How to make eye-catching YouTube thumbnails for your brand
YouTube is one of the biggest media platforms in the world with over 500 hours of video content uploaded every minute. If your video is one of those 500 hours, then you need to stand out and the best way is with your YouTube thumbnail. Thumbnails influence first impressions and click-through rates (CTR), making them an essential element for YouTube's success.
If you want to create great YouTube thumbnails, this guide will teach you:
What makes an eye-catching YouTube thumbnail?
If you’ve ever been sucked into a YouTube binge, then you have experienced the power of a good thumbnail. A strong thumbnail catches your eye, holds your attention, and makes you think, I need to see this. And that’s exactly what you want for your videos.
Creating a standout thumbnail doesn’t require expensive tools or a degree in design. It’s all about understanding a few key principles that make a thumbnail irresistible.
High-quality images
This is first on the list because it is non-negotiable. A blurry or pixelated thumbnail can really reduce your chances of getting clicked. Viewers associate low-quality thumbnails with low-quality content. On the flip side, a sharp, clear image instantly shows professionalism and trustworthiness.
To ensure your thumbnails look their best, start with quality photos. Use a good camera or smartphone, and focus on proper lighting. Natural light works wonders, but a simple ring light can elevate your shots. You can also use close-ups to make sure your subject is large and clear.
A great example of a creator with high quality thumbnails is Marques Brownlee. His thumbnails show high-quality crisp visuals, which makes sense because he reviews high-tech gadgets. The image quality is impeccable, reflecting the premium nature of his content.
Visual hierarchy
Think of your thumbnail as a visual map. You want your viewers’ eyes to land on the most important part first, whether that’s your face, a product, or a big, bold text element, and then naturally move to supporting details.
To achieve this:
Start with a focal point. Choose one standout feature for your thumbnail. This could be your face showing a dramatic expression or the main object of your video.
Keep the background simple. You can blur it slightly or use a solid color to keep the focus on your subject.
Layer your design. Use size, contrast, and placement to emphasize key elements. For example, if your thumbnail includes text, place it near the focal point and make sure it’s easy to read.
Example: Look at any MrBeast thumbnail. His face (often exaggerated) is always the first thing you notice. Then your eyes move to either a pile of money, a flashy item, a giant circle highlighting something shocking, or some bold text. Every part of the design serves a purpose, guiding your attention exactly where he wants it.
Color psychology
Color is one of the quickest ways to grab attention, and YouTube is a platform full of distractions. Your thumbnail’s colors need to stand out while still making sense for your brand and content.
Here’s how to master it:
Use contrasting colors. Pairing opposites on the color wheel, like blue and orange or red and green, creates a visual pop that’s hard to ignore.
Think about mood. Bright, saturated tones (like yellows and reds) feel energetic and exciting, while muted tones can convey calm or professionalism. Choose what fits your content’s tone.
Stick to your palette. Incorporate your brand colors to make your thumbnails instantly recognizable. If you don’t have a palette yet, now’s the time to create one.
Example: Gaming channels like PewDiePie use high-energy neons and contrasts to match their content’s playful tone. Meanwhile, a wellness channel might use soft pastels to feel calming and approachable. The key is to think about how you want viewers to feel when they see your thumbnail.
What colors can mean for your brand
Readable text
The YouTube search result page already has so much going on, that nobody’s leaning in to squint at your thumbnail text. Most people are scrolling quickly, so your message needs to come through instantly. Text isn’t always necessary, but when you do use it, it should be concise, bold, and impossible to miss.
To properly use text on YouTube thumbnails, stick to 2-4 words. Think of it as a teaser, not a summary. Use sans-serif fonts like Impact, Bebas Neue, or Montserrat. These fonts are clean, modern, and easy to read on both desktop and mobile. You can add outlines, shadows, or bold colors to ensure your text doesn’t blend into the background. A white outline, for instance, can make dark text pop on any image.
Pro tip: Match your text’s tone to your audience. For example, tech channels often stick to sleek, professional fonts, while lifestyle vloggers might opt for playful, rounded styles. Here is a YouTube thumbnail example of popular YouTube creator, Taylor Bell.
