Find the Best YouTube Thumbnail Styles for Your Channel

This post was originally written Apr 04, 2023 and has been updated with newer information.

“What type of YouTube thumbnails should I make for my channel?”

That’s a question many creators ask, especially when thinking of ways to brand their content and stand out on YouTube. It’s a question that will always be relevant, as 90% of the top videos have custom thumbnails.

So how do you build a thumbnail style that grabs attention and matches your channel’s vibe?

Read More: 12 Types of YouTube Thumbnails People Love to Click On

In this guide, you'll learn how to build a thumbnail style that fits your channel, from defining your content goals to designing vibrant, clickable images.

Match Your Thumbnail Style to Your Content Goals

Your content type plays a massive role in building the right thumbnail strategy. So before jumping into design tools, think deeply about your content goals.

Are you creating:

• Comedic sketches
• Reactions
• Challenges
• Vlogs
• Tutorials
• Story time videos
• Or something else?

Start by asking:

Do I want to entertain, educate, or evoke emotion?

Each path leads to a different design approach.

For example:

• Vlogs often benefit from warm, people-focused thumbnails that reflect personality and mood.
• Tutorials usually perform best with clear visuals and focused text.
• Challenges tend to pop with bright colors, bold fonts, and expressive faces.

Here’s a little test: If you can say something like, “My channel is about bird watching, and my goal is to educate viewers on how to get started,” you’re ready for the next step.

Look to Competitors for YouTube Thumbnail Inspiration

Once you’ve defined your content’s purpose, it’s time to gather visual cues. One of the best ways to get YouTube thumbnail inspiration is by studying successful creators in your niche.

Read More: How to Find Your Biggest Competitors on YouTube

Start by identifying 5–10 channels that:

• Make similar videos
• Share your target audience
• Consistently get views

Then take notes on their thumbnail patterns

• Font choices
• Color scheme
• Thumbnail text
• Facial expressions
• Image composition

Now you have a list of visual elements to choose from. This will give you a rough idea of what your thumbnails could look like and what viewers might respond to.

Design for Your Target Audience.

Here's where many creators get stuck, trying to make thumbnails that “look good” instead of thumbnails that connect.

To avoid that trap, always design with your viewers’ emotions and expectations in mind. Think about what excites them visually. What makes them pause the scroll?

Ask yourself:

• Would a frame from the video work better than a custom design?
• Is bold, clean text necessary, or does it distract?
• Should I include my face, or keep it more object-focused?
• Would emojis feel authentic or forced?
• Should I create bold, colorful designs or something simpler?

Keep in mind, You’re not trying to make the “best” thumbnail, you’re trying to make the most clickable one for your audience.

Test Different Thumbnails and Analyze the Results

By now, you likely have a few thumbnail ideas. The next step is to test them  and let the data speak.

Tools like vidIQ’s AI Thumbnail Maker can help you create multiple versions quickly. Then, take advantage of YouTube’s built-in A/B thumbnail testing to compare performance directly.

Keep an eye on these key metrics:

• Click-through rate (CTR). Which thumbnail pulls in more viewers?
• Watch time. Are certain designs attracting a more engaged audience?
• Audience retention. Do your thumbnails set accurate expectations for what’s inside?

Over time, you’ll start to see patterns, and that’s when your true thumbnail style starts to emerge.

YouTube Thumbnail Inspiration from 3 Successful Creators

If you’re looking for more YouTube thumbnail inspiration, the creators below offer great examples of how to match design with content. Each one has developed a consistent style that fits their niche and earns clicks.

1. Zoe Sugg

Content Type: Lifestyle and family
Thumbnail Style: Minimalistic, people-focused, calm, joyful

Why this thumbnail style works:

Zoe’s thumbnails are a great example of vlog thumbnail ideas that feel warm and inviting.

• A simple, calming design matches the vibe of her down-to-earth vlogs.
• Images of her family cater to the topic of lifestyle and parenting.
• Facial expressions show warmth and joy, just like the energy within her vlogs.

2. JStu

Content Type: YouTube challenges
Thumbnail Style: Action-packed, people and object-focused, exciting, adventurous

Why this thumbnail style works:

JStu nails the high-energy, over-the-top look for challenge-based thumbnails.

• Bold text and bright colors reflect their adventurous, over-the-top challenges.
• Dramatic facial expressions create the emotional thrill of adventure.
• A “busy” design matches the intensity of their content.

3. Nino's Home

Content Type: ASMR cooking
Thumbnail Style: Minimalistic, object-focused, mouthwatering, straightforward

Why this thumbnail style works:

This is a strong example of simplicity and consistency with their ASMR thumbnails.

• A "no design" approach matches the simplistic nature of the content, which includes cooking sounds and no speaking.
• A lack of text puts the focus on what matters most: the food.

Your Thumbnail Style Is Your Visual Brand

Your thumbnail is more than a visual, it’s a promise. It tells viewers what to expect and why they should care.

Whether you’re refining your thumbnail strategy or testing bold new looks, the key is finding a repeatable system that aligns with your content, resonates with your audience, and drives more clicks over time.

Want to speed up your testing? Try the free vidIQ AI Thumbnail Maker to quickly design and compare different styles.

These tips (and examples) will help you build the best thumbnail style for your channel.

Next up, here’s some advice for designing any type of thumbnail!