YouTube thumbnail maker
Big bold text, a photo and an arrow or two, checked at the size people actually see it.
How it works
- 01Drop in a photo for the background, or pick a gradient or color. Drag the photo to frame it.
- 02Edit the headline, wrap a word in *stars* to make it pop, and add images, arrows, circles or emoji.
- 03Check the small feed preview, then download a 1280 × 720 JPG that stays under 2 MB.
Questions
›What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
1280 × 720 pixels, a 16:9 shape. YouTube asks for custom thumbnails under 2 MB in JPG, PNG or GIF. This tool always exports at 1280 × 720, and JPG downloads automatically pick the highest quality that stays under 2 MB.
›How do I make one word a different color?
Wrap it in asterisks, like "This changed *everything*". Marked words use the accent color, or get their own highlight box if you choose "behind *words*".
›Can I add a cut-out photo of myself?
Yes. Drop in a PNG with a transparent background and it is added as a sticker you can move, resize and rotate. Turn on "sticker border" for the white outline that makes cut-outs stand out.
›What is the timestamp zone?
In the feed, YouTube shows the video length in the bottom-right corner, on top of your thumbnail. The dashed box marks roughly where it sits so you can keep faces and text clear of it. It is never part of the download.
›Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. Your files are processed on your own device by your browser. They never touch our servers, so there are no upload waits, no size caps from us, and nothing to delete afterwards.