The problem with designing on a big screen
A thumbnail is usually created full screen, but many people see it on a phone, at a much smaller size. Small text becomes unreadable and details get lost. That's why it's worth seeing it at its real size before uploading the video.
How to use the tester
- Choose your thumbnail.
- Type the title, channel and length of the video.
- Check it in the light and dark themes.
- Read the warnings about aspect ratio, resolution, file size and title length.
Keys to a thumbnail that gets understood
- Few words: three or four, large and with good contrast.
- A single main element: a face, an object or a clear idea.
- Clear bottom-right corner: the video length appears there and may cover what you put.
- Consistency with the title: the image and the text should complement each other without repeating the same thing.
Recommended size
The usual size is 1280 × 720 pixels, in 16:9 aspect ratio, up to 2 MB. If your image doesn't meet it, you can fit it with the resizer or shrink it with the compressor.
Frequently asked questions
Does it look exactly like on YouTube?
It's an approximate simulation. It helps you check whether it works at a small size, but YouTube may change its design. This website isn't affiliated with YouTube.
Is my thumbnail published or uploaded?
No. The image stays on your device and nothing is published.
How do I type the length?
Only with numbers and colons, for example 12:34 or 1:05:20.