YouTube Thumbnail Size Guide & Best Practices for 2023
Table of Contents
First of all, to understand the YouTube Thumbnail Size Guide & best practices in 2023, one must know what YouTube thumbnails are and how and why they are ideally used on YouTube. Thumbnails are the small images that appear next to a video on YouTube.
They are an essential part of your video because they are the first thing people see when looking for a new video to watch. Therefore, YouTube thumbnail images should be eye-catching and exciting so that people will want to click on them and watch your video.
Why Are YouTube Thumbnails Important?
Most people would say that the title of a video is the essential aspect of getting people to watch it. However, according to YouTube, thumbnails are the most critical factor in getting someone to click on a video.
Thumbnails are like mini posters that represent the content of your video. If they are enticing and exciting, people will be more likely to click on them.
Important Aspects You Can Do To Make Sure Your Thumbnails Are Effective
- Use high-quality images that are representative of your video.
- Make sure the text is easy to read.
- Use bright and contrasting colors to make your thumbnail stand out.
- Always try to use the most relevant image for your video.
What Are The Custom Thumbnails?
YouTube thumbnails are the small preview pictures that appear next to a video on the YouTube website and the YouTube app. They are also sometimes called video covers. Thumbnails are automatically generated for all videos, but you can choose a custom thumbnail image.
Thumbnail images play an essential role in increasing watch time on your videos. Studies have shown that viewers are more likely to watch a video when a good thumbnail image is associated with it. YouTube found that 90% of the best-performing videos had custom thumbnails.
How To Create Custom YouTube Thumbnails?
If you want to create a YouTube thumbnail for your video, there are a few things you need to know. First, the image size for thumbnails is 1280×720 pixels. Second, the file size for thumbnails should be under 2MB. Third, the file type should be .jpg, .png, or .gif. And finally, the upload thumbnail should be a square.
Custom video thumbnail is a great way to get people to click on your videos. They should be creative and eye-catching, and they should also accurately represent the content of your video. Here are some essential tips for creating custom YouTube thumbnails:
- Do not avoid using relevant images as per the type of your video.
- Make sure your text is legible.
- Keep your thumbnail simple and avoid using too much text or clutter.
YouTube have stunning thumbnails
Why Custom Thumbnails are Considered Better To Be Used On YouTube?
There are a few reasons why custom thumbnail images are considered better for YouTube. They are:
- A custom thumbnail can help to achieve more views.
- Your viewers will be attracted more to your unique thumbnails.
- By making the customized thumbnail, you will be able to make it different than your competitors.
- Custom thumbnail images help to set the tone and theme of a video. They can give viewers a hint about what the video is about, which can help attract more viewers.
- Custom thumbnail images can show off a brand’s personality by using distinctive and personally designed thumbnail images.
Reasons Why Customized YouTube Thumbnails Get More Attention From The Viewers
- A custom thumbnail catches users’ attention and makes them want to click on the video.
- The custom thumbnail gives a professional look to your video.
- The custom thumbnail helps in branding your video.
1. Attractive Thumbnail Design
There is no definitive answer to this question as everyone has different preferences, but generally, viewers prefer bright, colorful, and eye-catching thumbnails. In addition, thumbnails that feature people or animals tend to be more popular than those that do not.
There is no one perfect answer as to which kind of thumbnails will specifically be the most attractive for the viewers on YouTube, as different people are drawn to different types of thumbnails. However, some general tips that are likely to attract more viewers include using unique, high definition, and relevant images for your videos.
2. Keep It Simple
People are more likely to watch a video if the thumbnail is simple and easy to read and text is used to show what the video is about. Also, it can be good to use well-known people or logos in your thumbnail. Choosing the right and relevant thumbnail images for your YouTube videos will help you get more people to watch your videos, so be more careful.
3. Relevant Design With Content
When it comes to creating a video, one of the most important decisions you have to make is what images to use; a bad image can seriously damage the overall effect of your video. However, your video will be much more effective if you use the right images. If you have an image, but you want to include a better version or similar pictures in your video, then you can use the image search facility to find similar images. Doing so helps you perform a visual search and makes the hunt for similar images easier
The first step is to find images that are relevant to your topic. For example, if you are discussing a new product, it is essential to find images that show that product in use. This will help your audience understand what your products or services are all about, so they will be able to buy or use them. This way, they will be more interested in what you say about your products.
What Is The Ideal YouTube Thumbnail Size?
When creating a thumbnail for your YouTube video, consider the following. Most importantly, your thumbnail should appropriately depict your video’s content. It should also be aesthetically attractive to lure clicks.
Your thumbnail should be 1280×720 pixels. YouTube will automatically resize videos below this size and crop those over this size. You may also look for the best YouTube thumbnail size per video genre on the internet, but we have the most significant info here.
Specifications of the Best YouTube Thumbnail Size
- 1920×1080 pixels (full HD)
- 640×360 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio)
- 480×270 pixels (4:3 aspect ratio)
Guidelines To Make Impressive YouTube Video Thumbnail
A YouTube thumbnail image is the first thing that a user sees while watching a video on YouTube. If it is impressive, the chances are that the user might watch the whole video. However, if it does not attract the user’s attention, they will move on to watch another video.
