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"2024 Approved The Science and Art Behind Powerful YouTube Thumbnails"
The Science and Art Behind Powerful YouTube Thumbnails
The Ultimate Guide to YouTube Thumbnails that Get Views
Richard Bennett
Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions
Search for any topic on YouTube and you’ll find thousands of videos. How do you decide which of them to watch? Thumbnails play a major role in what viewers decide to click on. They’re often more important than video titles.
Viewers click on thumbnails that both standout and feel relevant to their search. Your task when it comes to creating YouTube thumbnails is to make something that does both of those things while also maintaining your personal style.
- How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
- How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
- YouTube Thumbnail Makers
- How to Make Thumbnails that Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
- Animated YouTube Thumbnails
Part 1: How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
In order to create a custom video thumbnail, you’ll need a program to put it together in. You can use an image editing program like Photoshop if you have one, but if you don’t you can check out these free thumbnail makers.
Here are some examples of popular thumbnail styles.
1. The Classic Thumbnail (Photo or Screenshot)
A photo that shows what happens in your video – whether that means the finished ‘look’ from your makeup tutorial or you posing in front of the landmark you shot your travel vlog in front of – is a great way to let viewers know what to expect. While curiosity can be a big motive behind clicking on a video thumbnail (or anything online), when people have searched for a specific topic they want to be convinced that your video has what they’re looking for.
#1. Choose Your Photo
To start off, either choose a still frame from your video or take a photograph while you’re still set up from your video. A separate photograph is usually a better idea because your video editor might not be able to export a high-quality snapshot, and also because you’re able to choose your facial expression.
Aim to make this shot a close-up or medium close-up and make sure you’re either in the center of the screen or off to one side, as per the ‘rule of thirds’. Many cameras allow you to bring an optional grid up onto your viewfinder. This will divide your screen into three equal segments both vertically and horizontally. Try to make sure your eyes line up with the top line, and if you’re going to be off to one side then make sure you’re on one of the vertical lines. This will ensure your image is visually appealing.
If you want to add text later, it’s a good idea to be off to one side.
Including your face is important for most types of YouTube videos. People are attracted to eye contact and are more likely to click on thumbnails that feature a face. Gamers might choose to use a picture of a video game character instead and it will have the same effect.
Some situations where it isn’t essential to include your face include tech reviews, where viewers will be more interested in seeing the product, and cooking videos where people are looking to be tempted by a yummy food pic.
#2. Add Text and/or Images
This part isn’t essential – in some cases, a photo is enough – but a lot of the thumbnails for the videos ranked highest in YouTube’s search results include either a couple of words of text, a simple graphic (i.e. an emoji), or both.
In some cases you might use text to make it clear what type of video you’ve made, i.e. ‘review’ or ‘tutorial’. It’s best to keep any text you use brief, but you could get a bit more descriptive and write something like ‘fall makeup tutorial’. Three words is probably the most you can get away with. Remember that your text will be shrunk down with the rest of your image; you need to make it big enough to read easily once it’s shrunk, and that means you don’t have a ton of room for text.
You should also avoid fonts that are harder to read. Fonts with a lot of curves can be harder to read, and you want to make sure you choose a color that stands out from your background. Yellow might work against black, but it probably won’t work against the beige wall of your sunny bedroom. Sans serif fonts tend to be best.
Another tactic used in successful thumbnails is to add small graphics, like emojis or small images (i.e. pumpkins for a Halloween video), which are related to your video’s content. As with text, you don’t want to overload your thumbnail with images, but they’re a great way to add something eye-catching that’s a bit different from competing thumbnails.
2. The Emotional Laser (Background + Face Reacting)
One increasingly popular style of YouTube thumbnail is what we’re going to call the ‘Emotional Laser’. It’s bright (like, blindingly bright), it communicates a clear feeling, and it creates high expectations for how exciting the video’s content is going to be.
The three main elements of the Emotional Laser thumbnail are a background (usually bright), your face on the right wearing an over-pronounced expression, and either the thing your expression is in reaction to (i.e. food, a product, the topic of your video in text) or reinforcement of your emotion (i.e an emoji or question marks) on the left.
#1. Ham It Up (Take Your Reaction Photo)
Take a high-quality photograph of yourself conveying strong emotion. Generally, you want to look extremely excited, disgusted, angry, or shocked depending on the theme of the video.
If there’s an object you want to include in your thumbnail, like a product you’ll be talking about, then it’s a good idea to hold it for this photo. Hold it to one side of your head, turn towards it slightly (but not so much that the camera can only see the side of your face) and put on the expression that’s supposed to be a reaction to the object.
