Use case
Vertical thumbnails for YouTube Shorts, Reels and TikTok
Shorts covers show up on your channel page, in search and in the Shorts shelf. A clean 9:16 cover makes your channel look intentional and helps people pick a Short to watch.
What makes Shorts thumbnails get clicked
- Vertical 9:16 layout with the subject in the centre.
- Text in the middle third, away from the edges that get cropped or covered by UI.
- One big subject — vertical frames punish clutter even more than 16:9.
- A consistent series style so your Shorts grid looks good on your channel page.
YouTube Shorts thumbnail ideas to try
Big number
“3 seconds” or “$1” as the whole cover.
Face + word
Your reaction with a single word above it.
Series badge
Episode number in the same corner every time.
Object close-up
The product or food filling the frame.
How to make one with ThumbSpark
Set the project to 9:16 and describe the Short. The agent keeps important elements in the safe centre area. Read more in Shorts thumbnails explained.
- 1
Set up your agent
Create an AI agent with your Shorts style, colours and a few reference thumbnails.
- 2
Describe the video
Tell the agent the hook of the video — or import the transcript and let it find one.
- 3
Approve and generate
Review the proposal, approve it and generate. Ask for variations to compare options.
- 4
Tweak and export
Edit by asking until it’s right, then download and upload to YouTube.
Mistakes to avoid
- Reusing a 16:9 thumbnail and letting it crop badly.
- Text near the top or bottom edge.
- Every cover in a different style.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put my own face in Shorts thumbnails?
Yes. Add yourself once as a character and ask for the expression and pose you want in any project.
How much does a thumbnail cost?
Generations use credits based on their real AI cost, so a single thumbnail typically costs a few cents of credits. Try it with a one-time trial pack or pick a monthly plan — see pricing.
Make your next thumbnail in minutes
Tell the AI agent what your video is about — it proposes a thumbnail, you approve it, and you can tweak it by asking.
Keep exploring
YouTube Shorts thumbnails
How Shorts covers work, the right size, and how to design a clean Shorts grid.
Learn more →Thumbnail resizer
Resize any image to 1280×720, 1920×1080 or 9:16 Shorts — free, in your browser.
Learn more →Vlog thumbnails
Make vlog thumbnails that show the story and your personality.
Learn more →