Posted by YouTube Thumbnail Size: 1280×720 pixels
According to Google, the recommended YouTube thumbnail size is 1280×720 pixels with a minimum width of 640 pixels. The ratio for YouTube video thumbnail should be 16:9. The maximum file size allowed is 2MB. The following image formats work for a YouTube thumbnail: JPG, GIF, and PNG.
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Why YouTube Thumbnail is Important?
Thumbnails and titles are the first things a viewer will see or notice. A good attractive thumbnail can convert a visitor into a potential viewer. This means the more people will watch your video and the more your channel will grow.
So, it’s very important to have a high quality and meaningful thumbnail. YouTube thumbnail size should be 1280 pixels wide and 720 pixels tall. As it will fit perfectly on a YouTube video player. Make sure to avoid the click-bait and only give viewers a sneak peek of what’s inside the video. If it’s not the viewer will immediately leave your video which can lower your video rankings.
Here are some tips which you can follow while designing your YouTube video thumbnails.
- Keep it simple
The more you keep it simple the more eye-catching it will be. So instead of putting a lot of text, only type the keywords which are easy to read. If necessary then use a readable font. - Relevant
Avoid click-bait and give a sneak peek of what’s inside the video. If the content inside the video is different then shown on the thumbnail the viewer will immediately leave the video. - Use graphics
You can use overlays/emojis to get the attraction. Also, you can use icons along with the text. It’s not necessary to always have the text. The thumbnail can be a simple image. - Make people think
Design a thumbnail so that people will get curious and they have to click and watch to find out that what’s inside your video. - Consistency is key
Choose some brand colors for your YouTube channel and try to use always the same colors on all of your YouTube videos. By doing so people will easily recognize your videos and your brand will become more popular.
YouTube Thumbnail Example
Please have a look on the following thumbnail. Does it looks attractive and make you curious about what will be inside the video?
If your answer is yes than your right because it worked for a video uploaded on a channel with only 5 subscribers. And the video already got 500+ views. Here’s the proof;
How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
You can use Photoshop to make your YouTube video thumbnail. Open the Photoshop. Click on the File > New from the top tool menu. A new window will be popup. Now from under the present details change the width to 1280 Pixels and height to 720 Pixels. Then under the background contents option choose transparently or any other color you want to choose.
YouTube Thumbnail Makers Online Free
With Free YouTube thumbnail makers online you can create thumbnails with few clicks. And it also does not take a lot of time as there are ready-made templates available you can choose from. But one of the cons of using the online thumbnail makers is that you have limited customization options as compared to Photoshop or any other good photo editor.
Here are some best YouTube thumbnail makers online;
YouTube Thumbnail Templates Free Download
Here is the listed of best youtube thumbnail templates which you can download for free and use them on your videos.
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Frequently Asked Questions by Users
What is the YouTube thumbnail size?
The recommended YouTube video thumbnail resolution is 1280×720 pixels with a minimum width of 640 pixels.
What is the maximum size allowed for YouTube thumbnail?
The maximum file size which is allowed for a YouTube thumbnail is no more than 2MB.
YouTube thumbnail allowed image formats?
Only the following image formats are allowed for making YouTube thumbnail: JPG, GIF, and PNG.