YouTube thumbnail downloader
Paste a link to a YouTube video or Short. You get its thumbnail in all five sizes YouTube makes, each with a download button and a direct link.
Free, no sign-up. Runs in your browser. Nothing you type or upload is sent to us or stored.
Show your videos on your page
Paste a YouTube link into a Liite page and it turns into a player, right next to your other links. Your page lives at liite.co/yourname and is free to start.
How to use it
- Copy the video's link from YouTube's share button or the address bar.
- Paste it into the box above.
- Download the size you need, or copy its direct link.
The five thumbnail sizes
YouTube keeps every video's thumbnail at fixed addresses on its image server, in up to five sizes: full HD at 1280×720, standard at 640×480, high at 480×360, medium at 320×180 and small at 120×90. This tool builds those addresses from the video's id, so it works for any public video.
Not every video has the full HD size. Older videos and some uploads only go up to 640×480 or 480×360. When a size is missing, YouTube sends back a small grey placeholder instead, and the tool marks that size as unavailable so you don't download the placeholder by mistake. The 640×480 and 480×360 sizes have black bars above and below the picture, because they are 4:3 frames around a 16:9 image.
Any kind of link works
You can paste a normal watch link, a short youtu.be link from the share button, a Shorts link, an embed link from a website, a live link, or a link from the YouTube app with tracking parameters on the end. You can also paste the 11-character video id on its own.
Using thumbnails fairly
A thumbnail belongs to the person who made the video. Use this tool for your own videos, for example to put a thumbnail on your website, in a newsletter or in a portfolio, or with the owner's permission. When you show someone else's video, embedding the video itself is usually the better choice.
Everything runs in your browser. We don't see which videos you look up, and nothing is stored.
Questions
Why is the HD thumbnail missing?
YouTube only makes the 1280×720 size for some videos, mostly ones uploaded in HD. When it doesn't exist, use the 640×480 or 480×360 size instead.
Does it work with Shorts?
Yes. Paste the Shorts link. YouTube serves Shorts thumbnails at the same addresses and sizes as other videos.
Why does the download open in a new tab?
If your browser blocks the direct download, the image opens in a new tab instead. Right-click or long-press it and choose save.
Can I get a custom thumbnail I uploaded?
Yes. If the video has a custom thumbnail, that's the one YouTube serves at these addresses.
Is it free?
Yes, with no sign-up and no limits. It only builds links to YouTube's own public images.