How to Resize Embedded YouTube Videos in WordPress [3 Effective Ways]

Embedding YouTube videos is a great way to enrich your content. However, I often find it challenging to adjust the size of videos efficiently in WordPress. I have found 3 easiest ways to resize embedded YouTube videos.

WordPress provided limited options to change embedded video size. But there are some tricky ways to do it. They are:

✅ Customize the HTML code

✅ Adjust the Group/Column block setting

✅ Resize with the PostX Row block

In these ways, you can change the size of your video within a couple of minutes. I will explain the thorough process of each method. Without any further ado 👇

Reasons for Embedding YouTube Video in WordPress

You might be wondering the reason for embedding YouTube videos in WordPress. Yes, you can just paste the shareable link in your writing. But embedding lets you have more control over the behavior of the video.

Better User Experience & Engagement: Embedded YouTube videos let your visitors watch them directly from the blog, keeping them on your site. It reduces your site’s bounce rate.

SEO Benefits: Reducing the bounce rate eventually helps you from an SEO perspective. Also, having multimedia content on a site sends a positive signal to search engines.

Customizable Appearance: You can change the size and behavior of embedded videos. It will enhance the impression and visual appeal to your visitor.

Benefits of Resizing Embedded YouTube Video

Now that, we know the benefits of embedding, let’s explore the benefits of resizing it. 👉

1. Enhance User Experience: The right size of your video creates a positive first impression for your visitor. They can easily understand the reason or user interaction at first glance.

2. Improve Responsiveness: You can improve the responsiveness of the video by adjusting it. It helps you to present the content appropriately to your visitors from different devices.

3. Apply Aesthetic Appeal: Another benefit of changing the size of a YouTube video is portraying your aesthetic identity. You should apply the change aligning with your site to increase the appeal.

Methods of Changing Embedded YouTube Video Size in WordPress

I already mentioned three ways to change embedded YouTube video size. But before diving into those, there’s a basic built-in option that lets you adjust the video width quickly.

When you select the Youtube Embed block in WordPress, a quick settings bar appears. It allows you to choose between None, Wide Width, and Full Width:

• None ⇨ Keeps the video aligned with your content body (default setting).
• Wide Width ⇨ Expands the video to fit within the container size of your site.
• Full Width ⇨ Stretches the video edge-to-edge across the screen for a more immersive experience.

While these options provide some flexibility, they didn’t give me the level of control I wanted. That’s why I searched for better ways to resize embedded YouTube videos—let’s get into them.

Customizing HTML Code to Change the Size of Embedded YouTube Video

A quick tweak in the HTML embed code lets you easily change your YouTube video size. Here’s how to do it:

1️⃣ Get the Embed Code:

Start by opening the YouTube video you want to embed. Below the video, find the Share button; click it then select Embed. 

This will display the HTML embed code. Copy the code for later use.

2️⃣ Add It to WordPress:

Next, in the WordPress editor, add a Custom HTML block. Paste the previously copied embed code into the block. 

You should switch to Preview mode to see how it looks on your page.

3️⃣ Resize the Video:

Then, in the embed code, find the part that reads like this: width=”560″ height=”315″. You can adjust the width and height values to your preferred size. 

Again, preview the video to make sure it fits the layout just right.

💡 Pro Tip

You can also adjust the width and height directly in YouTube’s embed settings before copying the code.

That’s it! With this simple method, I had full control over the video size. Let’s move on to the next method! 🚀

Resize the Embedded Video from Group/Column Setting

Since the YouTube Embed block doesn’t have any option to resize the video, I found a clever workaround—placing it inside a container. By adjusting the container size, I was able to control the video dimensions effortlessly. Here’s how you can do it too! 😉

1️⃣ Create a Group or Column Block

In the WordPress editor, add either a Group or Column block—both options work great for this. Once added, choose the first layout and insert the YouTube Embed block inside. 

Now, simply paste the shareable video link, click Embed, and you’re all set.

2️⃣ Resize the Video with Group Block Settings

The video will initially show up in YouTube’s default size. To change that, select the Group block and open the Settings panel on the right side. 

You’ll find an option called Content Width under the Layout settings. Here, enter your preferred pixel or percentage value to resize the video to your liking.

3️⃣ Fine-Tune with Column Block (Bonus Trick!)

Here’s a secret trick for you! If you’re using a Column block, try selecting the three-column layout. 

