When you want more YouTube views, it makes sense to design enticing, high-quality thumbnails. The only problem? It’s hard to design images that make thousands of people feel something on a deep, emotional level. There are challenges along the way, such as running out of ideas or not knowing 

If you're looking for fresh YouTube thumbnail ideas, you're in the right place. In this article, we share 12 types of best YouTube thumbnails that people love to click on!

One way to get people interested in your thumbnail is by displaying 

 that keeps them up at night. “Can I afford a house right now with my current income?” “Will eating organic produce transform my health?” The more relevant the question is to your audience, the more likely they are to click!

For example, creators Colin and Samir started a 

 to address the most pressing concerns of YouTube creators. So far, each thumbnail displays an actual question from their audience.

In fact, one of their popular videos has a thumbnail that reads, “Will YouTube Shorts pay us more than TikTok?” And that is definitely a hot-button issue for their viewers.

We often say the best YouTube thumbnails draw people in with their emotional appeal. But for some viewers, facts and statistics can be enticing, too! This method works well in niches that rely on numbers and data, such as sports, science, and history.

 make videos about “NBA moments” that lead to shock, controversy, or at least a good laugh. Some of those moments include record-breaking stats for different players, so adding those numbers to the thumbnail is a way to get viewers interested in the video.

After all, it’s a bit surprising to learn that a player achieved 50 points and 40 rebounds in one game!

Thumbnails that compare an object or place in its before-and-after state — a bare room or a failing garden, for example — is an instant win on YouTube. People love seeing transformations, especially when the final form is far from the original. When you show this transformation in a thumbnail, you prove to viewers that the video is worth watching.

For example, take a look at this thumbnail from Bernardo Bacalhau’s video, “

.” The before and after shots aren’t even close! With such a beautiful upgrade, you can’t help but press play and watch the journey unfold.

Before and after shots of a renovated van

Thumbnails that follow the “versus” format compare two items in the same category. For example, you might display two video games about action and fighting or two washing machines that are both energy efficient. In both cases, you’re helping viewers understand what will be compared and why they should care.

The Vox channel has a great example of this. They did an excellent video 

 of the 1800s to the ones we ride today, and you can see the difference just by looking at the thumbnail.

A thumbnail showing rollercoasters in two different eras

If you’re going to put text on a thumbnail, consider a quote or sound bite from the video itself. That will give viewers a subtle preview of what to expect when they press play. Plus, the more interesting the sound bite is, the more enticing the video becomes.

 from Alpha Leaders is about Kobe Bryant’s incredible work ethic. The thumbnail exposes a little-known fact, claiming that he 

 to squeeze in longer, harder basketball practices. The video has 3.4 million views!

YouTube thumbnail showing a Kobe Bryant quote

Did you know that headshots aren’t just for vloggers or creators building a personal brand? Sometimes, showing your face in a YouTube thumbnail just makes sense.

But it’s about more than showing dramatic facial expressions. To keep things interesting, most people edit around their faces to convey a unique twist in the video and get more views.

That’s what Shelby Church did for her viral video, “

” The thumbnail shows her face, but it also shows some hologram-like images projecting from her glasses. It’s more engaging than a bare headshot!

Thumbnail of a woman wearing smart glasses

Do you make action-packed videos on YouTube? If so, you want your thumbnail to give off a similar vibe. Try taking a screen capture of the most exciting scene in your video, then edit the entire image to look bold, colorful, and adventurous. This approach will make your video stand out from the competition!

 is an expert at making live-action thumbnails, so follow his lead by checking out the thumbnail below!

Three people on an island for a video challenge

Showing products in your thumbnail is a good idea if you have a tech channel, gaming channel, or like reviewing new merchandise in general. You could talk about the latest mascara, the most fragrant candles, or the best skillets for searing steak. Either way, showing a product in your thumbnail helps viewers decide whether to click or not.

As an example, take a look at the image below. Mrwhosetheboss has a table full of Nintendo consoles, and you can probably guess that he’s reviewing all of them in 

. Seeing all those consoles is exciting because you know an in-depth review is coming!

A man smiling beside a pile of gaming consoles

A funny title and thumbnail can catch viewers off guard in a good way. They might laugh, chuckle, or think, 

 It sounds insignificant at first, but this is precisely the type of reaction you want — for viewers to stop what they’re doing and think about your video. That’s the first step to making them click.

