Thumbnails are 16:9 and banners have a smaller safe area that shows on every device. These sizes are the commonly recommended uploads.
How each YouTube size maps to a 2:3 pin (1000 x 1500)
Image
Size
Ratio
A 2:3 crop keeps
Best fit
Video thumbnail (16:9)
1280 x 720
16:9
38% of the width
Blur or color fill
Shorts frame (9:16)
1080 x 1920
9:16
84% of the height
Crop
Channel banner
2560 x 1440
16:9
38% of the width
Blur or color fill
Pinterest: Standard pin (2:3)
1000 x 1500
2:3
Nothing, same shape
Crop
Pinterest: Square pin (1:1)
1000 x 1000
1:1
67% of the width
Blur fill
Pinterest: Tall pin (9:16)
1080 x 1920
9:16
84% of the height
Crop
Why YouTube images need resizing for Pinterest
YouTube thumbnails are wide 16:9 images designed to sit next to a video title. On Pinterest, that same image appears as a short strip with lots of wasted space around it. Resizing a YouTube thumbnail for Pinterest is about keeping the bold thumbnail design intact while giving it a tall frame that fits the feed.
Blur fill is the natural fit: the full thumbnail stays sharp in the middle and a blurred, enlarged copy fills the space above and below. It looks intentional and leaves room for a title in the pin maker. Shorts frames are already tall, so crop them to 2:3 or keep them at 9:16.
Tips for converting YouTube images
Never crop a thumbnail to 2:3
A 2:3 crop of a 16:9 thumbnail keeps only about 38 percent of its width, which usually cuts the text and the face. Fill instead.
Add a title above
Blur fill leaves space above the thumbnail. Add a short title there in the pin maker so the pin works without the video context.
Banners need fill too
Channel banners are very wide with a central safe area. Use color fill with your brand color for a clean branded pin.
Need to resize lots of images to other shapes? The Pinterest image resizer covers general
resizing, and the pin size guide explains which shapes Pinterest displays best.
YouTube to Pinterest FAQ
How do I convert a YouTube thumbnail to a Pinterest pin size?
Upload the thumbnail, choose Standard pin and blur fill, then download. The thumbnail stays fully visible with a blurred background filling the extra height.
Can I link a pin to my YouTube video?
Yes. When you create the pin on Pinterest, paste the video URL as the destination link. The image you made here becomes the pin.
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
The commonly recommended size is 1280 by 720 pixels, a 16:9 ratio. Pinterest pins are 2:3, so the shapes are very different.