Quick answer
Use 1080 x 1920 pixels at 9:16 for a YouTube Short. YouTube says Shorts can be square or vertical and up to three minutes, and its creation guidance gives 1080p as the maximum Shorts upload resolution. For a custom Shorts thumbnail, YouTube recommends 2160 x 3840 at 9:16.
Source check: August 28, 2026. Platform apps, APIs, account types, and third-party publishers can change on different schedules. The final operational check is the preview and public result in the exact path you use.
At a glance
| Surface or choice | Size or limit | Ratio or source | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short master | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 | Practical full-screen canvas |
| Maximum Shorts resolution | 1080p | Square or vertical | Current YouTube creation guidance |
| Short duration | Up to 3 minutes | Square or vertical | Current YouTube classification rule |
| Custom Shorts thumbnail | 2160 x 3840 | 9:16 | Current YouTube recommendation |
What this page owns
A square or vertical upload of up to three minutes can be classified as a Short. Use a wider ratio such as 16:9 when you intend the upload to remain long-form.
That ownership boundary matters. Boomp uses one clear page for each search job instead of publishing near-duplicate pages that give different answers to the same question.
A dependable production method
- Use 9:16 for an intentional full-screen Short.
- Confirm the upload is classified as expected.
- Review music claims, especially on Shorts longer than one minute.
- Add accurate captions.
- Check the thumbnail and first frame where the Short appears outside the Shorts feed.
The last check matters most. A design file, successful export, scheduler acceptance, or API response does not prove that the customer-facing artifact is correct.
Size is only one acceptance test
A technically valid file can still fail the business. Check these questions with the final media and caption together:
- Is every name, date, price, claim, location, and link current?
- Does the crop preserve the subject and the useful words?
- Are captions, contrast, and text alternatives sufficient for the content?
- Does the business have permission to use the people, customer material, music, footage, and marks shown?
- Does the call to action match the destination and what happens next?
- Did a responsible person approve this exact version?
For the full release gate, use the social media content quality checklist.
Where Boomp fits
Boomp fits when the recurring problem is larger than one pixel count. The current first look starts with a public website and returns up to six website-grounded talking points before email. Those talking points are not finished posts and do not prove that Boomp knows the owner's voice. Email saves the first look and continues into post ideas. Finished media and posts belong to paid work, with the customer's approval settings controlling what represents the business.
Give Boomp your public website and review the first talking points before email.
Related guides
- YouTube Thumbnail Size 2026: Videos and Shorts
- Vertical Video Size 2026: 1080 x 1920 and 9:16 Explained
- Social Media Video Length Limits 2026: Current Platform Guide
- Social Media Safe Zones 2026: Keep Text and Logos Visible