It can be a good idea to take this photo in front of a solid color so you can remove the background easily with chroma key.
#2. Choose Your Background
Your background might be scenery, a solid color, or even the room you filmed the video in. Light or bright colors are popular. Make sure there’s nothing that will distract from your expression. If your background is a room, or anything else where there could be things like pictures hanging, you may want to add a blur effect in the next step.
#3. Put It Together
In your thumbnail maker or a program like Photoshop, you’ll need to put your photo and your background together. This will work differently depending on what program you use. If your program has a chroma key tool and your reaction photo was taken against a solid color then you can make that solid color transparent.
What if I don’t have a separate background? If you don’t have a background you want to use, but you still want your reaction to stand out the same way it would if you did, then you can use your photo editor’s blur tool to turn the normal background of your photo into something you can pop-out from.
#4. Add Extras (Text, Emojis, etc.)
If instead of an object you plan to fill the other side of your thumbnail with text, question marks, emojis, or some other graphic element then now is the time to add it.
Part 2: How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
When you upload a new video to YouTube, you will see a Custom thumbnail option under Video thumbnails after your upload is complete.
If you want to add a custom thumbnail to a video that’s already up, that’s easy too.
- Go to your Video Manager in the Creator Studio.
- Find the video you want to change the thumbnail for and click Edit next to it.
- Click Custom thumbnail on the right of the preview screen.
- Upload your thumbnail and click Save changes.
Remember when you’re uploading custom thumbnails that you need to use a .JPG, .GIF, .BMP, or .PNG image with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and that your file size has to be under 2MB.
YouTube recommends that thumbnail images have a resolution of 1280x720px, and you cannot upload an image with a width of less than 640 pixels.
Make sure that all of your thumbnails adhere to YouTube’s Community guidelines. Anything sexually suggestive, violent, or otherwise graphic could result in your video being age-restricted.
Part 3: YouTube Thumbnail Makers
You don’t have to go out and buy a photo editor like Photoshop to make custom video thumbnails (although it’s a good thing to use if you already have it). Here are two free online programs you can use instead:
Canva is an intuitive option with templates for Thumbnails, Channel Art, and other social media graphics. There are stock photos and graphics provided, but not all of them are free (paid options cost $1 each). Canva’s templates do tend to include paid resources, so you may want to use them mostly for their layouts or as inspiration and replace everything they provide with your own images.
Generally, using Canva is as easy as dragging and dropping things where you want them. You’ll be able to set the dimensions for your project so the image you export is a perfect size. Adding text and changing the size, font, or color is easy too.
Adobe Spark also has templates for channel art, and it’s also very easy to use. The first time you use it helpful notes will pop up to guide you through the process. Using templates is especially simple because you just click on the elements in the pre-made thumbnail and replace them with your own photos/text.
You can make changes to the colors in your Spark thumbnail easily by selecting a new color scheme or filter. You can even toggle through layouts easily. When you choose a new layout, Spark will rearrange all the pieces of your current thumbnail to align with the new layout so you can quickly see what it looks like instead of having to rebuild.
Click to check more YouTube thumbnail makers
Part 4: How to Make Thumbnails That Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
Here are the top 10 best practices for creating effective YouTube thumbnails:
#1. Show What Your Video Is About
Being mysterious and clickbaity can get you views, if you’re already big. For small YouTubers, it pays off to be clear about your video’s topic. You want people to click who want to watch the actual content of your video. Even if you manage to get some clicks by being mysterious, you’ll probably end up with low viewer retention because people are clicking away when they realize your video isn’t what they were looking for. That will make YouTube’s algorithm rank your video lower, and then even fewer people will find it.
If your video is a product review, show the product in the thumbnail and maybe even write ‘review’ on it. If your video is a makeup tutorial, show your face with the finished makeup and maybe even include pictures of the products you used. People want to know what they’re clicking on before they click.
#2. Use a Consistent Layout
As you grow, you’ll want people to be able to see one of your thumbnails and instantly know it’s yours. Building a recognizable brand is about consistency. Try to stick with one basic layout for all of your videos. You can still customize every individual thumbnail by using different facial expressions and different graphics, but try to use similar backgrounds, fonts, and general layouts (i.e. you to the right of the thumbnails, text to the left) over and over.
#3. Use Your Face
Why should people want to watch your videos? If the answer is ‘because I can teach them to create delicious food’ or ‘because they want to learn about the latest iPhone’ then your thumbnail should include that food or that iPhone.
If part of the reason people want to watch your videos is you – your personality and your sense of humor – then you should be in your thumbnail.