If you need inspiration, Kelly Stamps has some of the wittiest thumbnails on YouTube. Check out the one below, which she used for her video, “

The Actual Cost of Becoming an Influencer

A humorous YouTube thumbnail against the New York City skyline

Nature has a way of captivating us all, from the red rock formations in Arizona to the clear blue waters of Jamaica. People travel thousands of miles to see those wonders, so it can’t hurt to show a little nature in your YouTube thumbnails.

Need an example? DownieLive has one of the best YouTube thumbnails on YouTube right now. For his video, “

,” icy mountains in Alaska meet the tropical waves of Miami.

A thumbnail showing landscapes of Alaska and Florida

If you’re planning a heartfelt video, don’t forget to add a touching moment to the thumbnail too. This is an important skill that produces great YouTube thumbnail ideas. People love to see good deeds, random acts of kindness, or cute moments between children and animals. It proves that a bit of emotion can take you far on YouTube!

For example, check out the thumbnail below where 

A man showing his grandpa the car he bought for him

We’ll be honest: Making thumbnails for tutorials is not easy. On the one hand, you want the image to convey what will happen in the video, which is a step-by-step lesson. On the other hand, you don’t want the photo itself to be bland or boring. So how do you spice things up?

To start, take a little inspiration from Rose & Anzai Country Life. Surprisingly, the thumbnail for their 

 video breaks all the rules of a traditional cooking channel. You don’t see a kitchen or anyone cooking at all. Instead, you see the family enjoying the finished meal, which appeals to the heart and not the head!

Thumbnails play a significant role in getting you more views, so be intentional about each one. Make sure the thumbnail is an accurate reflection of the video and that it draws people in with stunning images, questions, stats, and emotional themes. And if you run out of amazing YouTube thumbnail ideas, come back to this article to get inspired again!

Of course, every YouTube thumbnail needs to be framed and arranged properly and aesthetically to the eye. Learn more about 

YouTube thumbnail measurements and how important they are!

Need some fresh YouTube thumbnail ideas for your channel? Explore these popular image styles to get more views on your content today!

12 Best YouTube Thumbnails Ideas People Love to Click On

Are you a Shorts creator? If so, here’s some advice you probably haven’t heard in a while:

Thumbnails aren’t just for long-form videos.

In 2024, your Shorts need attention-grabbing thumbnails to stand out on YouTube — not just a great title and description. A captivating graphic will persuade viewers to click on your content, and that could kickstart a viral moment on your channel. You might even get enough views to achieve 

 that we conducted recently on your community page, 33,000 voters made their choice clear on the subject. However, YouTube has not introduced any tool or feature to create custom thumbnails. In fact, in a recent update video from Creator Insider, the YouTube team revealed that they have no plans for custom thumbnails for the rest of 2024 either. 

But First, Why Make Thumbnails for YouTube Shorts?

Take one look at the YouTube Shorts player, and you’ll notice thumbnails don’t appear in that part of the app. Instead, viewers see a random frame from the video, which could be anything — an awkward hand gesture, a transition moment, or a non-essential character from the video. Without a custom thumbnail, there’s no guarantee YouTube will choose the best frame for your content.

And that makes sense, considering how YouTube designed the Shorts player. It was made for endless swiping and not necessarily the browsing features we see on the YouTube homepage. Most creators look at the Shorts player and say, “I don’t need thumbnails here.” 

Thumbnails Are Important Outside the Shorts Player

But while thumbnails don’t appear on the Shorts player, they 

 show up in other areas of the app and website, including:

​​The Shorts tab on your YouTube channel

Recommended videos on YouTube’s homepage

, don’t overlook the power of thumbnails. You’ll need them to get more clicks 

 on YouTube. As of writing, the feature that makes this possible is available to Android and 

The first option is to set a specific frame as your video’s thumbnail during the upload process. It’s not the 

 solution, especially if your video doesn’t have an engaging frame to catch viewers' attention. But it’s quick, efficient, and gets the job done.

Option 2: Create a Custom Thumbnail Frame

The second option is to create a thumbnail ahead of time using a tool like Canva or Photoshop, then 

add the graphic to your video as a new frame

. You’ll have to do this in an editing program, such as Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro. But the extra step allows you to set the new frame as your video’s thumbnail when uploading to YouTube.

Here’s how to select a thumbnail for your Short:

1. Upload the Short as you normally would. When you reach the details screen, 

Pencil icon to change YouTube Shorts thumbnail

2. Use the frame selector to choose a scene for your thumbnail, then tap 

3. Fill out any other sections, then tap 

As stated earlier, YouTube hasn't made this arduous process any easier from their end yet. The rationale provided by YouTube is that 

the majority of views and watch time for Shorts come from the Shorts feed, where thumbnails are not displayed.

