YouTube Thumbnail Maker
The 1280×720 canvas is ready as soon as the page opens. Add a photo, put your title on top and save it as JPG. No watermark, no sign-up.
Loading the tool...
How to use
- Pick a template or start with a blank canvas.
- Use ＋ Photo to add a video frame or a photo of yourself, then press "Fill canvas".
- Use ＋ Text to add a title and make it stand out with the font, outline and hard drop shadow.
- Turn on the safe-area guide and check that no text sits under the video length in the bottom-right corner.
- Choose JPG, turn on "Auto-compress to a target size" and save.
Specs checked on 2026-10-03 (YouTube Help, "Add video thumbnails"). Recommended: 16:9 for videos, at least 640px wide, as high a resolution as possible (YouTube mentions up to 3840×2160), JPG or PNG. The file size limit depends on the device: 2 MB when uploading from mobile, 50 MB from desktop. Shorts thumbnails are 9:16, at least 640px tall.
FAQ
What size and file size should a thumbnail be?
YouTube Help recommends a 16:9 ratio, a minimum width of 640px and the highest resolution you can (it mentions up to 3840×2160). Most people use 1280×720 or 1920×1080. The file size limit is 2 MB when you upload from a phone and 50 MB from a computer (checked 2026-10-03). If you might upload from mobile, use the JPG auto-compress option with a 2 MB target.
Can I use the thumbnails I make commercially?
All fonts bundled in the editor are under the SIL Open Font License 1.1, which does not restrict commercial use of images made with them (the license texts are on our font license page, in Korean). You are still responsible for the copyright of photos and images you add, the rights of people whose faces appear, and trademarks.
Which part does the video length cover?
The video length (timestamp) is overlaid in the bottom-right corner of a video thumbnail. The exact position varies by device, so the safe-area guide only shows the approximate area in red.
Can I make a Shorts thumbnail too?
Yes. Choose the Shorts vertical size. YouTube Help recommends 9:16 for Shorts thumbnails and says they can only be uploaded in YouTube Studio on a computer.