How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
This guide explains how to create properly sized YouTube thumbnails using FastEdit. YouTube recommends 1280x720 pixels at a 16:9 aspect ratio, under 2MB. FastEdit's YouTube Thumbnail preset handles the sizing automatically.
Steps
01
Open FastEdit
Go to fastedit.net. No download or account needed.
02
Drop your image or screenshot
Drag and drop your source image onto the editor. Screenshots, photos, and existing images all work. Common formats like JPEG, PNG, and WebP are supported.
03
Select the YouTube Thumbnail preset
Open the presets menu and choose YouTube Thumbnail. This sets the output to 1280x720 JPEG with a 2MB file size limit.
04
Crop and resize
Use the crop tool to frame your image at 16:9 aspect ratio. Make sure key visual elements and text are centered and not cut off at the edges.
05
Export
Click Export to download your thumbnail. Upload it when publishing or editing your YouTube video.
Tips
- YouTube recommends 1280x720 pixels, 16:9 aspect ratio, JPEG or PNG format, under 2MB.
- Use JPEG for photographs and complex images: it produces smaller files than PNG for photographic content.
- Text on thumbnails should be large and bold. It will display at very small sizes in search results and recommendations.
- High contrast and saturated colors stand out in YouTube's feed. Test how your thumbnail looks at a small size before uploading.