How to Create Great YouTube Thumbnails That Get Clicks

A compelling YouTube thumbnail can make or break your video’s clickthrough rate. With billions of videos competing for attention, you need high quality, eye-catching thumbnails to stand out.

In this guide, I’ll explain what makes for an effective YouTube thumbnail, how to make custom thumbnails, and where to find templates and tools to create pro thumbnails fast.

Why YouTube Thumbnails Matter

YouTube thumbnails appear beside video titles in search results and suggestions This small thumbnail image needs to capture attention and entice viewers to click and watch your video

Consider that

• Over 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. Users are overwhelmed with choice.

• People decide whether or not to click your video in split seconds based on the visual thumbnail.

• 90% of the best performing videos have custom thumbnails, not auto-generated ones.

With billions of videos on YouTube, a compelling thumbnail gives you the best chance to get clicks and views for your valuable content.

How to Create an Effective YouTube Thumbnail

The most clickable YouTube thumbnails tend to follow certain principles:

1. Have a Clear Subject or Focal Point

The subject should be obvious at first glance. Use contrast to make it stand out.

2. Use Bold, Vibrant Colors

Bright colors attract the eye against the sea of thumbnails. Avoid dull, muddy color schemes.

3. Include Engaging Text

Overlay your title, topics or value proposition. Generate curiosity and interest.

4. Style it Like Your Channel Branding

This helps people recognize your videos within the first moments of browsing.

5. Leverage Faces and Emotions

Expressions like smiles, surprise and concentration draw attention.

6. Keep it Simple

Cluttered, complex thumbnails don’t work well. Use clean, readable designs.

With these principles in mind, let’s look at how to create custom thumbnails.

How to Make Custom YouTube Thumbnails

YouTube makes it easy to customize thumbnails right within their apps and website. Here’s how to create your own for existing videos:

On Mobile App:

• Tap on your video in Library > Edit > Edit Thumbnail
• Select a frame from the video or upload a custom image from your device
• Arrange and edit the image
• Tap Save

On Desktop Website:

• Go to Video Manager > Edit on the video
• Click the Thumbnail tab > Choose thumbnail
• Pick a timeframe, upload an image or edit the auto thumbnail
• Click Done

Custom thumbnails really maximize your chances of getting clicks. But creating good ones from scratch requires graphic design skills.

Next I’ll suggest tools and templates to easily generate top quality thumbnails.

Tools to Make Great YouTube Thumbnails

Rather than attempt to design thumbnails yourself, it’s easier to start with pre-made templates.

Here are some excellent options:

1. Canva

• Free thumbnail templates optimized for YouTube
• Drag and drop to customize images, text, filters
• Resize for correct dimensions
• Add stock photos and your own brand assets

2. Snappa

• Hundreds of professional thumbnail layouts
• Intuitive editing and customization
• Photo library and illustrations
• Collaboration to get feedback

3. Adobe Spark

• Photo, video and text options
• Animated thumbnail support
• Integrates with YouTube for auto upload
• Advanced image editing capabilities

4. PicMonkey

• Beautiful thumbnail templates
• Tons of fonts, graphics, effects
• Ability to save and reuse brand assets
• Simple to learn and use

With these thumbnail makers, you can create stunning thumbnails that represent your brand and attract maximum clicks.

YouTube Thumbnail Size and Specs

To ensure your custom thumbnails appear properly, use these specifications:

• Image Format: JPG or PNG

• Aspect Ratio: 16:9

• Minimum Size: 1280 x 720 pixels

• Maximum Size: 2560 x 1440 pixels

• Ideal Size: 1920 x 1080 pixels

• File Size: Under 2 MB

Following these dimensions will guarantee your thumbnails are high quality and mobile-friendly.

Best Practices for YouTube Thumbnails

To recap some key best practices for your YouTube video thumbnails:

• Show an interesting subject, scene or emotion from your video

• Use colors that pop like red, yellow, green and high contrast

• Overlay big, bold text with your key topics or titles

• Keep the design uncluttered and text concise

• Add branding elements like channel icon, logo, or look

• Leverage faces, expressions and eye contact to connect with viewers

• Test different versions to see which thumbnails perform best

• Be consistent with styles across your channel’s videos

With a strategic, optimized thumbnail you can pique interest and drive more people to watch your videos.

YouTube Thumbnail Examples

Here are examples of excellent YouTube thumbnails from popular channels:

[MrBeast Thumbnail]

MrBeast uses vibrant colors, branding and emotional facial expressions.

[Markiplier Thumbnail]

Markiplier opts for energetic poses, piercing eyes and imaginative text.

[Rosanna Pansino Thumbnail]

Rosanna Pansino includes lots of colorful elements with clean focal points.

Study thumbnails from top YouTubers to get thumbnail inspiration.

YouTube thumbnails have a huge impact on your video’s clickthrough rate. Invest time to create custom thumbnails that capture attention and convey what makes your video worth watching.

Leverage thumbnail design best practices along with the many templates and editing tools available. This can significantly boost your YouTube performance and make every video count.

With strategic and compelling thumbnails, you can achieve more views, subscribers and success on YouTube.