 × 90, each with a download button. It runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
The sizes YouTube keeps
| File | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| maxresdefault.jpg | 1280 × 720 | HD, exists only when the video has one |
| sddefault.jpg | 640 × 480 | 4:3, with black bars on a 16:9 video |
| hqdefault.jpg | 480 × 360 | 4:3, with black bars on a 16:9 video |
| mqdefault.jpg | 320 × 180 | 16:9 |
| default.jpg | 120 × 90 | 4:3 |
The tool also greys out the sizes a video does not have, lists WebP versions, and for a Short offers the vertical frame (oar2.jpg).
Do it by hand
Every thumbnail lives at i.ytimg.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.jpg. The video ID is the 11 characters after v= in the link. Swap maxresdefault for another file name from the table for a smaller size. Our tool does that lookup for you and checks which files exist.
Then test your own
The same page previews your thumbnail the way YouTube shows it: in the home feed, search results, the suggested sidebar and on a phone, in light and dark mode, with your title and channel beside it. Put the competitor's thumbnail next to yours before you publish. Need a new one? Make a YouTube thumbnail with Hermoso.
A thumbnail belongs to whoever made it. Use grabs for reference and comparison, not as your own artwork.
Start free at app.hermoso.ai, no card.
Questions people ask
How do I download a YouTube thumbnail?
Paste the video link into Hermoso's free thumbnail downloader, choose a size and press Download. Or open i.ytimg.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.jpg in your browser.
What is the best YouTube thumbnail size?
YouTube's HD thumbnail is 1280 by 720 pixels in a 16:9 shape.
Can I download a thumbnail from a YouTube Short?
Yes. The downloader lists the Short's vertical frame as well as the usual sizes.
Is the YouTube thumbnail downloader free?
Yes. It is free, needs no sign-up and runs in your browser.