TikTok Thumbnail Size
A TikTok thumbnail (cover) is 1080 × 1920 px, matching the video frame. The complication is that it is displayed two different ways: full 9:16 in the For You feed and search results, but cropped to a centred square in the profile grid. A cover with its subject near the top or bottom looks correct in the feed and decapitated on your profile.
Specifications
| Pixels | 1080 × 1920 px |
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 |
| Supported formats | Selected from a video frame, or uploaded as JPG or PNG |
| Safe zone | Profile grid crops to a centred square — keep the subject in the central 1080 × 1080 px |
Design Tips
- →Place the subject and any cover text within the central 1080 × 1080 px square. That region survives both the full-frame feed view and the square profile-grid crop.
- →TikTok overlays the video caption across the bottom of the cover in the profile grid. Keep cover text in the upper half of that central square.
- →Cover text added inside TikTok's editor is burned into the cover only — it does not appear in the video itself. If you want it on both, add it in your editing software before uploading.
- →Choosing a bright, high-contrast frame matters more than the specific frame. Profile grids are scanned at thumbnail size where composition detail is invisible but contrast is not.
How to Make TikTok Thumbnail Designs in Playyy
Three steps, no design software. Set the size once — from the size options or straight in your prompt — and every design comes out at 1,080 × 1,920 px.
- 1
Open Playyy
Playyy runs in your browser, so there's nothing to download. Sign in and you'll land on the Home page.
- 2
Type your prompt and set the TikTok Thumbnail size
Describe what you want in the input box on the Home page, then set the size whichever way is quicker. Pick TikTok Thumbnail from the size options right underneath — every platform's sizes are in that list, so you don't have to look this one up. Or just say it in your prompt, like "TikTok Thumbnail at 1,080 × 1,920 px", and Playyy matches it. Either way the design comes out at 9:16.
- 3
Create your TikTok Thumbnail design and download it
Playyy generates the design at the full 1,080 × 1,920 px, so it's ready to upload as it is. Accepted formats: Selected from a video frame, or uploaded as JPG or PNG.
Create TikTok Thumbnail designs with Playyy
Type a prompt, pick TikTok Thumbnail from the size options underneath it, and export at 1080 × 1920 px — no design software needed.
Start designing free →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TikTok thumbnail size?+
1080 × 1920 px (9:16), the same as the video. TikTok crops it to a centred square in the profile grid, so keep the subject within the central 1080 × 1080 px to work in both the feed and the grid.
Can I upload a custom TikTok cover image?+
Yes. TikTok lets you select any frame from the video or upload a separate image as the cover. Uploaded covers should be 1080 × 1920 px to match the video frame and avoid stretching.
Can I upload a custom TikTok cover?+
Yes. TikTok lets you pick any frame from the video or upload a separate image. Uploaded covers should be 1080 × 1920 px to match the video frame — a smaller or differently shaped image gets stretched or cropped.
Why does my TikTok cover look cropped on my profile?+
The profile grid crops covers to a centred square, while the For You feed shows the full 9:16 frame. A subject near the top or bottom of the cover looks correct in the feed and cut off on the profile. Keep it inside the central 1080 × 1080 px.
Does the TikTok cover text appear in the video?+
No. Text added in TikTok's cover editor is burned into the cover image only and never appears during playback. If you want it in both places, add it in your editing software before uploading.