Expressive human faces
You have almost definitely seen a lot of YouTube thumbnails feature close-ups of people with exaggerated emotions. This works because faces convey emotion. A shocked expression can make viewers wonder, What’s so surprising? Similarly, a smile or raised eyebrows can spark curiosity. If you want to make a thumbnail where your facial expressions are the main subject, make it very expressive. On YouTube, subtlety doesn’t always translate well. If you’re shocked, look really shocked. If you’re laughing, make it big and contagious. The exaggeration also adds some drama.
Alternative Tip: If your content doesn’t involve people, focus on creating emotion in other ways—dramatic lighting, dynamic action, or even playful graphics can evoke curiosity.
Step-by-step guide to creating YouTube thumbnails
Creating effective thumbnails requires a dual approach: a clear strategy to guide your design choices and a detailed design process to bring your vision to life.
The strategy phase
When it comes to creating YouTube thumbnails, designing the visuals often gets all the attention. But, without a solid strategy, even the most visually stunning thumbnails can fall flat. Here’s how to ensure your thumbnails look good and perform well.
Define your thumbnail goals
Ask yourself: What do I want this thumbnail to accomplish? At first, the obvious answer might be, I want people to click! And while that’s true, there’s more nuance to consider. Each thumbnail should align with your video’s purpose, the emotions you want, and the action you want viewers to take. For example, a video titled “The One Tool Every Creator Needs” might benefit from a thumbnail with a blurred-out object and a surprised expression to spark curiosity.
You should also consider the type of visuals that resonate with your viewers. But, your goal should always tie back to your video’s message. A mismatch between the two can confuse or even frustrate viewers, leading to poor retention rates.
Check out competitor thumbnails
Before you start designing, take a stroll through YouTube and observe what’s working for others in your niche, and what’s not. A quick search of your video topic will give you so many insights that can inform your thumbnail design. To analyze competitor thumbnails effectively, follow these tips:
Look for 5-10 high-performing videos on similar topics. Pay attention to recurring elements like colors, text placement, and the use of faces or objects.
Spot the similar patterns in these videos. Are their thumbnails all bright and bold, or more subdued and minimalistic? Do they use dramatic text, or rely on imagery to tell the story?
Then, you find the gaps/opportunities to stand out. It could be something as huge as a different color palette, or as minimal as just changing the text size.
Plan alongside content creation
One of the biggest mistakes creators make is treating thumbnails as an afterthought. Instead, thumbnails should be part of your content planning process from the beginning. If your thumbnail is planned in isolation, it might fail to capture the essence of your video. For example, a how-to video with a clickbait-style thumbnail might feel misleading to viewers.
Planning it alongside your video creation can also influence the creative decisions you make. Knowing your thumbnail will feature a dramatic reaction shot or a specific product might change how you approach filming or editing.
Pro tip: While filming, take a few moments to capture thumbnail-specific shots. Pose for expressive reactions or create still frames of key scenes. This ensures you have high-quality visuals to work with during the design stage.
Align your visuals with your title
Think of your thumbnail as part of a three-piece puzzle alongside your title and description. When all three work together, they create a compelling invitation to click. If your title is playful, your thumbnail should reflect that with bold colors and fun imagery. If it’s more serious, opt for a cleaner, more polished look.
Thumbnails are also a part of your SEO strategy, even if they don’t directly impact search rankings. Why? Because they work hand-in-hand with your title and description to communicate value to viewers. You can place visual emphasis on your title keywords in your thumbnails. For example, if your video is about “5 Budget Travel Hacks,” highlight the keyword “Travel Hacks” in your thumbnail text. This reinforces the topic visually, making it clearer to potential viewers.
A/B test for optimization
This is a post-design part of your strategy. A/B testing allows you to experiment with different designs to see which resonates most with your audience. YouTube makes this really easy during the upload process with a section for you to upload multiple thumbnails. So, create two variations. For example, one thumbnail might use a close-up of your face, while the other focuses on a key object. Both should have the same title and content.
