How to make a YouTube thumbnail: size, composition, text

Step 1

Size and YouTube's requirements

Start with the technical requirements so you don't redo finished work. According to YouTube Help, thumbnails for regular videos should be 16:9, with a recommended resolution of 3840×2160 pixels and a minimum width of 640 pixels. Formats: JPG or PNG. The file size limit depends on the device: up to 2 MB from a phone, up to 50 MB from a computer.

• •for Shorts: 9:16 at 2160×3840, minimum height 640 pixels; custom Shorts thumbnails can currently only be added in YouTube Studio on a computer;
• •for vertical videos with a 16:9 thumbnail, YouTube shows an auto-generated 4:5 thumbnail on the home, explore and subscription pages;
• •make the layout large from the start: YouTube advises uploading as large an image as possible, since it's also used in the player;
• •if you work at 1920×1080 or 1280×720, the ratio is the same but there's less quality headroom.

💡 To upload your own thumbnail, your YouTube account has to be verified, usually with a phone number. Do it in advance so you don't get stuck on publishing day.

Step 2

One idea that's visible at thumbnail size

People see thumbnails in the feed next to other videos, often on a phone. So write down in one sentence why this video is interesting and show exactly that. YouTube's tips suggest thinking about the audience: for subscribers you can lean on familiar features of the channel, for new viewers on actions and emotions anyone can relate to.

• •one main thing: a face with an emotion, an object, a before/after result or a short phrase;
• •close-up: small details and wide landscapes blur together at thumbnail size;
• •an honest thumbnail: the image shows what's really in the video, or viewers may quickly close the video;
• •the title and image complement each other: if a phrase is in the title, you don't have to repeat it on the thumbnail.

💡 YouTube advises taking pictures during the shoot so you have several thumbnail options.

Step 3

Composition and text

One of YouTube's tips is the rule of thirds: divide the frame with two vertical and two horizontal lines and put the main subject on their intersections. Then add branding and short descriptive text if you really need it. The font should be easy to read and the design shouldn't be overloaded.

• •a few words of text, large and bold; nobody reads a long phrase at thumbnail size;
• •one font with Cyrillic, without thin weights or complex decorative shapes;
• •the text and the main subject shouldn't overlap;
• •don't place text and faces right against the edges of the frame.

💡 Choose a fixed place for text and the logo on your channel. Then a series of thumbnails is recognizable in the feed even without the channel name.

Step 4

Color and contrast

YouTube notes that dynamic color and composition catch the eye, but too much overwhelms it. Limit the palette to one or two accents and make sure the main subject stands out from the background.

• •text contrast with the background: at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text under WCAG; for thumbnails, aim higher;
• •separate the subject from the background: blur, darken the background or add an outline;
• •check the thumbnail on both the light and dark YouTube themes;
• •follow the Community Guidelines: thumbnails that break them can be rejected and the channel can get a strike.

Step 5

Upload, check and compare options

On a computer you upload a thumbnail in YouTube Studio: Content → pick the video → under Thumbnail click Upload file → Save. Changes may take time to appear. Before uploading, shrink the thumbnail to feed size and put it next to a few others: can you tell what the video is about?

• •A/B test: YouTube lets you compare up to 3 titles and thumbnails; it's available only on a computer and after enabling advanced features;
• •the winner is the option with the most watch time, and a test can take up to two weeks;
• •in YouTube Analytics, look at click-through rate (CTR) on Home and Suggested in the first 24 hours after publishing;
• •there's a daily limit on custom thumbnail uploads: if you see a limit error, try again in 24 hours.

💡 Before publishing, show two or three options in the community and ask which one people want to click and why. The "why" is more useful than the vote itself.