How to use
Paste a link or video ID
Paste into the YouTube URL or video ID field. Watch, youtu.be, Shorts, live and embed links all work, and so does a plain 11-character ID. Try a sample link fills in an example.
Check which sizes exist
Five previews load, from Max resolution (1280x720) down to Default (120x90). Sizes YouTube never created are greyed out, and the largest real file gets a Largest available badge.
Download, copy or batch
Pick JPG, PNG or WebP under Download format, then press Download on a size, Copy URL, or Download all sizes (ZIP). For many videos, paste one link per line in the Batch tab.
Why YouTube Thumbnail Downloader
- All five thumbnail sizes for any video, Short or live stream, with missing sizes flagged.
- Save as JPG, PNG or WebP, one size at a time or every size in a ZIP.
- The Batch tab turns up to 100 links into a single ZIP or a CSV of image URLs.
- Copy HTML, Markdown or BBCode for a clickable thumbnail, with no signup or API key.
YouTube thumbnail sizes and URL patterns
Every public video's thumbnail lives at a predictable address. Replace VIDEO_ID with the 11-character ID and pick a file name from the table. The same files are also served from i.ytimg.com, so both hosts give identical images.
When a size does not exist, YouTube answers with a small 120x90 grey placeholder instead of a clear error. That is why the tool checks the real width of each image before it marks a size as available, rather than just fading it out.
| File name | Pixels | Ratio | URL pattern | Always there? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| maxresdefault.jpg | 1280 x 720 | 16:9 | img.youtube.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.jpg | No, often missing on older or low-resolution videos |
| sddefault.jpg | 640 x 480 | 4:3 | img.youtube.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/sddefault.jpg | No, missing on some videos |
| hqdefault.jpg | 480 x 360 | 4:3 | img.youtube.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/hqdefault.jpg | Yes |
| mqdefault.jpg | 320 x 180 | 16:9 | img.youtube.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/mqdefault.jpg | Yes |
| default.jpg | 120 x 90 | 4:3 | img.youtube.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/default.jpg | Yes |
Reusing thumbnails: what copyright allows
A thumbnail is artwork, and the person who made it owns the copyright even though anyone can view it on YouTube. Downloading it is a technical step; what matters legally is how you use it afterwards. The points below are general guidance, not legal advice, and the rules differ between countries.
- Your own thumbnails are yours to download and reuse however you like.
- Saving someone else's thumbnail for a mood board or private reference is low risk.
- Commentary, criticism, news reporting and reviews can fall under fair use in the US, but courts judge each case on its facts.
- Using another creator's thumbnail in an ad, a product, or as your own video's thumbnail needs their permission.
- Never use a thumbnail in a way that suggests the creator endorses you or your product.
- If you are unsure, ask the creator. Many will agree if you credit and link to them.
JPG, PNG or WebP: which download format to pick
YouTube stores every thumbnail as a JPG, so JPG is the only option that gives you the original file exactly as YouTube serves it. It is also the smallest of the three for photos.
PNG is lossless, which helps if you plan to edit the image several times and don't want each save to add new compression. The file will be several times larger, and it will not look sharper than the JPG it came from.
WebP is the pick for putting the image on a website. It is usually smaller than JPG at similar quality and all current browsers display it. A few older editing apps still can't open WebP, so choose JPG or PNG if the image is going into a design tool.