In our channel's experience, this information doesn't hold true. While a mere 13% of our views come from the Shorts shelf, most are from YouTube Search, where thumbnails are prominently shown. 

YouTube has decided to partially address this issue with a recent update that was covered by our in-house expert Rob. Creators will now be able to edit text, color, and also add emojis on their Shorts thumbnails after the Short has been uploaded.

Design Tips for YouTube Shorts Thumbnails 

If you're designing a custom thumbnail, here's how to make your Shorts stand out from the rest.



that describes your video accurately. For example, the thumbnail below reads, "hack for more views," which is just enough information to pique viewers' curiosity.

 in your thumbnail. The Short below is about YouTube monetization, and the first thing you see is physical money.

, use your thumbnail to show one step in the process. This signals to viewers that your video is helpful, like Short below!

What Is the YouTube Shorts Thumbnail Size?

Shorts are vertical videos with a 9:16 aspect ratio and a size of 1920x1080 pixels. If you want to make custom thumbnails for Shorts, they should match those dimensions (1920x1080 pixels). Learn more about 

YouTube thumbnail measurements right here!

Can You Change the Thumbnail for a YouTube Short?

As of writing, you can’t change the thumbnail for a Short from your desktop once it’s posted. YouTube hasn’t explained why, but a brief notice says as much in the content editor of the YouTube Studio. 

You can instead change the said thumbnail from your mobile app seamlessly. Choose from one of the frames in your Short and use it as your thumbnail.

How to Change a Thumbnail on Youtube Shorts? 

To change the thumbnail on a given Short:

Select the video you want to edit a thumbnail on

Notice a small pencil-looking icon on the top left

Tap on it and change your thumbnail accordingly.

Now that you know everything about Shorts thumbnails, check out the 12 types of thumbnails viewers love to click on!

Do you know how to make a YouTube Shorts thumbnail? Here's why you should create them, plus two ways to attach the graphics to your videos.

YouTube Shorts Thumbnail: How to Upload Them for More Views

Thumbnails are one of the biggest pain points for new creators, and an important one to solve. Thumbnails are the "book cover" of your video—something that needs to grab attention in just a fraction of a second. 

There are so many elements that go into making that winning thumbnail for your content, and it's simply not possible to address all of that here. So, 

 with expert, John Scott, to get all your thumbnail queries answered.

In this post, we'll walk you through the ideal 

, some key best practices for creating thumbnails that stand out!

12 Types of YouTube Thumbnails People Love to Click On

First impressions are critical in the endless ocean of YouTube content. The thumbnail plays a massive role in getting viewers to click on your video over countless others. For new YouTubers trying to gain traction, getting your thumbnail right can be the difference between a low-performing video and that ever-alluring viral hit. Here’s why size specifically matters:

: YouTube thumbnails appear across a wide range of devices—desktops, tablets, and, most importantly, mobile phones. Therefore, you need a thumbnail that remains sharp and eye-catching across all these platforms.

: Thumbnails with the correct size and dimensions ensure a polished, professional look. Low-quality, blurry images won’t just make your video less appealing—they’ll make it look amateurish.

 Faster Than Ever: 6 Ways to Make YouTube Thumbnails in Record Time

The Best Size for YouTube Thumbnails in 2024

When designing your thumbnail, the recommended size is 

 with a 16:9 aspect ratio. This size works across devices and ensures your thumbnail looks pleasing to the eye. Additionally, the minimum width YouTube accepts is 640 pixels but going lower than the recommended size is probably not a good idea. To keep things simple, here's what you need to follow.

: 16:9 (standard YouTube video aspect ratio)

https://www.oberlo.com/blog/youtube-thumbnail-size

Using the optimal size guarantees that your thumbnail will look crisp, regardless of the screen size it's being viewed on. It also helps your video stand out in YouTube search results and suggested video sections, making it an essential element of your overall video SEO strategy.

Best Practices for Creating YouTube Thumbnails

Creating a well-designed thumbnail is more than just getting the size right. It’s about crafting something that resonates with your audience and drives them to click. Let’s break down some important design strategies that’ll help your thumbnails pop in 2024:

Your thumbnail needs to deliver a clear message in a split second. Overloading it with too many details, colors, or text can be overwhelming, especially when viewed on smaller screens like mobile phones. Stick to one focal point and keep the design clean.

