iformat.io Logo iformat.io
iformat.io Logo iformat.io
Log In Sign Up
TopBidr.com — buy your way to #1. Outbid the leader in your category. Claim yours →

YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

Paste any YouTube video, Short, or embed URL and download the thumbnail in max resolution (1280×720), SD, HQ, MQ, or default. Free, no sign-up, no watermark.

Works with youtube.com, youtu.be, and youtube.com/shorts links.

How to Download a YouTube Thumbnail

1. Copy the YouTube URL

Open the YouTube video, Short, or share link and copy the URL from your browser's address bar.

2. Paste and Fetch

Paste the URL into the box above and click Get Thumbnails. All available resolutions appear instantly.

3. Download Any Size

Preview each resolution and click Download to save the JPG. Max resolution is 1280×720 for HD videos.

Why Use Our YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

Max Resolution (1280×720)

Grab the highest-quality thumbnail YouTube serves — the same image used on the watch page and in embeds.

Every Size in One Click

Preview and download all 5 resolutions (max, SD, HQ, MQ, default) side-by-side without extra requests.

YouTube Shorts Supported

Fully compatible with Shorts URLs (youtube.com/shorts/…) and standard youtu.be short links.

No Sign-Up, No Watermark

Free, unlimited downloads. Thumbnails are delivered as clean JPGs straight from YouTube's CDN.

Fast & Private

We do not store URLs or downloaded images. Thumbnails are fetched fresh each time and streamed straight to your device.

Works on Any Device

Download thumbnails on desktop, mobile, or tablet — no app install required, no extension needed.

YouTube Thumbnail Resolutions

YouTube serves multiple thumbnail sizes for every public video. Larger sizes are only available if the original video was uploaded in HD.

Name Resolution Aspect Ratio Availability
maxresdefault 1280 × 720 16:9 HD videos only
sddefault 640 × 480 4:3 All videos
hqdefault 480 × 360 4:3 All videos
mqdefault 320 × 180 16:9 All videos
default 120 × 90 4:3 All videos

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I download a YouTube thumbnail?

Copy the URL of any YouTube video, paste it into the box above, and click Get Thumbnails. You will see previews of every available thumbnail resolution — max (1280×720), SD, HQ, MQ, and default. Click the download button under the size you want and the image saves directly to your device.

What is the highest resolution YouTube thumbnail I can download?

The highest publicly available thumbnail is 1280×720 pixels (also called maxresdefault). This is the same image YouTube displays on the video watch page and in embeds. Not every video has a 1280×720 version — older videos or low-resolution uploads fall back to 640×480.

Does this work with YouTube Shorts?

Yes. YouTube Shorts URLs (youtube.com/shorts/VIDEO_ID) are fully supported. Paste the Shorts URL and you get the same thumbnail sizes as any regular YouTube video.

Is downloading YouTube thumbnails legal?

Thumbnails are hosted by YouTube for public display and can be viewed by anyone. Downloading them for personal reference, thumbnail research, or fair-use commentary is generally acceptable. Do not republish someone else's thumbnail as your own or use it in a way that misrepresents the original creator.

Can I download thumbnails from private or age-restricted videos?

No. If a video is private, unlisted, or removed, YouTube does not serve its thumbnail publicly and this tool cannot fetch it. Age-restricted videos may still work as long as their thumbnails are publicly accessible.

Why does the max resolution thumbnail not load for some videos?

YouTube only generates a 1280×720 (maxresdefault) thumbnail for videos uploaded in HD or higher. If a video was uploaded in standard definition or if the creator uploaded a low-resolution custom thumbnail, only the smaller sizes (SD, HQ, MQ, default) will be available.

Do you store the thumbnails or the URLs I enter?

No. Thumbnails are fetched directly from YouTube's public image servers each time you request them. We do not log video URLs, store thumbnails, or track downloads.

What formats can I download the thumbnail as?

YouTube serves all thumbnails as JPG images, so downloads are provided in the original JPG format. If you need PNG or WebP, use our free image converter after downloading to convert the JPG to your preferred format.

Can I use YouTube thumbnails for my own videos?

You should not reuse another creator's thumbnail as your own — it can violate YouTube's community guidelines and may infringe copyright. Use downloaded thumbnails for research, competitor analysis, or fair-use editorial commentary rather than direct reuse.

What is the best size for a YouTube thumbnail?

YouTube recommends 1280×720 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio) for uploaded thumbnails, at a minimum width of 640 pixels and under 2 MB in size. JPG, GIF, or PNG formats are accepted. Read our full guide on YouTube thumbnail sizing for more detail.

Related Tools

Explore more free tools on iFormat.io

Image Resizer

Resize thumbnails to exact YouTube dimensions (1280×720) or custom sizes.
Image Compressor

Compress thumbnails under YouTube's 2 MB upload limit without quality loss.
Circle Crop Image

Turn a thumbnail into a circular avatar for channel art or social media.
Add Watermark to Photo

Watermark thumbnails before publishing to protect your original work.