What size should a Whatnot thumbnail be?

Whatnot's help center recommends a vertical image or video in a 9:16 ratio at 1080 x 1920 pixels for a show thumbnail or preview video, as of its article dated August 10, 2026. If you do not add one, your profile photo is used.

Is a Whatnot thumbnail 16:9?

No. Whatnot asks for a vertical 9:16 image or video, the opposite orientation of a 16:9 landscape thumbnail. A 1080 x 1920 pixel canvas gives you that ratio.

How do I make a thumbnail for Whatnot?

Build a vertical 1080 x 1920 pixel design, check it against the Thumbnail Guidelines document linked from Whatnot's Seller Academy Resources page, and use Whatnot's Show Thumbnail Template if you want a consistent look. Whatnot's seller blog recommends a clear image of what makes your show unique, without too much text, GIFs or graphics, and names Canva as an easy tool.

What happens if I do not add a thumbnail on Whatnot?

Whatnot's help center says that if no thumbnail or preview video is added, your profile photo will be used for the show. The thumbnail is listed as an optional step when scheduling a show.

What size is the Whatnot profile picture and banner?

Whatnot's Edit your Whatnot profile article, dated August 27, 2026, says to use a JPEG, JPG or PNG file under 7 MB, a square profile picture such as 1024 x 1024 pixels and a wide 3:1 banner such as 1500 x 500 pixels. Its undated Seller Academy Go Live Guide lists at least 160 x 160 pixels for the profile picture and 750 x 424 pixels for the banner.

Whatnot Thumbnail Size: The Right Dimensions, Ratio and Design Rules for Card Breakers

October 21, 2026 ChronicCards

Last updated: October 21, 2026

Key Takeaways

Whatnot's help center recommends a vertical 9:16 image or video at 1080 × 1920 pixels for a show thumbnail or preview video. If you add neither, Whatnot uses your profile photo.
The thumbnail is an optional step when you schedule a show from Seller Hub, alongside tags, moderators, a repeat schedule and show-specific settings.
For your profile, Whatnot's August 27, 2026 help article asks for a JPEG, JPG or PNG under 7 MB, a square picture such as 1024 × 1024 pixels and a 3:1 banner such as 1500 × 500 pixels. Its undated Seller Academy guide lists at least 160 × 160 and 750 × 424.
Whatnot's design guidance: use its Show Thumbnail Template, check the safe zones in its Thumbnail Guidelines document before uploading, and avoid too much text, GIFs or graphics.
A thumbnail does not satisfy Whatnot's rule on sharing break rules. Its Card Breaks Policy requires the rules of any Card Break to be in Show Notes or in the item listings.

Thumbnail size
All Whatnot image sizes
Adding a thumbnail
Design guidance
Rules for card breakers
Match it on stream
Sources

The Whatnot thumbnail size, per Whatnot's help center, is a vertical image or video in a 9:16 ratio at a recommended 1080 × 1920 pixels. The thumbnail is optional when you schedule a show; if you skip it, Whatnot uses your profile photo. Details verified as of October 21, 2026.

What Size Is a Whatnot Thumbnail?

The number comes from Whatnot's help article "Schedule, edit, and start a show," dated August 10, 2026. Under the optional steps for scheduling a show, it says to add a thumbnail or preview video, use a vertical image or video (9:16 ratio), with a recommended size of 1080 × 1920 pixels, and that if none is added, your profile photo will be used.

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Whatnot's seller blog, in a February 2024 post on marketing your business, called a show thumbnail "your own personal 11:17 billboard" and recommended a 20 to 30 second preview video in a 9:16 ratio. The help article is newer and gives one ratio for both, so we build every thumbnail at 9:16 on a 1080 × 1920 canvas.

The help article lists no file type or size limit for the thumbnail. Whatnot does publish both for the profile picture and banner (JPEG, JPG or PNG under 7 MB), so we export thumbnails to the same spec.

Whatnot Image Sizes at a Glance

The current help center sizes, as listed on October 21, 2026.