YouTube will distribute your videos with the different thumbnails and you can track which ones perform better by checking the click-through rate and watch time in YouTube Studio. Use the data to identify patterns. Maybe your audience responds better to bright, text-heavy thumbnails—or maybe they prefer simpler designs.
Testing isn’t just for new videos. If you have older videos with solid content but low CTR, consider updating their thumbnails and tracking the results. You’d be surprised how often a small change can breathe new life into an existing video.
The design phase
Once you’ve laid the groundwork with a solid strategy, it’s time to move into the design stage
1. Gather your assets
Before diving into the design itself, you’ll need to assemble the elements that will make up your thumbnail, i.e., your image, texts, and brand elements. Having these on hand makes the process smoother and ensures a professional finish. Capture high-quality photos during filming, such as close-ups of your face or key objects in the video. If needed, supplement with royalty-free images or AI-generated images.
Decide on the few words you’ll include. Keep them concise, just enough to hint at the video’s content or promise value. Then, use your logo, brand colors, or signature font to maintain consistency across your thumbnails. This creates a recognizable style over time.
Pro tip: Save all your assets in a dedicated folder for easy access. If you’re using templates, keep them in this folder as well for quick updates in future projects, or better yet, use Photoroom's Brand Kit to store and easily access your logos, colors, and fonts in one place. If you're using templates, keep them organized as well for quick updates in future projects.
2. Create a balanced composition
Designing a thumbnail is like composing a mini work of art. It needs to look clean, organized, and visually appealing—all while standing out in a crowded feed. To compose effectively, try these tips:
Focus on the focal point: Identify the main element of your thumbnail (e.g., your face, a product, or bold text) and make it the largest or most prominent feature.
Use the Rule of Thirds: Imagine your thumbnail divided into a 3x3 grid. Place your key elements along the lines or at intersections to create a naturally pleasing layout.
Most importantly, resist the urge to cram too many elements into your design. A cluttered thumbnail confuses viewers, while a clean design communicates quickly and effectively.
3. Add your design assets
When adding your design assets (colors, text, etc), there are some default guidelines that help. For instance, when adding color, stick to 2-3 main colors to keep the design cohesive and avoid overwhelming the viewer. You can also pair contrasting colors to make elements pop. If you are adding human faces, they should take up a significant portion of the frame so viewers can instantly connect with the emotion being conveyed.
In my opinion, the jury is still out on how much text is perfect for a YouTube thumbnail. But, the one thing we all agree on is that your thumbnail should not be covered with text. Text can elevate your thumbnail by clarifying the video’s purpose or sparking curiosity. But it’s not just about what the text says, it’s also about how it looks.
Some creators use a single, big, bold text alongside an image. Some creators use just text, especially for tutorial videos. The most important thing to know is to place text strategically. Avoid covering the focal point of your thumbnail, and keep it in areas where it doesn’t compete with other elements. Here is an excellent example from YouTube creator, Jasmin Siri.
4. Finalize and export
The final step is ensuring your thumbnail looks great across all platforms and devices. YouTube recommends a resolution of 1280x720 pixels and a file size under 2MB. Save your file as a PNG or high-quality JPEG for the best results. You should also check for readability by zooming out to see how it looks at a smaller size. If text or key details are hard to see, tweak them.
How to design YouTube thumbnails with Photoroom
With the right tools, even beginners can create visually stunning thumbnails that align with their branding goals. Photoroom is one of the best design platforms for content creators, e-commerce sellers, and small businesses. It uses AI to simplify product photography, photo editing, and asset generation. Here are my three favorite Photoroom AI features that make designing YouTube thumbnails easier
AI Background Remover: Photoroom's AI-powered background remover can quickly erase even the most difficult backdrops and replace them with a clean white background or something more imaginative to make the subject of your thumbnail stand out.
