Background
Layers
How to make a YouTube thumbnail
- Pick a style to start, or build from scratch.
- Choose a background: a gradient, a solid colour or your own image. Use the sliders to place your image.
- Edit the text. Choose the font, size, colours and outline. Add a box behind the words if you want a label look.
- Add a cut-out image, such as a person on a transparent PNG, and drag it into place.
- Drag text or the cut-out on the preview to move it. Keep important parts out of the timestamp corner.
- Press Download JPG. The tool lowers quality only as much as needed to stay under 2 MB.
YouTube thumbnail rules
| Item | Guide |
|---|---|
| Size | 1280 × 720 pixels, at least 640 pixels wide |
| Shape | 16 to 9 |
| File size | Under 2 MB |
| File type | JPG, PNG or GIF |
| Timestamp | The video length covers the bottom right corner |
Tips for better results
- Use three to five big words. Thumbnails are seen very small.
- Pick high contrast: light text on a dark background or the other way round.
- Faces and clear close ups pull attention. A cut-out PNG with a transparent background works best.
- Keep the same fonts and colours across videos so people recognise your channel.
- For Hindi titles, try the Baloo 2 font.
- Want ideas? Look at titles with the YouTube Title Generator.
Limits to know about
- The tool does not include stock photos. Use pictures you own or have the right to use.
- Each thumbnail has three text layers and one cut-out image. There is no curved text, drawing or background removal.
- Fonts load from Google Fonts. If they are blocked, the thumbnail uses system fonts and looks different.
- Busy pictures may need extra compression to fit under 2 MB, which lowers quality a little.
- YouTube can change its rules. Check YouTube Help for the current ones. This tool is not made by YouTube.
Privacy
Your images stay in your browser. The only outside request is for the fonts, which your browser fetches from Google Fonts.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
1280 × 720 pixels, 16 to 9, under 2 MB. This tool makes exactly that.
Why is there a time box on the preview?
YouTube shows the video length at the bottom right. The dashed box reminds you to keep text away from it. It is not part of the downloaded image.
Can I add my face?
Yes. Upload a picture of yourself as a cut-out PNG with a transparent background, then drag it into place.
Can I write Hindi?
Yes. Type Hindi in any text box. The Baloo 2 font and the Hindi style are made for it.
How do I upload the thumbnail?
In YouTube Studio, open the video details and choose the custom thumbnail option.
Is there a watermark?
No. The tool is free and needs no sign up.
About this tool
ToolsRiver YouTube Thumbnail Maker is free and needs no sign up. Everything is drawn on a canvas in your browser.