Free tool

Free YouTube thumbnail maker

Make a thumbnail at the size YouTube asks for (1280 × 720 pixels), right on your phone. Start from a ready design or from your own photo, change the words, and save it. No watermark, and your photos stay on your device.

Make a thumbnail →Pick a design or your photo inside the tool.

Free
No sign-up to start
Works on your phone
Your files stay on your device

How it works

Pick a design or your photo
Choose one of the ready YouTube designs (Big & bold, Reaction, Tutorial), or start with a photo of your own.
Change the words
Tap any text to change it. Pick a font, colour and outline, and move it where you want.
Add your picture
Add a photo of yourself or your video as a layer, make it bigger or smaller, and cut out the background if you like.
Save it
Tap Export and save a JPG. At 1280 × 720 it is small enough for YouTube, which accepts thumbnails up to 2 MB.

Why use this tool

The right size

1280 × 720 pixels, 16:9, the size YouTube recommends for video thumbnails.

Ready designs

Three YouTube designs with big text, shapes and colours you can change in a tap.

Text that stands out

Bold fonts with thick outlines and shadows, so the words are easy to read even when the thumbnail is small.

Cut-outs and layers

Remove the background from a photo of yourself, add shapes, arrows and stickers, and move every layer separately.

Private

Your photos are edited on your device and are not uploaded.

Free, no watermark

No sign-up to start, and nothing is stamped on your thumbnail.

Tips for thumbnails people click

Use few words, three or four at most, in a large bold font. Most people see the thumbnail small, on a phone.
Use high contrast: light text with a dark outline, or the other way round. Check that it is readable when the picture is tiny.
Show a face with a clear expression, if it fits your video. Faces get attention.
Keep important things away from the bottom right corner, where YouTube puts the video length.
Use the same colours and fonts on every thumbnail, so your channel is easy to recognise.
Make a promise you keep. The thumbnail should match what is in the video.

Questions

What size is a YouTube thumbnail?

YouTube recommends 1280 × 720 pixels (16:9), with a file size under 2 MB, as a JPG, PNG or GIF. This tool makes exactly 1280 × 720.

Is this thumbnail maker free?

Yes. It is free, with no watermark. You do not need an account to make and save a thumbnail.

Do I need to upload my photos?

No. Your photos are opened and edited on your own device, in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server.

Can I use my own photo?

Yes. Choose "Start with my photo" and it fills the thumbnail, with a title on top that you can change. Or start from a design and add your photo as a layer from the menu.

Can I remove the background from my photo?

Yes. In the editor, open the menu and choose Remove the background. It works best on photos of people and runs on your device.

How do I keep the file under 2 MB?

Export as a JPG. At 1280 × 720 a JPG is normally a few hundred kilobytes. If it is larger, lower the quality a little in the export settings.

Can I make other sizes too?

Yes. The same editor has sizes for Instagram posts and stories, Facebook covers, posters and more, and you can type any custom size.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. It is built for phones. You can also use it on a computer.

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Nova Clip edits video, Nova Studio edits photos and Nova Animate makes cartoons. All free, in your browser.

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