AI Backgrounds: This feature allows you to generate unique, realistic, custom backgrounds for your thumbnails. You can select a theme, and generate multiple variations to experiment with
AI Images: Photoroom has a text-to-image AI generator that allows you to create all types of images. Simply enter a text prompt and the generative AI turns your idea into a unique image.
Designing YouTube thumbnails in Photoroom
For this guide, I will design a YouTube thumbnail for a hypothetical video titled “How to achieve your goals in the last 30 days of the year”. It would include a background, subject photo, and text:
Step 1: If you haven’t already, download Photoroom from your App Store or Google Play Store, install it, and set up your account.
Step 2: The first screen you see after completing your setup is the Create screen. Scroll up to the text that says Social > and click on it to give you a list of preset sizes for social media platforms.
Step 3: Select Youtube Channel Art to open the editing area.
Alternatively, you can click on the icon that says Custom right under Start with a Blank Canvas in the Create screen. This allows you to put in the exact dimensions for your design (1280px width by 720px height in this case)
Step 4: The first element of our design is the background. Select Backgrounds in the editing area and choose Image. You can choose to select from different textures, colors, patterns, scenes, and landscapes. But for this quick tutorial, I want to generate an AI background.
Step 5: Click on Generate an image with AI and select Backgrounds. This allows me to write a prompt to generate background images. Describe the background you want and set the size to Landscape 16:9. Choose any style you want. I wrote a simple prompt: living room indoor, low light ambiance, and I set the style to Diversity so I can see different styles
Step 6: In less than 10 seconds, I now have four cute backgrounds. Select the image you like, click the Use full image button, and go back to the editing area. Your image will be waiting for you there. If you don’t like any of the images, you can simply change the description and style.
Step 7: Now, add the subject photo. Select Insert and click on Camera roll or Files to locate your picture. Photoroom automatically removes the background so you can have a clutter-free thumbnail. Use the settings to make as many changes as you prefer. For this tutorial, I simply added an outline.
You can repeat this step to add other non-picture elements as well because clicking Insert also gives you access to Photoroom’s elements library.
Step 8: Now, add your text. Select Text to add your thumbnail text and choose any style you prefer. After adding your text, you can make more changes to it before clicking Done. For this tutorial, I changed the text color and font. See my results below. Repeat this step to add any other text such as your channel name.
Step 9: Once you are satisfied with your design, click the Export icon in the top right corner to automatically save your design.
P.S.: Check out my design in Photoroom here. You can collaborate on your design with another Photoroom user and leave comments or reactions instantly.
What are the different types of thumbnails on YouTube?
Not all YouTube thumbnails are created equal. Different types of videos call for different types of thumbnails, and understanding these categories can help you match the right style to your content.
Close-up expressions
These thumbnails feature a close-up of a face with an exaggerated expression like shock, excitement, or laughter. They’re perfect for creating an emotional connection with viewers, tapping into their curiosity, and driving clicks. These thumbnails work well for reaction videos, challenges, tutorials, and storytelling content. They work because people are naturally drawn to faces, especially when they convey strong emotions. It makes viewers wonder, What’s causing that reaction? To create them, use a high-quality close-up shot of your face with a clear, exaggerated expression and pair that image with bold text or a key visual element.
Here is an example from Charlotte Morabito’s content.
Before-and-Afters
This type of thumbnail highlights a transformation, showing the “before” and “after” side by side. It’s commonly used for fitness, beauty, home improvement, or anything involving a significant change. The stark difference between the two sides catches the viewer’s attention, they want to know how the transformation happened, prompting them to click. To create them, use a split-screen format to show both versions. Highlight the “after” with brighter colors or added effects to emphasize the transformation and add minimal text (e.g., “Before & After”) to reinforce the concept.
It is majorly used for fitness, skincare, hair care, and other forms of transformation content. A great example is this weight loss video thumbnail by Workin’Things Out which has over 27M views in the past seven years.
