diff --git a/embed_video/backends.py b/embed_video/backends.py
index c982af8..639bdd0 100644
--- a/embed_video/backends.py
+++ b/embed_video/backends.py
@@ -18,6 +18,11 @@ from .settings import EMBED_VIDEO_BACKENDS, EMBED_VIDEO_TIMEOUT, \
     EMBED_VIDEO_YOUTUBE_DEFAULT_QUERY
 
 
+def checkUrl(url):
+    r = requests.head(url)
+    return int(r.status_code) < 400
+
+
 class EmbedVideoException(Exception):
     """ Parental class for all embed_video exceptions """
     pass
@@ -303,8 +308,14 @@ class YoutubeBackend(VideoBackend):
     )
 
     pattern_url = '{protocol}://www.youtube.com/embed/{code}'
-    pattern_thumbnail_url = '{protocol}://img.youtube.com/vi/{code}/hqdefault.jpg'
+    pattern_thumbnail_url = '{protocol}://img.youtube.com/vi/{code}/{resolution}'
     default_query = EMBED_VIDEO_YOUTUBE_DEFAULT_QUERY
+    resolutions = [
+        'maxresdefault.jpg',
+        'sddefault.jpg',
+        'hqdefault.jpg'
+        'mqdefault.jpg',
+    ]
 
     def get_code(self):
         code = super(YoutubeBackend, self).get_code()
@@ -322,6 +333,22 @@ class YoutubeBackend(VideoBackend):
 
         return code
 
+    def get_thumbnail_url(self):
+        """
+        Returns thumbnail URL folded from :py:data:`pattern_thumbnail_url` and
+        parsed code.
+
+        :rtype: str
+        """
+        for resolution in self.resolutions:
+            temp_thumbnail_url = self.pattern_thumbnail_url.format(
+                code=self.code, protocol=self.protocol, resolution=resolution)
+            if checkUrl(temp_thumbnail_url):
+                return temp_thumbnail_url
+                break
+        return self.pattern_thumbnail_url.format(
+            code=self.code, protocol=self.protocol, resolution='hqdefault.jpg')
+
 
 class VimeoBackend(VideoBackend):
     """