Free tool
Download any YouTube or Shorts thumbnail in HD. Paste a link, pick a size, and save the original JPG. Free, no sign-up, no watermark.
To download a YouTube thumbnail, paste the video link above and click Get thumbnail, then download the size you need. Every public YouTube video has thumbnails at https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/ followed by maxresdefault.jpg (1280×720), sddefault.jpg (640×480), hqdefault.jpg (480×360), or mqdefault.jpg (320×180). The HD version does not exist for every video, so this tool checks each size and shows only the ones that are available.
YouTube stores each thumbnail in several sizes. Replace VIDEO_ID with the 11-character ID from the video link, for example dQw4w9WgXcQ in youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ.
| File | Size | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| maxresdefault.jpg | 1280×720 | 16:9 | HD. Missing on some older or low-resolution uploads. |
| sddefault.jpg | 640×480 | 4:3 | Letterboxed with black bars on 16:9 videos. |
| hqdefault.jpg | 480×360 | 4:3 | Available for almost every video. |
| mqdefault.jpg | 320×180 | 16:9 | Small preview without black bars. |
| default.jpg | 120×90 | 4:3 | Tiny fallback. Also returned as a placeholder when a size is missing. |
Full URL pattern: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.jpg. The same files are also served from img.youtube.com. YouTube's recommended upload size for a custom thumbnail is 1280×720 (16:9), under 2 MB.
maxresdefault.jpg only exists when the video or its custom thumbnail was uploaded at 720p or higher. For other videos, YouTube returns a 120×90 gray placeholder instead of an error. This downloader loads each size, detects the placeholder, and falls back to the largest real image, usually SD 640×480 or HQ 480×360.
Thumbnails are owned by the video creator. Use downloads for reference and your own videos, and do not republish someone else's thumbnail without permission.
The face is usually what makes a thumbnail work. If you found a reaction that fits your next video, Thumbnail Face can read that expression from the YouTube link and apply it to your selfie, keeping your identity. You get a transparent PNG to drop into Canva or Photoshop. See which expressions get clicks or browse ready-made reaction faces.
Paste the video link into the YouTube thumbnail downloader, click Get thumbnail, and download the HD 1280×720 version (maxresdefault.jpg). If HD is not listed, the creator uploaded a lower-resolution video or thumbnail, and SD 640×480 is the largest available.
Yes. Paste the Shorts link (youtube.com/shorts/VIDEO_ID). Shorts use the same image URLs as regular videos, so the same sizes are available.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.jpg for HD. Replace maxresdefault with sddefault, hqdefault, mqdefault, or default for smaller sizes. img.youtube.com serves the same files.
YouTube returns a 120×90 gray placeholder when a size does not exist. This tool detects the placeholder and hides that size, so you only see thumbnails you can actually download.
Downloading a thumbnail for reference, research, or your own videos is common. Thumbnails are owned by the video creator, so do not republish someone else's thumbnail as your own or use it commercially without permission.
Yes. It is free, needs no account, adds no watermark, and downloads the original JPG directly from YouTube's image servers.
Yes. Thumbnail Face reads the expression in a YouTube thumbnail and applies it to your selfie, then exports a transparent PNG you can place into your own design. New accounts get 3 free credits.
Upload one selfie, pick a reaction or paste a YouTube link, and download a transparent PNG. 3 free credits to start.
No credit card · 3 free credits · Credits never expire
Updated . Thumbnail Face is not affiliated with YouTube or Google.
