YouTube thumbnail URL from a video ID.
Paste a video link to get its thumbnail, or use the URL patterns below.
Thumbnail URL format
Every video has an 11 character ID. In youtube.com/watch?v=ID or youtu.be/ID it is the part after v= or after the slash. Replace VIDEO_ID below with it.
https://img.youtube.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.jpg (1280x720)https://img.youtube.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/sddefault.jpg (640x480)https://img.youtube.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/hqdefault.jpg (480x360)https://img.youtube.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/mqdefault.jpg (320x180)https://img.youtube.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/default.jpg (120x90)
If maxresdefault shows a gray image, the video has no 1280x720 version. Use sddefault or hqdefault instead. See the YouTube thumbnail size guide for the best size.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a video ID?
It is the 11 characters after v= in a watch link, or after the slash in a youtu.be link.
Which thumbnail URL gives the highest quality?
maxresdefault.jpg, at 1280x720. It exists only for videos uploaded with a large enough thumbnail.
Can I use a thumbnail from another channel?
Thumbnails belong to their creators. Download them for reference or with permission, and use our free backgrounds for your own designs.