YouTube Shorts Thumbnail Creation & Best Practices for 2025

What is a YouTube Shorts thumbnail

A YouTube Shorts thumbnail is a small preview image that represents your video content. It is what viewers see prior to clicking on your Shorts, so it is important that you be able to capture attention right away. YouTube Shorts are simply short-form videos that are considered short-form as long as the video is under 60 seconds. Shorts videos are displayed in vertical format, whereas the thumbnail image for shorts videos is usually a still frame from the video or a custom image that you can upload to try to bring in viewers.

Although the thumbnail will not be as prominently displayed in the shorts feed as for regular YouTube videos, it still is displayed in places such as the YouTube homepage, search results, and suggested videos. A great thumbnail will optimize your chance of becoming noticed/clicked on, especially because YouTube automatically suggests Shorts for consumption based upon their interests.

Why thumbnails matter for YouTube videos: Beyond shorts

Thumbnails are not just for mobile players. They also appear on the search results page and as suggested videos. All of those thumbnails help to grab attention and increase engagement.

• Increased visibility on YouTube search and suggested videos: Thumbnails helps grab attention in YouTube search results, suggested videos, and homepages, encouraging users to click on your content.
• Improve click-through rate (CTR): An attractive thumbnail can create a better click-through rate (CTR), convincing viewers to click on your video, which ultimately will lead to better engagement.
• Branding and recognition: Thumbnails are the visual identity for your content and help identify your brand and distinguish your videos from other videos on the platform.
• Attracting audiences on mobile devices: On mobile devices in particular, thumbnails are vital since they are often the first thing viewers see when scrolling through the feed. A good thumbnail can ultimately influence mobile engagement.
• Highlighting video content and message: Thumbnails give a preview of what the video will be about, and allow creators to clearly express their video's main message and theme, which can help attract audiences that will engage with your content.

How to add or change YouTube short thumbnail

It's simple to add thumbnails to YouTube Shorts, whether you're uploading a new video or changing the thumbnail for an existing one.

STEP 1
1. Upload your video

Open the YouTube app and tap the "+" icon located at the bottom center of your screen. Choose whether to select an existing video from your phone or record a new one. Once you've selected or recorded the video, tap "Done" to move on.

STEP 2
1. Add a thumbnail

YouTube Shorts selects its thumbnail automatically in the video. To add a custom thumbnail, you need to add that thumbnail to the end of your video first. Tap "Add" and then choose the thumbnail you want. After you select it, tap the "tick" symbol, edit your video and tap "Next". On the "Add Details" page you tap the "pencil" icon on the image and select the frame you want to use for your thumbnail.

STEP 3
1. Upload the YouTube Short

Finally, tap "Upload Short" to upload your video. You can find the uploaded video in the "You" section of your profile once it's processed.

What is the ideal YouTube Shorts thumbnail size

The ideal YouTube Shorts thumbnail size is 1920 x 1080 pixels with a 9:16 aspect ratio. This size ensures your thumbnail looks sharp and professional across various devices, especially on mobile where Shorts are primarily viewed. The file size should not exceed 2MB, and the thumbnail should be in JPG, PNG, or GIF format for compatibility. A properly sized thumbnail enhances the visual appeal and ensures your content is displayed correctly on YouTube's platform, increasing the likelihood of it attracting clicks and boosting engagement. Always make sure your thumbnail is clear, vibrant, and easy to read.

Recommended tool: Create a custom thumbnail with CapCut Web

Creating a personalized YouTube Shorts thumbnail has never been easier with CapCut Web! This online tool provides a simple user interface that allows users to create unique thumbnails by adding text, visual effects, and custom items to their video. When you're ready to design your video thumbnail, CapCut Web has everything you'll need to create a perfect thumbnail whether you just want to add a bold title, enhance the background, or simply apply professional filters to your video. By customizing your thumbnail, you can attract viewers' attention to your video and make your YouTube Shorts more visible, which ultimately means more engagement and attracting attention to your content!

A simple guide to crafting custom thumbnails in CapCut Web

With CapCut Web, you can easily design professional thumbnails by adding text, effects, and custom visuals. Follow this guide to make your thumbnails stand out and drive more clicks.

STEP 1
1. Start a new project and select dimensions

Begin by clicking the "Sign up for free" button to register and log in to CapCut Web. Once logged in, click on the "Create new" button to start a fresh project. Select "Custom size" and input 1080 x 1920 pixels to match the vertical 9:16 aspect ratio required for YouTube Shorts thumbnails.

