What size should a Threads video thumbnail be?

Threads pulls the thumbnail from a frame of your video, so it inherits the video's aspect ratio. For portrait video that is 1080 by 1350 pixels (4:5); for square it is 1080 by 1080. Export any custom cover frame at the same dimensions as the video to avoid letterboxing.

What is the right aspect ratio for a Threads thumbnail?

Match the thumbnail to the post it represents: 4:5 portrait fills the most feed space, 1:1 square is balanced, and 1.91:1 landscape suits link cards. Mismatched ratios get cropped or padded, so always match the parent content.

What image formats does Threads accept for thumbnails?

Threads accepts JPG and PNG for image and thumbnail uploads, and pulls JPG or PNG Open Graph images for link cards. Use JPG for photos and PNG for graphics with text or sharp edges, keeping files under 8 MB.

Why does my Threads link card image look cropped?

Link cards use a wide 1.91:1 thumbnail pulled from the page's Open Graph image. If that image is square or portrait, Threads crops it to the wide ratio. Set a 1200 by 630 pixel OG image to control exactly what shows.

Can I set a custom thumbnail on a Threads video?

You can choose a cover frame from the video during upload. To use a fully custom design, render it as the first frame of the video at the same resolution as the clip so it is selectable as the thumbnail.

Threads Thumbnail Size Tool

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Threads thumbnail size tool

The thumbnail is the first thing people judge in the feed, so it needs to match the exact ratio Threads expects or it will be cropped or padded. This tool lists the recommended pixels, aspect ratio, formats and size limits for video thumbnails, image posts and link-card previews so every preview lands sharp.

How it works

Threads displays thumbnails at the native aspect ratio of the parent content. A video thumbnail inherits the video’s ratio (4:5 portrait at 1080×1350, or 1:1 square at 1080×1080), an image post shows at its own ratio, and a link card uses a wide 1.91:1 image (1200×630) taken from the page’s Open Graph tag. The tool maps each content type to its target dimensions and tells you the maximum file size and accepted formats so nothing is upscaled or rejected.

Tips & notes

Match the thumbnail ratio to the post — mismatches get cropped or letterboxed.
For link cards, set a 1200×630 Open Graph image to control the preview.
Render a custom video cover as the first frame at the clip’s full resolution.
Use JPG for photos, PNG for text-heavy graphics; keep files under 8 MB.