Text on thumbnails can be incredibly effective—if done right. Use 

 that stand out against the background. Avoid cramming too many words; instead, aim for short, snappy phrases that intrigue viewers. Also, contrast is essential. If your background is dark, make sure your text is light, and vice versa.

Your thumbnail should immediately grab attention, even when it’s displayed alongside hundreds of others. Using high-contrast colors can help your image stand out. Consider using colors that are complementary or that contrast sharply with YouTube’s default red, black, and white color scheme.

Thumbnails that feature human faces—especially ones that show strong emotions—tend to get higher engagement. Whether it’s excitement, surprise, or curiosity, showing a human expression can create an instant connection with potential viewers.

One great trick for building brand recognition is to use a consistent style for all your thumbnails. This could include specific color schemes, text placement, or the use of your logo in a corner. Over time, viewers will come to recognize your videos at a glance, making it more likely they’ll click on your content.

For example, this is how the vidIQ channel home page looks at first glance. As you can see, there is homogeneity in the way we use our creators faces and other graphical elements across videos./

While designing thumbnails can be fun, it’s wise to avoid a few traps. Here are some common mistakes that you should avoid at all costs:

: Never use clickbait or misleading images that have nothing to do with your video’s content. This will only frustrate viewers, hurt your channel’s reputation, and lead to a high bounce rate—something YouTube’s algorithm won’t like.

: You don’t want to clutter your thumbnail with unnecessary text. Keep it short and to the point. Let the title of your video do the talking, and use text on your thumbnail sparingly.

: More than half of YouTube’s traffic comes from mobile devices, so always ensure your thumbnails are legible on small screens. If you’re adding text, make sure it’s large and bold enough to read easily on a smartphone.

: A blurry or pixelated thumbnail can significantly reduce your video’s chances of getting clicked. Always use high-resolution images, and if you’re unsure, err on the side of larger file sizes (

Tips for Testing and Optimizing Thumbnails

If you’re not sure which thumbnail design will work best, don’t be afraid to experiment. YouTube allows you to change thumbnails even after your video has been published. Here are some tips for testing and optimizing your thumbnails over time:

: Try switching between different thumbnails on the same video and track their performance in 

. This way, you can identify which design drives more clicks.

 of your videos. A higher CTR means more people are engaging with your content, which helps boost your visibility in YouTube’s algorithm.

: Beyond the CTR, also look at how long people are watching your video. If your audience is dropping off quickly after clicking, your thumbnail might not accurately represent your content. 

 for optimizing, testing, and comparing different thumbnail options for the same video by using the above metrics. 

According to YouTube, 90% of the best-performing videos use custom thumbnails.

 In 2024, making it on YouTube involves more than just creating great content—you need to package it well, starting with your thumbnail. Understanding the 

 and following design best practices will set you on the path to success. 

Whether you’re just starting or looking to level up your YouTube game, getting your thumbnail right is a crucial step to increasing your views, engagement, and subscriber count. 

Now it’s time to create that killer thumbnail

Learn the correct YouTube thumbnail measurements for 2024 and how to optimize them for the best quality and viewer engagement!

YouTube Thumbnail Measurements: The Right Size for 2024

Are you struggling to make thumbnails that stop viewers in their tracks and inspire them to click on your videos? If so, you’re going to love this update geared toward creators of all sizes.

, that lets you upload multiple thumbnails and test them with different audiences. The results are pretty straightforward: Whichever graphic has the highest share of 

 wins the attention war. Best of all, the tool is 100% free, and all YouTube creators will have it by early 2024.

The watch time share for three thumbnails being tested on YouTube

, as it’s never been harder to stand out on YouTube and get noticed by your target audience. Thumbnails do a lot of that work, from grabbing viewers' attention to providing an emotional snapshot of the video beforehand. So, getting to test multiple thumbnails is a fantastic way to increase your views.

YouTube is gradually rolling out the Test and Compare tool, but you might have early access. To find out, upload a video as you normally would and pay close attention when it’s time to upload a thumbnail. If you have the feature, you’ll see an option labeled “Test and Compare” below Reselect and Upload File.

Test and compare menu option when uploading a thumbnail

Does ‘Test and Compare’ Work for all Content Types?

For now, you can test and compare thumbnails on long-form videos, completed 

. Certain types of content, like those aimed at kids or mature audiences, are excluded from using this tool.

YouTube Thumbnail Testing: How to Measure Performance

YouTube’s new tool follows the rules of 

. It allows you to upload multiple thumbnails (two or three) for the same video. YouTube then displays these thumbnails to different segments of a creator’s audience, each one getting an equal share of exposure.