Viewers who are on YouTube because they like seeing a creator’s personality like to feel the presence of that personality in the video thumbnail, and eye contact naturally draws attention and clicks.
#4. Add Small Graphics
Adding small graphics, like emojis or hearts, to your thumbnail can help you stand out in a couple different ways. First, if they’re being compared to thumbnails that are just screenshots from the video, your thumbnails will look a lot more polished. Second, they’ll add a splash of color which can draw eyes to your video in a search where other thumbnails are not using those same colors.
#5. Your Text Should Be Huge
Your thumbnail will end up being a fraction of the size it is while you’re creating it in your thumbnail maker, and that means that any text you use will end up being shrunk down. You could probably type a six-word sentence in a size 18 font and have it look fine while you’re making your thumbnail, but after you upload it there’s no way people will be able to read it at a glance.
Aim for a huge font size, and 3 words or less (so your thumbnail doesn’t end up looking crowded).
#6. Check Out The Competition
Type your video’s title or topic into the search engine on YouTube and look at the thumbnails for the videos that come up. These are your competition. You want to make a thumbnail that is similar enough to what comes up that viewers know it’s on the same topic, but different enough that it stands out.
Generally, if most of the thumbnails have the same layout, you’ll want to mimic that layout. Where you can break from the crowd is in the colors, fonts, and graphics you use.
Part 5: Animated YouTube Thumbnails
Whether or not you upload a custom thumbnail to YouTube, YouTube’s A.I will choose what it thinks are the 3 juiciest seconds of your video (you cannot choose for yourself) and play them as a GIF-like animation when people mouseover your video thumbnails.
As of now, this only works in the Google Chrome desktop browser. Videos have to be at least 30 seconds long to get moving thumbnails.
Alright, now that you know everything about YouTube thumbnails, go make one! Tell us in the comments what you’re going to do to make your video thumbnails stand out.
Touch Up YouTube Videos with Effects & Elements in Filmora
As one of the most widely used video editing software in YouTube video editing, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface. Download the free trial version and get started now.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions
Search for any topic on YouTube and you’ll find thousands of videos. How do you decide which of them to watch? Thumbnails play a major role in what viewers decide to click on. They’re often more important than video titles.
Viewers click on thumbnails that both standout and feel relevant to their search. Your task when it comes to creating YouTube thumbnails is to make something that does both of those things while also maintaining your personal style.
- How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
- How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
- YouTube Thumbnail Makers
- How to Make Thumbnails that Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
- Animated YouTube Thumbnails
Part 1: How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
In order to create a custom video thumbnail, you’ll need a program to put it together in. You can use an image editing program like Photoshop if you have one, but if you don’t you can check out these free thumbnail makers.
Here are some examples of popular thumbnail styles.
1. The Classic Thumbnail (Photo or Screenshot)
A photo that shows what happens in your video – whether that means the finished ‘look’ from your makeup tutorial or you posing in front of the landmark you shot your travel vlog in front of – is a great way to let viewers know what to expect. While curiosity can be a big motive behind clicking on a video thumbnail (or anything online), when people have searched for a specific topic they want to be convinced that your video has what they’re looking for.
#1. Choose Your Photo
To start off, either choose a still frame from your video or take a photograph while you’re still set up from your video. A separate photograph is usually a better idea because your video editor might not be able to export a high-quality snapshot, and also because you’re able to choose your facial expression.
Aim to make this shot a close-up or medium close-up and make sure you’re either in the center of the screen or off to one side, as per the ‘rule of thirds’. Many cameras allow you to bring an optional grid up onto your viewfinder. This will divide your screen into three equal segments both vertically and horizontally. Try to make sure your eyes line up with the top line, and if you’re going to be off to one side then make sure you’re on one of the vertical lines. This will ensure your image is visually appealing.
If you want to add text later, it’s a good idea to be off to one side.
Including your face is important for most types of YouTube videos. People are attracted to eye contact and are more likely to click on thumbnails that feature a face. Gamers might choose to use a picture of a video game character instead and it will have the same effect.
Some situations where it isn’t essential to include your face include tech reviews, where viewers will be more interested in seeing the product, and cooking videos where people are looking to be tempted by a yummy food pic.
#2. Add Text and/or Images
This part isn’t essential – in some cases, a photo is enough – but a lot of the thumbnails for the videos ranked highest in YouTube’s search results include either a couple of words of text, a simple graphic (i.e. an emoji), or both.
In some cases you might use text to make it clear what type of video you’ve made, i.e. ‘review’ or ‘tutorial’. It’s best to keep any text you use brief, but you could get a bit more descriptive and write something like ‘fall makeup tutorial’. Three words is probably the most you can get away with. Remember that your text will be shrunk down with the rest of your image; you need to make it big enough to read easily once it’s shrunk, and that means you don’t have a ton of room for text.
