YouTube Post Preview
Write your description, drop in an image and see the YouTube feed version on the right. On YouTube your post is a video card: a 16:9 thumbnail with a duration badge, a two-line title, then channel name, view count and age. Titles longer than two lines are cut with an ellipsis. Toggle dark mode and desktop to check both, then schedule it when it looks right.
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The card follows YouTube's current layout, including where "more" cuts the text. Real feeds vary slightly by device and app version.
What the YouTube feed does to your video
On YouTube your post is a video card: a 16:9 thumbnail with a duration badge, a two-line title, then channel name, view count and age. Titles longer than two lines are cut with an ellipsis.
The description is for search and for viewers who want links. The first 157 characters show in results; chapters, links and credits go below.
How to use the preview
- Enter your name and paste your description.
- Add an image or your profile photo: both stay in your browser.
- Switch between light and dark and between mobile and desktop widths.
- Click "more" on the preview to see the expanded version, then copy the text or send it to the scheduler.
Why preview before posting
Most engagement decisions happen before the fold. If the first line is a half-sentence or the image crops off a face, the post underperforms and there is no edit that fixes it after the first hour. Previewing is a ten-second check that catches both. Social by InstantDM shows the same preview for all eight platforms side by side inside the composer.
YouTube character limits (2026)
| Field | Limit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Video title | 100 | Under 70 so it is not cut off in search |
| Video description | 5,000 | First 157 characters show in search |
| Channel description | 1,000 | |
| Channel name | 100 | |
| Handle | 30 | |
| Comment | 10,000 | |
| Tags (total) | 500 | Total characters across all tags |
| Community post | 5,000 | |
| Playlist title | 150 |
YouTube image sizes (2026)
| Placement | Size (px) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Thumbnail | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 |
| Channel banner — Safe area 1546×423 in the centre | 2560 × 1440 | 16:9 |
| Profile photo | 800 × 800 | 1:1 |
| Shorts | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 |
| Community post image | 1080 × 1080 | 1:1 |
Need one of these sizes? Use the YouTube image resizer.
Frequently asked questions
How many characters show before "more" on YouTube?
Titles show two lines on most cards; search results cut at about 70 characters.
What image size does YouTube use?
Thumbnail: 1280×720 (16:9). The full size list is on this page.
Is my image uploaded anywhere?
No. The preview renders in your browser; the image never leaves your device.
Is the preview pixel-exact?
It follows YouTube's current layout closely, but the real feed varies by device, app version and whether the account has hidden like counts. Treat it as a faithful approximation, not a screenshot.
Related free tools
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