How to make a YouTube thumbnail: 1280 × 720 or 3840 × 2160?

YouTube's help page now recommends thumbnails of 3840 × 2160 pixels, 16:9, at least 640 pixels wide. The older 1280 × 720 size has the same 16:9 shape and still meets the minimum. The YouTube thumbnail maker crops your photo to 16:9, adds your title in bold text, and saves a 3840 × 2160 JPG just under 2 MB.

Steps

1. Open the YouTube thumbnail maker and choose a photo, ideally at least 1280 pixels wide.
2. The photo is cropped to 16:9 straight away, with the text "Your title" ready to type over.
3. Type three to five words. Drag the text into place and drag its yellow corner to make it bigger or turn it.
4. Open Gradient and tap Dark base to darken the bottom of the picture behind the words.
5. Open Emoji to add an arrow, a face or another sticker if it helps.
6. Use Crop to move the 16:9 frame onto the face or the subject.
7. Download the JPG, then upload it in YouTube Studio or the YouTube app.

The numbers from YouTube

These come from YouTube's custom thumbnail help page:

The maker saves at 3840 × 2160 and squeezes the JPG to just under 2 MB (1900 KB under Save as), so the same file uploads from a phone or a computer. Type a smaller size under Save as if you need a lighter file.

1280 × 720 or 3840 × 2160

Both are 16:9, so either fits the player and the thumbnail grid without black bars. The difference is detail on large screens: YouTube now recommends 3840 × 2160, which holds more detail when the thumbnail is shown large, such as on a television. A 1280 × 720 thumbnail is still above the 640-pixel minimum.

If a template, a client or another platform asks for exactly 1280 × 720, download from the maker and then set 1280 × 720 in Resize image. Going down in size keeps the picture sharp. The opposite does not work as well: a small photo stretched up to 3840 × 2160 looks soft, because enlarging cannot add detail.

What makes a thumbnail readable at stamp size

Most people see your thumbnail small, on a phone, beside other thumbnails.

• Few words, big letters. Three to five words in bold, outlined text. Anton or Impact under Font suit this.
• One clear subject. A face, a product or the result, cropped close.
• Contrast behind the text. The Dark base gradient gives white text something to sit on.
• Keep the bottom-right corner clear. YouTube shows the video length there, over your image.
• Add to the title, do not repeat it. The title is printed right under the thumbnail.

Thumbnails must follow YouTube's Community Guidelines; YouTube can remove a thumbnail that does not.

Brighter faces and colours

Under Adjust, a little more brightness and contrast helps a face stand out. Filters adds a look such as Bright pop for punchier colour. Keep it believable: a thumbnail that looks nothing like the video disappoints viewers.

A small "Made with t.myu" credit starts in the bottom-left corner. Tap the cross on it, or switch it off under Credit in Filters, before you download.

Shorts and other sizes

YouTube asks for 2160 × 3840 (9:16) for Shorts thumbnails. The maker is set up for 16:9 videos. For a vertical cover, the social media image resizer makes 9:16 sizes, and the photo editor can add the text.

For the channel banner (2560 × 1440) and profile picture (800 × 800), use the social media image resizer's YouTube sizes.

Questions

Why can I not upload a custom thumbnail?

YouTube allows custom thumbnails only on verified accounts. Verify the account in YouTube Studio, then upload the JPG.

Can I use a screenshot from my video?

Yes. Take the screenshot at full screen, then choose it in the maker. A 1080p screenshot is 1920 pixels wide, enough for a sharp thumbnail.

Is my photo uploaded?

No. The thumbnail is drawn and saved in your browser. This is an independent tool, not made by or affiliated with YouTube.