Text-heavy thumbnails
In some cases, the text does the heavy lifting. Text-heavy thumbnails use bold, attention-grabbing phrases to explain the video’s purpose directly. There are usually no other elements, and they work well for listicles, tutorials, or news-style content. To create them, you need a bold, clean font paired with a complementary icon to add visual interest. Stick to short phrases (3-6 words) that tease the content without giving everything away. Channels like Veritasium or TED-Ed do this all the time. Their thumbnails are clear, direct, and let you know immediately if the video’s for you. You don’t need to overthink the text—just make it concise and bold enough to stand out.
Object-focused thumbnails
Object-focused thumbnails are just what they sound like. They zero in on a single thing—maybe it’s a gadget, a product, or even a dish. This one’s straightforward and works well for videos where the object is the star. Take Marques Brownlee, for example. His tech review thumbnails are often just the latest phone or piece of gear against a simple background. It’s direct, and you know right away what the video’s about. No confusion, no distractions. If you’re doing reviews or tutorials on specific items, let that object be front and center. Keep it clean, and let the item do the talking.
Pro tip: You don’t need a backdrop for these. Use your phone to take a picture of the object, upload it to Photoroom to remove the product background, and replace it with a clean AI-generated background.
Action thumbnails
Action thumbnails capture a moment of intense action or movement, conveying excitement and energy. Channels related to sports or adventure, such as Red Bull’s extreme sports content, use action thumbnails to show athletes in mid-air or during a thrilling stunt. The appeal here lies in the promise of thrilling content, which works well for videos where spectacle and adrenaline are central themes. Action thumbnails are particularly effective at suggesting an exciting narrative that draws in viewers eager for something dynamic.
Collage thumbnails
Sometimes, creators use collage thumbnails to show a bunch of things at once. Think of it like a teaser of everything that’s coming up in the video. Travel vloggers love this. FunForLouis, for example, might use a few images—maybe a beach, a plate of food, and a crowd of people—all packed into one thumbnail. It’s like he’s saying, “Look at all these cool things you’re about to see.” It’s great for variety content because it promises a mix, and that kind of diversity can be really appealing if you’re trying to show that your video is more than just one thing. This is an excellent example from Elaina Michelle.
Mistakes to avoid when designing YouTube thumbnails
Creating YouTube thumbnails may seem straightforward at first, but it’s surprisingly easy to fall into pitfalls that can harm your video’s performance or even your channel’s reputation.
Mistake 1: Overcrowding the thumbnail
This usually stems from a fear of missing out. Creators want to pack as much value as possible into a tiny space, thinking it will appeal to everyone. It ends up as a chaotic and confusing visual that overwhelms the viewer. Your viewers need to know what your video is about within a second or two. If your design is too busy, their eyes won’t know where to look—and they’ll scroll right past.
So to avoid this mistake, simplify the thumbnail. Choose one focal point for your thumbnail, such as a face, object, or key phrase. Everything else should support this main element. If you are not sure how to decide, I like to follow a default formula: one key visual, one bold phrase, and a clean background.
Mistake 2: Misleading or clickbait thumbnails
Let’s be honest: the pressure to stand out on YouTube is real. Sometimes, creators resort to exaggerated or completely false thumbnails to grab attention. But clickbait may get you clicks initially, only to cost you in the long run. Your viewers feel duped when the content doesn’t match the thumbnail. Over time, this damages your credibility and makes people less likely to return to your channel. It also hurts your engagement metrics. If you have high click-through rates but low watch time, YouTube’s algorithm decides that your video isn’t worth promoting.
You can still use an exciting hook without lying. For example, if your video is about DIY home projects, don’t show a luxury mansion in the thumbnail unless it’s truly part of the content. You can also use a thumbnail that teases a specific moment in the video to create curiosity while staying authentic.
Mistake 3: Inconsistent branding
Think of your favorite YouTube channels. Chances are, you can recognize their thumbnails at a glance. That’s because they’ve mastered consistent branding. Failing to do the same makes your channel feel scattered and less professional. If you are a new creator, it is understandable that you want to experiment with different styles, or your fast-paced schedule means you are designing thumbnails on the fly. But, this can result in a lack of cohesion. Without a consistent look, your thumbnails won’t stand out in the sea of content. Even your loyal viewers may have trouble spotting your videos in their feeds.