Image	Whatnot's guidance	Source
Show thumbnail or preview video	Vertical 9:16 image or video, recommended 1080 × 1920 pixels. Profile photo used if none is added.	Help Center, August 10, 2026
Profile picture	Square image such as 1024 × 1024 pixels. JPEG, JPG or PNG under 7 MB.	Help Center, August 27, 2026
Profile banner	Wide 3:1 image such as 1500 × 500 pixels. JPEG, JPG or PNG under 7 MB.	Help Center, August 27, 2026

Whatnot's sources disagree on the profile sizes. The undated Seller Academy Go Live Guide lists a 160 × 160 pixel minimum for the profile picture, which it says auto-crops to a circle, and a 750 × 424 banner. The help center article dated August 27, 2026 asks for a square image such as 1024 × 1024 and a 3:1 banner such as 1500 × 500, and says those dimensions can help prevent distortion. We follow the dated page. It also says the profile picture appears next to your username across Whatnot, including in chat, on your profile and on orders, and that the banner is the large image at the top of your profile.

How Do You Add a Thumbnail to a Whatnot Show?

Whatnot's scheduling steps:

From the app or whatnot.com, open Seller Hub. On the web, open the Shows page on the left.
Select Schedule a Show.
Enter your show name, date and time.
Choose a category. Shows only appear in the selected category; if you sell multiple product types, choose a primary category.
Select a primary selling format.
Publish your show.

Adding a thumbnail or preview video is the first optional setting, alongside tags, moderators, a repeat schedule, show-specific shipping settings and content settings (an explicit content flag, muted words, and public or private visibility). Selling formats and tags must be accurate to comply with Whatnot's Gaming Policy. To change show details later, find the upcoming show in Seller Hub, tap the More icon and select Edit Show. New to the platform? Our guide to selling on Whatnot covers the application and the first show.

How Do You Design a Whatnot Thumbnail?

Whatnot gives three pieces of design guidance.

Use the template. The tips in the scheduling help article say to use Whatnot's Show Thumbnail Template "for clean, consistent visuals."
Check the safe zones. Whatnot's Seller Academy Resources page links a document called Thumbnail Guidelines and best practices, described as the place to learn best practices for designing your thumbnails and check for safe zones before uploading. It is hosted on Canva, so open it from the Resources page. Our own rule on top: keep your logo, show name and product in the middle of the frame and leave the edges clear.
Keep it clear and simple. Whatnot's seller blog recommends a clear image of what makes your show unique (what you are selling, the theme or the deal) and says to avoid too much text, GIFs or graphics, which can be overwhelming for buyers' eyes. It names Canva as an easy tool for show assets. The Seller Academy Go Live Guide calls an eye-catching thumbnail one of the best ways to attract viewers to your show, and its account setup tips say that if you use a logo, make sure all text is legible at a small size.

For a card breaker, that means the box or case you are opening and the break format should be readable on a phone, in the same colors and logo you use on your profile and stream. Whatnot's blog says a well-designed, clear and eye-catching asset will earn more bookmarks on your scheduled shows, and the help article suggests sharing your show link early so people can bookmark it.

Thumbnail Rules Card Breakers Should Know

Three Whatnot rules shape a break thumbnail.

Break rules go in Show Notes or listings. Whatnot's Card Breaks Policy, dated June 22, 2026, says the rules for any Card Break must be in Show Notes or in the item listings, including, where relevant, what counts as base or bulk cards and how they will be distributed. A thumbnail can name the product and the format, but it does not satisfy that rule.
Listing images must be honest. Whatnot's Listing Guidelines say listings must not contain images, links, titles or descriptions that mislead users for the purpose of drawing attention to, or promoting, a different item, and must contain photos of the actual item, with at least one clear photo of the entire item and its condition. They are written for listings, so the product in your thumbnail should match your listings.
Category and format must be right. Shows only appear in the selected category, and selling formats and tags must be accurate under Whatnot's Gaming Policy. Whatnot's Breaks feature page (April 16, 2026) says to create the show in the relevant category, such as Basketball Cards, select Breaks as the primary selling format, and manage the break from a computer, even if you stream from your phone.

Giveaways have their own rules, covered in our post on Whatnot giveaway rules.

Match the Thumbnail to What Viewers See on Stream

A thumbnail is a promise about the show, and the camera frame is where you keep it, so the stream behind you should carry the same logo and colors. Our Custom Backdrop is printed edge to edge with your logo or design for a branded background on camera: a 100% polyester microfiber wall tapestry with hems on all sides, in four sizes and two orientations, from $49.99 as of October 21, 2026. To order, choose a size and orientation, pick a layout, enter a background color and upload your logo or design. For the table, our Custom Sports Card Break Mats are 4 mm thick neoprene with an anti-slip backing, printed across the full surface, from $39.99 as of the same date. See Whatnot background ideas for backdrop choices and our custom card breaker supplies for the rest of the setup.