STEP 2
1. Upload file and design thumbnail

Once in the editor, click the "Upload" button on the left sidebar and select "From this device" to add your image or video frame, or choose "Google Drive" or "Dropbox" for cloud-stored content. Drag the file onto the canvas once uploaded.

Then head to the "Text" tab to add engaging headlines and customize their appearance. Enhance your design by exploring the "Stickers" tab for fun graphics, or use "Shapes" for creative overlays. On the right, utilize "Filters" and "Effects" for visual flair, and the "Adjust" panel for fine-tuning brightness, contrast, and more, ensuring your thumbnail is eye-catching and clear.

STEP 3
1. Export and save your thumbnail

Once your custom thumbnail is perfected, click the "Download all" button at the top right of the interface. In the export settings, choose your desired format (e.g., JPEG or PNG), set the appropriate size (1080 x 1920 px is recommended for YouTube Shorts), and select your preferred quality. After configuring these export settings, click the "Download" button to save the thumbnail image to your device.

Key features

• Customizable templates: CapCut Web offers a wide range of pre-designed templates tailored for YouTube Shorts thumbnails. These templates can be fully customized with text, colors, and images to match your video's theme and style.
• Text and font options: Add bold, readable text with a variety of font styles and text effects. CapCut Web ensures your text stands out, making your thumbnail more engaging and informative.
• Background customization: Easily customize your thumbnail's background by selecting solid colors, gradient effects, or uploading your own images. This helps you create a unique and attractive visual appeal.
• Image editing and filters: Use image adjustments like brightness, contrast, and saturation to enhance the quality of your thumbnail. Apply filters to give your image a cohesive and polished look that matches your video.

Crafting click-worthy thumbnails: Best practices you should know

• Use high-quality images: High-quality images will show off your thumbnails clearly and professionally even on larger screens, so don't settle for blurry or pixelated images as that will deter viewers! If your image is clear, it will always have a leg up over the other thumbnails!
• Incorporate bold, readable text: The text on your thumbnail should be readable even on a smaller screen. Use bold and large headers and a background that distinctly reads at a glance. Make sure to keep it succinct and impactful to grab viewers' attention!
• Use eye-catching colors: Bold and contrasting colors are eye-catching and will help your thumbnail pop in the feed. You can use colors that fit your branding; however, you should also experiment with brighter colors that will catch viewers' attention.
• Show faces for better engagement: Thumbnails that includes human faces often perform better because they create a human connection. A face not only represents a person more accurately, but it also has expressive and emotional qualities—therefore making your video seem more relatable and friendly.
• Keep it simple and focused: A thumbnail that is overly busy will confuse the viewer, and lessen the impact of what you are trying to communicate. Stick to one subject (face, product, text) to visually depict the topic of your video and not confuse the viewer.

Conclusion

In this guide, we've outlined the essential factors to consider when designing the perfect YouTube Shorts thumbnail, including appropriate YouTube Shorts thumbnail size and effective practices for making your thumbnails appealing and effective. With CapCut Web, you can customize your entire thumbnail with customizable templates, use text, opt for backgrounds, and apply image filters. All of these features help protect against un-attractiveness, increase the likelihood of a click through rate, and make your overall experience enjoyable. So now you're ready to create attractive thumbnails that lead to more views!

FAQs

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1. How to change YouTube shorts thumbnail?

YouTube Shorts thumbnails can only be edited or changed using the YouTube mobile app (Android/iOS), not via YouTube Studio on desktop. Open the YouTube app → Your videos → Select Shorts → Tap "Edit" (pencil icon) → Choose a frame or add text/emojis → Save. To enhance your shorts thumbnails, you can use tools like CapCut Web, which offer features such as customizable templates, text and font options, background customization, and image editing tools. These features can help you create more engaging thumbnails that attract viewers.

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1. What are the best dimensions for a YouTube Shorts thumbnail?

The recommended size for YouTube Shorts thumbnails is 1920 x 1080 pixels and the preferred aspect ratio is 9:16. The purpose of this is to make sure your thumbnail looks crisp and professional on various devices, particularly mobile. It is easy to build all your thumbnails in the right resolution using CapCut Web, and there are also a lot of other benefits to making your thumbnails appropriate size, so they satisfy YouTube requirements and stand out in the feed.

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1. Do YouTube Shorts thumbnails affect video ranking?

Yes, thumbnails can indirectly affect the ranking of your video! A good thumbnail will encourage click-through rates (CTR), and a high CTR is a significant factor for ranking on YouTube. With CapCut Web you can create attention-grabbing thumbnails and enhance your possibility of ranking by being able to customize text, colors, and background elements of your thumbnails to match your video message more accurately.