Then, embed the video in the middle column, and adjust the width of each column to reposition the video. It’s a neat trick to fine-tune your design and make the video fit just right.

It’s a fun and creative way to resize embedded YouTube videos in WordPress. Give it a try and let me know how it feels!

💡 Pro Tip

You should toggle on the resize for smaller devices option from the block setting. It will improve the responsiveness for various screen sizes.

Resize The Embedded Video with PostX

Want more control over your embedded YouTube video? Try PostX. Its Row/Column block makes resizing and responsiveness very easy. This powerful plugin lets you fine-tune video dimensions for a perfect fit on all devices.

PostX is a dedicated WordPress plugin for building news, magazine, and blogging websites with Gutenberg blocks. You can try this plugin to revamp your site and enhance your visitors’ experience.

1️⃣ Install & Activate

To get started, you have to install the PostX plugin from the WordPress plugin directory. Follow the official documentation for the installation process and ensure everything goes smoothly.

2️⃣ Add a Row Block & Embed the Video

Once PostX is activated, head over to the WordPress editor. Here, select the PostX Row Block and then embed your YouTube video just like you normally would. It’s a simple step to get the video onto your page.

3️⃣ Resize the Video with PostX Settings

Now, select the Row Block where the video is embedded. Open the Settings panel from the right sidebar, and scroll down to find the Content Max-Width under Layout. 

Here, you can input your desired pixel or percentage value to resize the video to fit perfectly within your design.

4️⃣ Ensure Perfect Responsiveness

To make sure your video looks great on all devices, click the desktop button in the settings panel.

Then, switch between tablet and mobile views, adjusting the size for each device. It will ensure a seamless experience across different screen sizes.

💡 Pro Tip

WordPress’s YouTube Embed block has a resize for smaller devices option. But PostX gives you precise control over video sizes across screens.

Why PostX?

PostX makes customization effortless. It helps you structure and style your blog exactly how you want. Explore and see the difference! 🚀

Recommended Practice while Changing YouTube Video Size

When changing an embedded YouTube video size, follow these best practices to ensure a smooth user experience:

✅ Maintain the 16:9 Aspect Ratio

Keeping the video’s aspect ratio intact prevents distortion. If you need a larger size, adjust it proportionally. 

For example, you can change 560×315 to 1280×720 or 1920×1080 without affecting the video’s quality.

✅ Ensure Visual Balance

The video should blend seamlessly with your content. A size that’s too large can overwhelm the page, while a tiny video may go unnoticed. Find a balance that enhances readability and keeps your layout visually appealing.

✅ Check Responsiveness

After resizing, test the video on different devices to ensure proper display. The PostX plugin makes this easier for you to set different sizes for desktop, tablet, and mobile. This ensures a smooth viewing experience across all screens.

✅ Verify Theme Compatibility

Some WordPress themes may apply predefined styles that affect how your video appears. Always check if your theme allows flexible video resizing before making changes.

✅ Avoid Embedding Long Videos

Long videos can slow down your website, negatively impacting load speed and SEO. If the video is essential, consider embedding a shorter clip or using a lazy load option to prevent performance issues.

How to Resize A Regular Video(Not YouTube) Size in WordPress

So far, I’ve covered resizing embedded YouTube videos. But what if you’re using a regular video uploaded from your media library? Like embedded videos, WordPress doesn’t offer a built-in resizing option for uploaded media.

To change an uploaded video size, you can place it inside a container block (just like I demonstrated for embedded videos). This allows you to adjust its size without affecting the quality.

If you need more flexibility, you can customize the size using HTML or CSS for precise control. You can ask any AI tool to generate such code by providing your preferences.

💡 Pro Tip 

 Want to enhance your blog’s visual appeal? PostX lets you use video as featured images, creating an immersive, next-gen experience for your visitors. Try it out! 🚀

Conclusion

Changing the embedded YouTube video size in WordPress doesn’t have to be complicated. While the default settings provide some flexibility, use HTML tweaks, container blocks, or PostX to get more control.

These methods ensure your videos look great and stay responsive on any device. If you want additional customization with features, PostX makes the process even smoother.

Now it’s your turn! Try these methods and let me know in the comments which one works best for you.

FAQs

Written byShahbaj Arefin

Arefin is a passionate writer with over three years of experience exploring the world of WordPress and WooCommerce. He loves diving into themes, plugins, and tools, sharing insights that help users build and optimize their websites with ease. When he's not writing, you’ll find him testing the latest tech to uncover game-changing features for online businesses.