YouTube Thumbnail Maker
Pick a template, drop in your own image, add a punchy title and badge, and export a 1280×720 thumbnail or 1080×1920 Shorts cover, all in your browser.
- Your image stays in your browser
- No uploads
- Not a YouTube downloader
Choose a template to start
Upload your own image next. Your image stays in your browser and is never uploaded.
How it works
- Pick a template
Start from a layout like Bold Creator Title, Clean Tutorial, or Shorts Cover.
- Upload your image
Add a JPG, PNG, or WebP you own. Drag and zoom to frame it.
- Add text
Edit the title, subtitle, colors, size, alignment, and an optional badge.
- Export
Choose PNG, JPG, or WebP, preview, and download. The extension matches the real format.
YouTube thumbnail size guide
Standard YouTube video thumbnails are 1280 × 720 (16:9). Keep faces and key text large, high-contrast, and away from the bottom-right corner where the duration badge appears.
Shorts cover size guide
Shorts covers are vertical 1080 × 1920 (9:16). Center your subject and leave margins, since Shorts overlay the title and buttons near the edges.
Crop to fill vs. fit with background
Crop to fill covers the whole canvas and lets you drag/zoom to choose what stays, best for bold thumbnails. Fit with background keeps the entire image visible and fills the rest with your background color.
Best thumbnail practices
One clear subject, a few large words, strong contrast, and a consistent style across your channel. Test how it looks at small sizes, most viewers see thumbnails tiny.
Frequently asked questions
Does this download thumbnails from YouTube?
No. This is a maker, not a downloader. It does not connect to YouTube, fetch images from YouTube, or use any YouTube API. You upload your own image and design a thumbnail from it.
Is my image uploaded to a server?
No. Everything runs in your browser. Your image is read locally, composed on a canvas on your device, and never uploaded.
What size should a YouTube thumbnail be?
1280 × 720 pixels (16:9). The Shorts cover preset is 1080 × 1920 (9:16), and a 1:1 square preview is also available.
What formats can I export?
PNG and JPG always; WebP when your browser supports canvas WebP export. The download's extension always matches the real exported format.
Why is the text hard to read on my image?
Turn on “Darken behind text” to add a subtle gradient behind the title, or choose a title color that contrasts with your image.
Can I use any image?
Use images you own or have permission to edit. Don't use copyrighted images or other people's thumbnails without permission.
Will my title get cut off?
Long titles wrap to a few lines and very long text is trimmed. Keep titles short and punchy, that also performs better.