TPT thumbnail size, in short: Teachers Pay Teachers recommends thumbnail images of at least 750×750 pixels, under 4 MB each. The cover (first thumbnail) is the square image buyers see in search, so make it a full square rather than a portrait page, and you can add up to three more thumbnails. Exporting at 1500×1500 px keeps text crisp on high-density screens.
More on this topic: Marketplace image requirements, every guide in one place.
On TPT, the cover thumbnail does the job a product photo does on a marketplace: it's what teachers scan in search results before they click. The most common mistake is uploading the first page of an 8.5×11 resource as the cover, which leaves blank strips in a square tile and makes the title tiny. This guide covers the official size, how to turn a letter-size page into a strong square cover, what to put on the other thumbnails, and the free tools to do it without design software. The free square image maker turns any page into a square in your browser.
- Minimum size: 750×750 px (TPT's recommendation).
- File size: under 4 MB per image.
- Shape: square; the cover fills a square tile in search.
- Count: the cover plus up to three more thumbnails.
- Export at 1500×1500 px as PNG or JPG for sharp text, then check it at thumbnail size.
What size are TPT thumbnails?
At least 750×750 pixels, with each file smaller than 4 MB. TPT's help center gives those figures, and its seller blog confirmed the recommended thumbnail size stayed 750×750 px when product pages were redesigned. The cover is a square, so design it as one.
| Spec | TPT guidance | Practical export |
|---|---|---|
| Thumbnail size | At least 750×750 px | 1500×1500 px |
| Shape | Square cover | 1:1 |
| File size | Under 4 MB | PNG for text-heavy covers, JPG for photos |
| Number of thumbnails | Cover plus up to 3 more | Use all four |
TPT's thumbnail size and file limits in its help center and seller blog were checked in October 2026. Marketplaces change their rules, so confirm the current requirements in your seller dashboard before you upload a large batch.
Why export at double the minimum? Many teachers browse on laptops and tablets with high-density screens, where a 750 px image is drawn on about 1500 physical pixels. Our pixel ratio guide explains why 2× looks sharper. A 1500×1500 PNG of a flat design is still usually well under 4 MB; if it isn't, the free image compressor shrinks it.
How do I make a square TPT cover from an 8.5×11 page?
Don't upload the page as-is. Build a square cover that shows the page (or several pages) at an angle or side by side, with a large title. A letter-size page is a tall 8.5:11 shape, so dropping it into a square tile leaves empty sides and shrinks the title.
| Approach | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Page on a colored square | Pad the page to a square with your brand color | Quick, consistent covers |
| Two or three pages fanned or side by side | Collage of key pages in a square | Worksheets, bundles |
| Mockup | Pages shown on a clipboard, tablet or desk | Digital and printable resources |
| Title-led design | Big title, grade level, one preview image | Units, task cards, clip art |
- Export your best pages as images with the free PDF to JPG converter.
- Combine two to four pages in a square with the free collage maker, or pad a single page to a square with the square image maker.
- Add the title, grade level and format ("Printable + Digital") with the free add text to image tool.
- Export at 1500×1500 px as PNG.
- Zoom out until the cover is about the size of a search tile and check the title still reads.
What should a TPT cover show?
The resource itself, the topic and who it's for. Teachers filter by grade and subject, then decide from the cover in a second or two, so the cover should answer "what is it, for which grade, and what does it look like?"
- Title in a few large words: "Fractions Task Cards" beats a full sentence.
- Grade level and subject in a corner badge.
- A real preview: actual pages, not only clip art, so teachers can see the quality.
- Format: printable, digital, Google Slides, editable, or bundle.
- Consistent branding: the same fonts, colors and layout across your store, so your products are recognisable in search.
Shrink your cover to about 200×200 px on screen. If you can't read the title or tell what the resource is, the text is too small or there's too much on it. Cut words before shrinking the font.
What should the other three thumbnails show?
Use them to preview the inside of the resource, answer common questions and show what's included. Each one should be a square at the same size as the cover.
| Thumbnail | Content |
|---|---|
| 1 (cover) | Title, grade, format and a preview of the pages |
| 2 | What's included: a grid of all the page types or a contents list |
| 3 | Close-up of one or two pages so the quality and fonts are visible |
| 4 | In use: a printed sheet on a desk, a digital version on a tablet, or student examples |
TPT also offers a thumbnail generator that creates thumbnails from your product file, which can be a quick start; custom thumbnails let you control the design and text. For the preview file and listing images, see how to convert an image to PDF and digital product mockups, which apply to teaching resources too.
Start from a ready-made square layout, then swap in your pages, title and grade level.
Browse design templates7 days free · 50 credits · No credit cardHow do I keep TPT covers consistent across a whole store?
Make one master cover template and reuse it for every product, changing only the title, the preview pages and the color for each subject. Teachers who like one of your resources look for the same style in search, and a consistent grid also makes your store page look established.
| Element | Keep fixed | Change per product |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Title position, badge position, preview area | — |
| Fonts | One title font, one label font | — |
| Color | Your brand accent | A subject or season color |
| Badge | Shape and position | Grade level, format |
| Preview | Same angle or arrangement | The pages of that resource |
Save the template at 1500×1500 px, keep a copy of each finished cover, and update covers when you revise a resource so the preview matches what buyers download.
How do TPT thumbnail sizes compare with other platforms?
TPT uses squares; most other digital product platforms lean on 16:9 covers. If you sell the same resource elsewhere, make one square and one wide version from the same design.
| Platform | Main image | Shape |
|---|---|---|
| Teachers Pay Teachers | 750×750 px minimum, under 4 MB | 1:1 |
| Gumroad | Cover 1280×720 px; thumbnail 600×600 px minimum | 16:9 and 1:1 |
| Etsy (digital downloads) | At least 2,000 px on the shortest side | Usually 4:3 or 5:4 |
Details: Gumroad cover image size and Etsy listing photo size. For square sizes generally, see 1:1 aspect ratio.
What are common TPT thumbnail mistakes?
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Uploading the letter-size first page | Build a square cover with the page inside it |
| Tiny title | Fewer words, larger type |
| Only clip art, no real pages | Show the actual resource |
| Blurry text | Export at 1500×1500 PNG |
| File over 4 MB | Compress, or use JPG for photo-heavy covers |
| Every cover a different style | Use one template for your whole store |
Frequently asked questions
What size is a TPT thumbnail?
At least 750×750 pixels and under 4 MB. Export at 1500×1500 px for sharper text.
What size is a Teachers Pay Teachers cover?
The cover is the first thumbnail: a square of at least 750×750 px.
How many thumbnails can a TPT product have?
A cover plus up to three more thumbnails.
Should TPT thumbnails be square?
Yes. The cover displays as a square in search, so a portrait page leaves wasted space.
What file type should TPT thumbnails be?
PNG for text-heavy designs and JPG for photo-heavy ones. Keep each under 4 MB.
Can TPT make thumbnails for me?
TPT has a thumbnail generator that creates thumbnails from your product file. Custom thumbnails give you more control over the title and layout.
How do I turn a PDF page into a thumbnail?
Convert the page to an image with a PDF to JPG tool, pad or collage it into a square, add a title and export at 1500×1500 px.
Start from a template, add your pages and title, and export square thumbnails that read in TPT search.
Start free trialBrowse templates7 days free · 50 credits · No credit card. Trial images carry a small “Made with aiarter” mark; paid plans export clean files you can use commercially.
