YouTube Thumbnail Size and Design Tips That Get Clicks
YouTube thumbnails are 1280 x 720 pixels (16:9), at least 640 pixels wide, in JPG, PNG or GIF and under 2 MB. Keep text to a few big words, use one clear face or subject, and leave the bottom right corner free because the video length covers it.
The technical rules
Size: 1280 by 720 pixels, a 16:9 ratio. Minimum width is 640 pixels.
Format: JPG, PNG or GIF, under 2 MB. JPG at high quality is usually the easiest way to stay under the limit.
Custom thumbnails require a verified account. If the upload option is missing, check verification in YouTube Studio.
Design for a tiny screen first
Most people see your thumbnail at the size of a postage stamp on a phone. Before you upload, shrink it on screen and ask whether the idea is still obvious.
One subject, one idea, two or three colours. Busy thumbnails turn into noise at small sizes.
Faces, cutouts and contrast
A clear face with a readable expression is one of the most reliable ways to draw attention. Cut yourself out with Remove Background and place the cutout on a bold colour or a blurred version of the scene for separation.
Add a soft shadow behind the cutout so it does not look pasted on. SleekCut has Soft and Strong shadow options built in.
Text that reads at a glance
Use three to five words at most, in a thick font, with strong contrast against the background. Text should add to the title, not repeat it.
Keep text and faces away from the bottom right corner, where YouTube shows the video length.
Make the thumbnail with SleekCut
1. Remove the background from your photo and choose a colour or photo background.
2. Use Continue with Resize, or open the YouTube Thumbnail resizer, and use Crop to fill, checking the Home feed and Up next previews.
3. If the file is over 2 MB, run it through Compress Image.
Everything happens in your browser, so unreleased video ideas stay private.
Test and iterate
YouTube Studio shows click through rate per video. If a video gets impressions but few clicks, try a new thumbnail with a different face expression, colour or fewer words, and compare after a few days.