Thumbnail Maker
ImageDesign click-worthy thumbnails — layer images, bold outlined text, shapes and emoji on a drag-and-drop canvas.
Thumbnail Maker is a layer editor built for the one job a YouTube thumbnail has to do: get the click. Start from a template, drop in your screenshot, then stack heavy outlined display type, arrows, circles and emoji exactly where you want them — grouping layers so they move together. The canvas renders at full 1280×720 output resolution, so what you arrange is precisely what exports, and the whole design is built on your own device.
Why use Thumbnail Maker
100% private
Your image files are processed locally and never uploaded.
Instant
No upload or download wait — it runs at the speed of your device.
Free to start
Use it free every day; go Pro for unlimited runs.
No install
Works in any modern browser. No sign-up to begin.
How to use Thumbnail Maker
- 1Start a canvas
Open a 1280×720 YouTube thumbnail, or another size, and drop in a photo as your background.
- 2Add text and shapes
Layer bold outlined headline text, shapes and cut-outs, dragging each into place with live controls.
- 3Export the thumbnail
Download a PNG or JPG at full resolution — no watermark.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
1280×720 (16:9), and that's the default canvas here. YouTube also asks that the file stays under 2 MB, so export as JPG if a detailed photo background pushes a PNG over the limit.
How do I make text readable on a busy photo?
Use a thick outline and a drop shadow — both are one toggle each — and keep the headline to a few large words. Text that survives at thumbnail size is short, high-contrast and outlined; a long sentence in a thin font disappears at 200px wide.
Can I remove the background from my photo first?
Yes. Use the Background Remover to cut out a subject, then send the transparent PNG straight here — it arrives as a layer you can drag and scale over your background, which is how most thumbnail cut-outs are made.
Is there a watermark on the exported thumbnail?
No watermark, ever, on any plan — and no account is needed to start. The canvas renders in your browser and exports at full resolution, so what you design is exactly what downloads.