# YouTube video

We recommend YouTube video in 16:9 at 3840 x 2160 pixels, the format YouTube recommends. The minimum is 1920 x 1080 pixels.

Platform: YouTube. Ratio: 16:9. Size: 3840 x 2160 pixels. These are Avola Media's own recommendations, not platform specifications.

## Specification

| Item | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Recommended | 3840 x 2160 pixels, 4K |
| Minimum | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Frame rate | 25 frames per second |
| Subtitles | As a file, shown by the platform |
| Safe zone | About 3840 x 1944 pixels |
| File size | Up to 256 gigabytes |

## Notes

- Don't add black bars to make the video fit another format. YouTube's player adapts to the format of the video by itself, and it looks better without letterboxing.
- Subtitles are uploaded as a file and show at the bottom center. They move up when the player controls appear.

## Exact areas

All positions are in pixels from the top left corner of the 3840 x 2160 pixel frame. A picture that overlaps an edge can have its centre outside the frame.

- Covered or cropped by the app, bottom edge: x 0, y 1944, 3840 x 216 pixels.
- Safe zone edge: the SVG path "M0 0H3840V1944H0Z", which spans x 0, y 0, 3840 x 1944 pixels.
- The platform's own subtitles: x 960, y 1593, 1920 x 297 pixels.

## YouTube video thumbnail

16:9, 3840 x 2160 pixels.

| Item | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Recommended | 3840 x 2160 pixels, 4K |
| Minimum | 1280 x 720 pixels |
| Shown as | Video length in the lower right corner |
| File size | Up to 50 megabytes |

- Keep text and faces away from the lower right corner.

### Exact areas of the thumbnail

All positions are in pixels from the top left corner of the 3840 x 2160 pixel frame. A picture that overlaps an edge can have its centre outside the frame.

- Covered or cropped by the app, area: x 3240, y 1890, 600 x 270 pixels.
- Safe zone edge: the SVG path "M0 0H3840V1890H3240V2160H0Z", which spans x 0, y 0, 3840 x 2160 pixels.

## Last updated

13 November 2026

## Links

- This page: https://guides.avola.dk/youtube/video/
- Transparent PNG overlay to place on top of your work: https://guides.avola.dk/downloads/avola-youtube-video-safe-zones-3840x2160.png
- Overlay for the thumbnail: https://guides.avola.dk/downloads/avola-youtube-video-thumbnail-safe-zones-3840x2160.png
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- Next format: [YouTube Shorts](https://guides.avola.dk/youtube/shorts/index.md)
- All formats as data: https://guides.avola.dk/data/formats.json