About the YouTube Thumbnail Grabber
YouTube keeps a fixed set of thumbnail images for every public video at predictable addresses on its image server, named by size: default (120 by 90), mqdefault (320 by 180), hqdefault (480 by 360), sddefault (640 by 480) and maxresdefault (1280 by 720). This page extracts the eleven-character video ID from whatever link you paste, including youtu.be short links, Shorts, embeds and live URLs, and shows all five images with their URLs. Nothing is downloaded through us: the images come straight from YouTube into your browser, and the page needs no server at all.
The largest size only exists when the creator uploaded in HD; for older or low-resolution videos that slot shows a small grey placeholder from YouTube. The others are always present. Right-click an image to save it, or copy the URL to use it in a page, a slide or a design mock-up.
Thumbnails are the creator's property. Fair uses such as a review, a citation or a preview in your own site are common, but reusing someone's thumbnail as your own artwork is not. For a custom image of your own, the image tools here convert and shrink without uploading anything.
How to use
- Paste the video link, or just the ID if you have it.
- Press Get thumbnails; the five sizes appear with their addresses.
- Right-click an image to save it, or copy its URL.
Common questions
- Why is the HD thumbnail a grey box?
- maxresdefault only exists for videos uploaded in at least 720p. Use sddefault or hqdefault for those videos.
- Does this download through your server?
- No. The page computes the image addresses and your browser loads them from YouTube directly.
- Can I use a thumbnail on my site?
- It belongs to the creator. Linking to a video with its thumbnail is normal practice; reusing it as your own image is not.