YouTube Shorts thumbnail size: 1080 × 1920, and how to actually set one

Shorts get custom thumbnails now. The right size is 1080 × 1920 (9:16), not the 16:9 you use for long-form. Here's why that matters and how to add one.

2026-06-09 3 min read ThumbnailsYouTubeShortsGuides

For a long time Shorts didn't really have thumbnails. YouTube just grabbed a frame. Now you can set a custom one, and a lot of creators carry the habit over from long-form and upload a 16:9 image. That's the mistake. Shorts are vertical, so the thumbnail should be too.

The right size

A YouTube Shorts thumbnail is **1080 × 1920 pixels** at a **9:16** aspect ratio. Same shape as the Short itself.

You *can* upload a 16:9 image and YouTube will accept it. But every place a Short shows up is vertical: the Shorts shelf, the swipe feed, your channel's Shorts tab. A horizontal thumbnail gets center-cropped (you lose the sides) or letterboxed with bars top and bottom. Sat next to a feed of clean vertical thumbnails, it looks off, which is the last thing you want a thumbnail to do.

Don't reuse your long-form thumbnail

If you're clipping a Short out of a longer video, it's tempting to reuse the 16:9 thumbnail you already made. Don't. Rebuild it vertical:

  • Start from a **1080 × 1920** canvas.
  • Put the subject and any text in the **upper-to-middle** area. The bottom of a Short is busy with the title, your handle, and the action buttons.
  • Keep text big and short. Shorts thumbnails are viewed even smaller and faster than long-form ones.

    • How to add a custom Shorts thumbnail

  • Open **YouTube Studio** and select your Short (or upload it).
  • Go to **Details**.
  • Under **Thumbnail**, either pick a frame or click **Upload file** for a custom 1080 × 1920 image.
  • Save.

    • You'll need a verified account, same as long-form. The thumbnail then shows in the Shorts feed, search, and your Shorts tab.

    A quick note on whether it's worth it

    Long-form lives or dies on the thumbnail. Shorts are different. Most of their views come from the feed, where people swipe into the video before the thumbnail does much work. The Shorts thumbnail earns its keep on your **channel page and in search**, where viewers browse your catalog as a grid. A consistent set of vertical covers there makes your channel look intentional and keeps people clicking through to more.

    Want them sized right without fiddling with canvases? [Thumbly's Shorts thumbnail maker](/youtube-shorts-thumbnail-maker) outputs 1080 × 1920 covers automatically. And if you also post long-form, here's the [YouTube thumbnail size guide](/blog/youtube-thumbnail-size) for the 16:9 side of things.

    FAQ

    **What size should a Shorts thumbnail be?** 1080 × 1920 (9:16), matching the vertical video.

    **Can you add a custom thumbnail to a Short?** Yes. Pick one when you upload or edit the Short in YouTube Studio.

    **How do I change a Short's thumbnail?** YouTube Studio → open the Short → Details → Thumbnail → upload a 1080 × 1920 image → Save.

    **Why does it look cropped?** You uploaded a horizontal 16:9 image into a vertical placement. Use a vertical 1080 × 1920 image.