How to use it
- Upload your thumbnail or use the sample. You can also just download the guide template.
- Look at the red areas. They show where the timestamp, hover icons and progress bar can cover your image.
- Move faces and text inside the safe area. Keep the margin line in mind so nothing sits too close to the edge.
- Check the small sizes underneath. If the text is unreadable there, make it bigger or shorter.
What is the YouTube thumbnail safe zone?
YouTube does not show your thumbnail untouched. It draws elements on top of it, and which ones depend on the device and on what the viewer is doing. The safe zone is the part of the image that stays clear in most situations, so it is the best place for faces and text.
The areas YouTube covers
- Timestamp badge, bottom right. The video length sits in a dark box in the lower right corner. Anything important there is hidden on almost every video.
- Hover icons, top right. On desktop, icons like “Watch later” and “Add to queue” appear in the top right corner when someone points at the thumbnail.
- Progress bar, bottom edge. A red line along the bottom shows how much of a video a viewer has already watched.
- Rounded corners. The corners are cut slightly, so very small details in the corners can be clipped.
Where to put faces and text
- Keep the bottom right clear. Put the main subject left of center or in the middle, and text at the left or top.
- Leave a margin of about 5 percent. It protects against rounded corners and crops.
- Keep text short and large. It has to stay readable at around 168 pixels wide.
- Use the guide template. Download the transparent PNG and place it as the top layer in your design tool. Hide it before you export.
Frequently asked questions
Where does YouTube put the timestamp on a thumbnail?
In the bottom right corner, in a small dark box with the video length. Keep important details out of that corner.
Are the guides exact?
They are close approximations. YouTube changes sizes and positions by device and over time. Use the red areas as a practical guide.
Can I use the guide in Photoshop, Canva or Figma?
Yes. Download the guide template, a transparent 1280 × 720 PNG, and place it as the top layer in your design. Hide or delete it before exporting your thumbnail.
Do Shorts have the same safe zone?
No. Shorts use vertical covers and a different interface. This tool is for standard 16:9 video thumbnails.
Is my image uploaded?
No. It is drawn in your browser and never sent to a server.
Why check small sizes?
Most viewers see your thumbnail at a few hundred pixels wide or less. Text that looks fine in your editor can be unreadable at 168 pixels.