Make a YouTube thumbnail on your PC
Pick a background, add your photo with its background removed automatically, a bold title and arrows: the thumbnail is YouTube's 1280 × 720 size and exports as a JPG under 2 MB. Everything happens in your browser.
- 1280 × 720 size
- Automatic cutout
- JPG under 2 MB
- Nothing uploaded
100% private — Everything is processed directly in your browser: your files, voice, and image are never sent to Chatzam's servers.
How do you make a YouTube thumbnail?
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Choose the background
Upload an image, pick a color or a gradient, or grab a frame from your video at the exact moment you want.
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Add a photo, a title and graphics
Upload a photo: its background is removed automatically. Add a bold title with an outline, then arrows, circles or emojis, leaving the video length corner clear.
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Export the thumbnail
Download it as a JPG optimized to stay under 2 MB, or as a PNG, then upload it in YouTube Studio.
Everything a clickable thumbnail needs
Automatic cutout
Upload a photo of yourself or an object: an AI removes the background right in your browser, with an optional white outline to make it pop.
Bold, readable titles
Thick outline, shadow, colors and all caps: text that stays readable even at a small size. Add as many as you like and move them anywhere.
Frame from your video
Upload your video, find the right moment and capture the frame to use as the background, without opening a video editor.
Video length corner marked
A guide shows the bottom-right corner where YouTube displays the video length, so you don't hide text or a face under it.
YouTube thumbnail size: the official specs
YouTube recommends a 1280 × 720 pixel thumbnail, in a 16:9 aspect ratio, with a minimum width of 640 pixels. The file must be a JPG, PNG or GIF and can't be larger than 2 MB. This tool works directly on a 1280 × 720 canvas, and its JPG export is optimized to stay under that limit. A PNG keeps every pixel intact but is heavier: with a photo in the background, it can go over 2 MB, and YouTube will reject it. To add your thumbnail, open YouTube Studio, select the video and upload the image in the “Thumbnail” section. If the option isn't there, verify your account first, for example with your phone number: custom thumbnails are only available to verified accounts.
How to make a thumbnail people want to click
Thumbnails are often shown very small, especially on phones, so yours has to make sense at a glance. A few words are enough, in big letters with a thick outline so they stay readable on any background. An expressive face, cut out from its background, draws the eye, and a white outline separates it from the backdrop. Play with contrast: light text on a dark background, or the other way around. An arrow or a circle can point to the key element without cluttering the image. Keep the bottom-right corner clear, since the video length appears there. Finally, the thumbnail should reflect the content: a misleading image disappoints viewers, and every thumbnail must follow YouTube's Community Guidelines.
Make your thumbnail on PC without paid software
No need for Photoshop or a subscription: everything happens in your browser, on Windows or Mac. For the background, you have three options: an uploaded image that you can move and zoom; a solid color or a gradient; or a frame captured from your own video, handy for showing the result of a tutorial or the best moment of a match. Then add your cut-out photo, your text, and your arrows, circles or emojis. Nothing is sent to a server, not even during background removal. To remove the background from a single image, use “Remove the Background From an Image”; to grab the thumbnail of a video that's already online, use “YouTube Thumbnail Downloader”.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
1280 × 720 pixels, in a 16:9 aspect ratio, with a minimum width of 640 pixels. The file must be a JPG, PNG or GIF and no larger than 2 MB.
How do I make a YouTube thumbnail for free on PC?
Open this tool in your browser, pick a background, add a cut-out photo and a title, then export as a JPG. It's free, with no sign-up and no software to install.
Why can't I add a custom thumbnail on YouTube?
Custom thumbnails require a verified YouTube account, for example verified with your phone number. If the image is rejected, also check that it's under 2 MB and saved as a JPG, PNG or GIF.
How do I put a cut-out of my face on a thumbnail?
Add a photo of yourself: the tool removes the background automatically, in your browser. Turn on the white outline to make it stand out from the background.
My thumbnail is over 2 MB. What should I do?
Export it as a JPG instead of a PNG: the JPG export is optimized to stay under 2 MB, YouTube's limit. For an image you've already made, “Compress Image” can also shrink the file size.