How to Create a Good Thumbnail for YouTube
A YouTube thumbnail creates your video's very first impression. It’s the difference between someone clicking on your video or scrolling on past it. Think of your thumbnail as a movie poster; it needs to be eye-catching, informative, and on-brand while telling people exactly what they’re about to watch.
In this guide, we’ll break down how to create a good thumbnail for YouTube, including best practices, the ideal YouTube thumbnail size, and how to change your thumbnail when needed.
Why Thumbnails Matter
YouTube is a visual-first platform, and your thumbnail is the first thing people notice, even before they read the video title. No matter how great your content is, a weak thumbnail can hurt your click-through rate (CTR). And the less people click, the less the YouTube algorithm will push your video to viewers.
A strong thumbnail stops the scroll and makes people curious enough to click. But it also needs to feel authentic. Clickbait might get people to watch initially, but if your video doesn’t deliver on what the thumbnail promises, viewers will lose trust in your channel.
What Makes a Good YouTube Thumbnail
90% of the best performing videos have custom thumbnails. So there are some changes you can make to improve your thumbnails. Here’s what to consider:
Thumbnail Size and Format
To ensure your thumbnail looks crisp on all devices, stick to the thumbnail size 1280 x 720 pixels with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The file should be in JPG, PNG, or GIF format and stay under 2MB to meet YouTube’s requirements.
Contrast and Colours
High-contrast images and vibrant colours in your thumbnail help your video stand out in a crowded feed. Use colours that pop against YouTube’s white or dark mode background.
Visuals and Focal Points
A cluttered thumbnail won’t grab attention, so use simple, strong visuals by focusing on one main element. Whether it’s a person, an object, or a strong image, make sure it’s clear and easy to identify at a glance. Using high-quality images instead of blurry screenshots also makes a big difference!
Facial Expressions and Emotions
People are naturally drawn to faces, and expressive reactions can increase curiosity, which is why thumbnails with human faces tend to perform better. Expressive faces like surprise, excitement, or curiosity create a stronger connection with viewers than neutral or static images.
Minimal and Clear Text
Too much text can make a thumbnail cluttered. Stick to 3-5 words max, remember you have the video title where you can include more detail. Use a bold, easy-to-read YouTube thumbnail font that remains legible even on smaller screens. And avoid placing text in the bottom-right corner, as YouTube overlays timestamps there, or where other elements, like the play button, could cover it.
Consistency and Branding
If someone watches your videos often, they should recognise your brand style immediately. If they enjoy your content, this is a great way to build a loyal and returning audience. This also keeps your Channel page clean and easy to navigate (see what we did there?).
Consider using a consistent colour palette, recognisable YouTube thumbnail font, and having a distinct style and layout.
A/B Testing Your Thumbnails for Optimisation
Even small design changes can impact performance, so testing different thumbnail styles can help you understand what resonates with your audience.
Try creating a few variations of a thumbnail, upload one first, track its CTR for a few days, then switch to the second and compare the results. Over time, this will help you figure out what style works best for your audience.
We put this to the test with our client B&Q for their wall paneling series, playing around with different facial expressions and storytelling elements to draw in the right viewers.
While the results weren’t entirely conclusive, we began to see patterns in how different styles influenced engagement, helping to guide future design decisions!
How do you Change the YouTube Thumbnail?
If you’ve already uploaded a video but want to change the YouTube thumbnail, it’s a quick fix. Head over to YouTube Studio, select Content from the left menu, and click on the video you want to edit. Under the thumbnail section, choose Upload Thumbnail, select your new image, and hit Save.
If your custom thumbnail option is missing, it’s likely because your account isn’t verified. You can fix this by verifying your channel at YouTube’s verification page.
Final Thoughts: Make Thumbnails Worth Clicking
A well-designed thumbnail can mean the difference between a video that takes off and one that gets lost in the feed. Viewers watch YouTube on all kinds of devices, from mobile phones to large-screen TVs, so your thumbnail needs to be clear and engaging no matter where it's seen.
The best way to improve? Test, analyse, and refine. Try different styles, experiment with colour and text, and see what works best for your audience.
Find out how to boost your YouTube channels performance with our FREE YouTube Health Check today