The goal is to determine which thumbnail is more effective in terms of viewer engagement and performance. And YouTube is using a new metric, “

”, as its benchmark of choice. That’s not to be confused with average view duration, which is the average amount of time viewers spend watching a video.

From a testing perspective, the share of watch time each thumbnail earns is what YouTube describes as watch time share. For example, if you test and compare two thumbnails, thumbnail A might accumulate 60% of the watch time, while thumbnail B collects 40%. In this case, thumbnail A is the winner and most likely to boost your views.

But why is YouTube using watch time to test thumbnail performance instead of clicks? After all, the 

 measures how attractive a video is on search pages and other display areas.

It turns out that click appeal isn’t enough. In the YouTube Studio, the platform explains why watch time is a better predictor of satisfaction than clicks, and how thumbnails reinforce that.

Screenshot of a tool tip in the YouTube studio explaining what watch time share is

“Great thumbnails don’t just get viewers to click,” YouTube states. “They also help viewers understand what the video is about, so that they can make informed decisions about what to watch.”

It’s awesome that YouTube is helping creators choose the best thumbnails for their videos. But the real question is, does it work? Do you get more views after testing thumbnails and using the best one?

In a simple experiment, we tested three thumbnails for 

this video about new AI developments on YouTube.

three vastly different youtube thumbnails

The AI robot image was winning by a small margin, so we dropped the worst-performing thumbnail and let the stronger options compete against each other. Eventually, we got better results: The AI robot was leading the watch time share with a 59.7% split.

One image beats another in a thumbnail test

So, we dropped the other thumbnail and used the strongest performer (AI robot image). In the end, the video got three times the amount of views that we normally get.

Views going up on a line graph for a video that underwent a thumbnail test

New to Thumbnail Testing? A Word of Advice

YouTube’s new thumbnail tester is a major step up when you want to optimize your video’s appeal. At the same time, not everyone has the time or resources to create two or three thumbnails per video. If that’s your situation, do small tests instead of large, time-consuming experiments. Make tiny design shifts, like testing different fonts, colors, or simple backgrounds. Even those small tweaks can make a difference in your viewer’s eyes.

This video has more details and advice, so give it a quick watch to cement your knowledge.

But even without a thumbnail test, are you designing images your viewers can’t resist? 

Here are 12 thumbnail styles that people love on YouTube!

An image with the words "this is thumbnail A"

Want to A/B test your thumbnails to see which one performs better? YouTube has you covered with its new ‘test and compare’ tool.

YouTube Launches New Thumbnail Testing Tool to Boost Your Views

You can’t have a thriving YouTube channel without 

. Most creators know this, so they work extra hard to make images that encourage more video clicks.

Nonetheless, making thumbnails on the fly is easier said than done. It takes time to come up with a good design, find a harmonious color scheme, and make sure everything in the frame is balanced. 

So how do you make YouTube thumbnails fast and easy?

First, don’t rely on the old method. This is where you look for a background image on Google, open up Photoshop, and spend hours designing a thumbnail mostly from scratch. Instead, use these six tips to make thumbnails in record time!

Do you show your face in YouTube thumbnails? If so, you’ll save a lot of time by taking 10-12 headshots that you can use to create any type of thumbnail — happy, shocked, amused, and other emotions that draw people in.

Since you’ll need a lot of thumbnails on YouTube, this works best if each image shows a 

. Then you can match the right pose to a specific thumbnail idea in your mind.

For example, YouTuber-in-residence Rob Wilson uses the same 

 to create thumbnails like this for the vidIQ channel:

Youtube Thumbnail with the creator looking confused

Creating a few background styles is another way to make YouTube thumbnails faster. After all, who wants to spend hours designing a thumbnail because they’re always starting from scratch? 

As a shortcut, leverage the power of artificial intelligence. Different AI tools will generate photos for you, and it only takes a few seconds to get stunning results. All you have to do is describe your YouTube video or what you want the background image to look like.

 works (a tool by vidIQ). With just one keyword, it generates a video title, description, script, hashtags, voice-over, and some thumbnail backgrounds to choose from.

Let’s say you want to make a video about Japanese ramen. You could type “how to make Japanese ramen” into the keyword section, then 

— a variety of backgrounds will appear.

AI content generator for Youtube with a keyword typed into the search bar

3. Pose for a Thumbnail While You’re Filming

YouTube thumbnails are a big part of any channel, but sometimes they take forever to make. Design them faster and easier with these hacks!

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