So, before you start creating, develop a style guide. This style guide will contain your brand’s fonts, colors, and general thumbnail layout. You can use it to create templates, so you can maintain consistency without starting from scratch every time.
Mistake 4: Using poor-quality images
Blurry, pixelated, or poorly lit images are a big no-no for thumbnails. They immediately give the impression of low-quality content, even if your video is amazing. This mistake happens when you rely on low-resolution screenshots or do not pay attention to lighting and image quality.
The best way to avoid this is to always capture high-resolution images with good lighting. You do not need to book a professional photographer to achieve this. With a good smartphone and an AI photo editor, you are well on your way to creating high-quality visuals.
Tips for long-term success with thumbnails
Creating one great thumbnail is a fantastic start, but long-term success comes from consistency, adaptability, and data-driven improvement.
Stay updated on design trends: YouTube is always evolving, and what works today might feel outdated tomorrow. Staying ahead of design trends ensures your thumbnails remain relevant. You can watch trending videos in your niche to see what styles are performing well or follow creators who post about trends.
Build a template library: Creating templates for your thumbnails can save time and ensure consistency. Over time, you can tweak these templates based on performance data. For easy scaling, start with a few core layouts (e.g., one for tutorials, and one for listicles). They create a recognizable style while streamlining the design process, especially if you post frequently.
Plan for scalability: As your YouTube channel grows, you’ll need a system that allows you to maintain high-quality thumbnails while managing an increasing workload. You can invest in a design tool that allows you to batch-create thumbnails during content planning. It also helps if you already have a standardized process with clear steps, from photography to final edits.
Evolve with your brand: Your thumbnails should reflect the growth and evolution of your channel. As your audience expands or your content shifts, your thumbnail style may need to change, too. Periodically refresh your thumbnail templates to match any new branding elements, and always adjust your designs to better appeal to your current audience demographics.
Create unique YouTube thumbnails with Photoroom
You don’t need to be a professional designer to create eye-catching, high-quality YouTube thumbnails. AI photo editors like Photoroom make it easy for anyone to craft unique thumbnails in just a few clicks. It’s intuitive, fast, and packed with features that help your thumbnails stand out. Create a free account or download the mobile app on the App Store or Google Play to get started.
FAQs about creating eye-catching YouTube thumbnails in Photoroom
What are YouTube video thumbnails?
YouTube video thumbnails are the small, clickable images that represent your video on YouTube. They serve as a visual preview, giving potential viewers an idea of the video’s content before clicking. A thumbnail acts as a video’s “cover” and is often the deciding factor in whether a viewer engages with the video.
What size are YouTube thumbnails?
YouTube recommends thumbnails be 1280 x 720 pixels with a minimum width of 640 pixels. The aspect ratio should be 16:9, and the file size should stay under 2MB.
What are the best fonts for YouTube thumbnails?
Sans-serif fonts like Impact, Montserrat, and Arial Bold work well for clear and straightforward text. For casual or niche content, consider fonts like Luckiest Guy or Poppins to convey a more fun or approachable tone.
Should I always include text in my thumbnails?
Not necessarily. Text can enhance clarity and attract attention, but it should be used sparingly to avoid clutter. For some videos, a strong visual or emotional cue can be more impactful than words.
How can I make my thumbnails stand out in search results?
Focus on bold colors, high-quality imagery, and a clear visual hierarchy. Use elements like expressive faces, dramatic lighting, or a simple layout to ensure your thumbnails are eye-catching even at smaller sizes.
What are some common thumbnail mistakes to avoid?
Avoid overcrowded designs, poor-quality images, misleading visuals, and inconsistent branding. Also, ensure the thumbnail is optimized for mobile viewers, as most YouTube traffic comes from mobile devices.
Should I include my face in thumbnails?
Including faces is effective for personal or emotional content, as it humanizes your brand and builds a connection with viewers. However, for some niches, a product-focused or minimalist design may work better.