Some thumb rules should be followed while designing video thumbnails:
- Make sure that your thumbnail is attractive and catches the viewer’s attention.
- Use bold colors to make it stand out.
- It would help if you had an excellent thumbnail to make an impression on viewers and get them to click through to your video. Thumbnails are the small images that appear next to a video title in search results and on YouTube channel pages.
- A good thumbnail can make a difference in getting people to watch your video.
- Use interesting visuals
- The text on the thumbnail should be legible and easy to read and understand
Implement these factors to stand out while creating a YouTube thumbnail
Here are some factors that one should implement while creating YouTube thumbnails that will make your videos stand out:
- Your thumbnail should be a good representation of your video. Make sure to use high-quality images that are in focus and properly lit.
- Please keep it simple as the more it is simple, the more it will be easy to understand for the viewers what the video is about.
- Do not try to write too many words on the thumbnail while attempting to create a customized design of your YouTube thumbnail image.
YouTube Thumbnail: Mistakes To Avoid
YouTube thumbnail images are the small images that accompany your videos, and they play a vital role in attracting viewers. Here are some mistakes you should avoid when creating thumbnails for your YouTube videos:
YouTube thumbnails can make or break a video’s success. YouTube thumbnails are basically of two types, one is the default, and the other one is custom. If you design a custom thumbnail for YouTube, you will have to be cautious about some critical points.
Using low-quality images
Make sure to use high-quality images in your thumbnails; otherwise, they will look blurry and unprofessional, not attracting as many viewers as expected.
Using text overlay
Do not use too much text, or it won’t be easy to read while looking for a relevant video that your view will be looking for.
Using collages
Do not try to make complex collages while creating a YouTube thumbnail image. It would help if you kept it simple to make it easily understandable for everyone.
Not using a thumbnail
Many people forget to use it, which is a mistake because they are essential for getting people to watch your video.
Not using the right thumbnail
If you choose the wrong thumbnail, it can turn people off from watching your video.
Improper relevancy
Most people do not pay much attention to choosing the most relevant images for their YouTube video thumbnails, considered the most common and worst mistake to avoid.
Why Is It Better To Learn About Professional Custom YouTube Thumbnail Designing?
There are several reasons why learning about professional custom YouTube thumbnail designing is better. The first reason is that custom thumbnails can help increase viewership on your channel. A good thumbnail will entice people to click on your video.
A custom thumbnail will make your video look more professional. Secondly, custom thumbnails can help you stand out from the crowd. With millions of videos on YouTube, it is crucial to do everything you can to make your video stand out. A well-designed thumbnail is a perfect way to do this.
Custom YouTube Thumbnails Can Help You Improve the Branding
Learning about professional custom thumbnail designing can help you to improve your branding. One of the most obvious reasons to learn this skill is that it can help you to get more views on your videos.
Research has shown that having a custom thumbnail increases the likelihood of someone clicking on your video by 80%. Additionally, custom thumbnails can help make your videos look more professional and give them a more polished appearance. Check out the biggest battle, TikTok vs YouTube and mark your favorite one.
Thumbnail creation on YouTube is an art to develop
Thumbnails are the small images that appear next to a video on YouTube and other video-sharing sites. They are meant to give the viewer a snapshot of what the video is about and entice them to watch it.
Thumbnail creation is a bit of an art form. However, there are a few ways to create thumbnails for YouTube videos. Use software like Photoshop or GIMP to create a custom thumbnail or select a frame usually available on the default video thumbnails on YouTube. Check out the simplest guide to making a YouTube channel logo.
Conclusion
So, what’s the takeaway? Well, if you want your own thumbnail to perform well on YouTube in 2023 (or any year for that matter) it needs to be creative, eye-catching and accurately represent your video content. And if you don’t have the time or resources to create your own YouTube thumbnail,
All Time Design can help! We are a creative design agency with over 10 years of experience in creating stunning visuals for brands both big and small. Contact us today to learn more about our services or get a free quote. Explore the top 20+ cool YouTube banner ideas for you.
FAQs
The most famous FAQs about YouTube thumbnail creation and custom designing are:
1. What are the best dimensions for a thumbnail?
The recommended dimensions for a thumbnail are 1280×720 pixels. But you can use other sizes as well as per the requirements of your videos and posters.
2. How do I create a custom thumbnail?
To create a custom thumbnail, you need to use photo editing software such as Photoshop or GIMP. Once you have opened the photo editing software, create a new document with the YouTube thumbnail dimensions of 1280×720 pixels. Then, add your desired content to the paper and save it as a JPEG or PNG file
3. What design would be the best for my YouTube video thumbnail?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to create a thumbnail will vary depending on the content of your video. You will have to be conscious about choosing the right image with the right brightness to attract the viewers and set the right dimensions.
4. Where do I need to learn about custom YouTube thumbnail designing?
When you intend to create unique and personal videos, you will have to add your pictures, tables, statistics, headlines, and other additives to the video; you will have to learn professional customs.
YouTube thumbnail size and designing will help you carve out the professional ways to design unique images and content for your video. Being a professional, it will be easy for you to bring new ideas into reality by making perfect images per your videos’ requirements. Check out the social media image size guide at All Time Design.