You should also avoid fonts that are harder to read. Fonts with a lot of curves can be harder to read, and you want to make sure you choose a color that stands out from your background. Yellow might work against black, but it probably won’t work against the beige wall of your sunny bedroom. Sans serif fonts tend to be best.
Another tactic used in successful thumbnails is to add small graphics, like emojis or small images (i.e. pumpkins for a Halloween video), which are related to your video’s content. As with text, you don’t want to overload your thumbnail with images, but they’re a great way to add something eye-catching that’s a bit different from competing thumbnails.
2. The Emotional Laser (Background + Face Reacting)
One increasingly popular style of YouTube thumbnail is what we’re going to call the ‘Emotional Laser’. It’s bright (like, blindingly bright), it communicates a clear feeling, and it creates high expectations for how exciting the video’s content is going to be.
The three main elements of the Emotional Laser thumbnail are a background (usually bright), your face on the right wearing an over-pronounced expression, and either the thing your expression is in reaction to (i.e. food, a product, the topic of your video in text) or reinforcement of your emotion (i.e an emoji or question marks) on the left.
#1. Ham It Up (Take Your Reaction Photo)
Take a high-quality photograph of yourself conveying strong emotion. Generally, you want to look extremely excited, disgusted, angry, or shocked depending on the theme of the video.
If there’s an object you want to include in your thumbnail, like a product you’ll be talking about, then it’s a good idea to hold it for this photo. Hold it to one side of your head, turn towards it slightly (but not so much that the camera can only see the side of your face) and put on the expression that’s supposed to be a reaction to the object.
It can be a good idea to take this photo in front of a solid color so you can remove the background easily with chroma key.
#2. Choose Your Background
Your background might be scenery, a solid color, or even the room you filmed the video in. Light or bright colors are popular. Make sure there’s nothing that will distract from your expression. If your background is a room, or anything else where there could be things like pictures hanging, you may want to add a blur effect in the next step.
#3. Put It Together
In your thumbnail maker or a program like Photoshop, you’ll need to put your photo and your background together. This will work differently depending on what program you use. If your program has a chroma key tool and your reaction photo was taken against a solid color then you can make that solid color transparent.
What if I don’t have a separate background? If you don’t have a background you want to use, but you still want your reaction to stand out the same way it would if you did, then you can use your photo editor’s blur tool to turn the normal background of your photo into something you can pop-out from.
#4. Add Extras (Text, Emojis, etc.)
If instead of an object you plan to fill the other side of your thumbnail with text, question marks, emojis, or some other graphic element then now is the time to add it.
Part 2: How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
When you upload a new video to YouTube, you will see a Custom thumbnail option under Video thumbnails after your upload is complete.
If you want to add a custom thumbnail to a video that’s already up, that’s easy too.
- Go to your Video Manager in the Creator Studio.
- Find the video you want to change the thumbnail for and click Edit next to it.
- Click Custom thumbnail on the right of the preview screen.
- Upload your thumbnail and click Save changes.
Remember when you’re uploading custom thumbnails that you need to use a .JPG, .GIF, .BMP, or .PNG image with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and that your file size has to be under 2MB.
YouTube recommends that thumbnail images have a resolution of 1280x720px, and you cannot upload an image with a width of less than 640 pixels.
Make sure that all of your thumbnails adhere to YouTube’s Community guidelines. Anything sexually suggestive, violent, or otherwise graphic could result in your video being age-restricted.
Part 3: YouTube Thumbnail Makers
You don’t have to go out and buy a photo editor like Photoshop to make custom video thumbnails (although it’s a good thing to use if you already have it). Here are two free online programs you can use instead:
Canva is an intuitive option with templates for Thumbnails, Channel Art, and other social media graphics. There are stock photos and graphics provided, but not all of them are free (paid options cost $1 each). Canva’s templates do tend to include paid resources, so you may want to use them mostly for their layouts or as inspiration and replace everything they provide with your own images.
Generally, using Canva is as easy as dragging and dropping things where you want them. You’ll be able to set the dimensions for your project so the image you export is a perfect size. Adding text and changing the size, font, or color is easy too.
Adobe Spark also has templates for channel art, and it’s also very easy to use. The first time you use it helpful notes will pop up to guide you through the process. Using templates is especially simple because you just click on the elements in the pre-made thumbnail and replace them with your own photos/text.
You can make changes to the colors in your Spark thumbnail easily by selecting a new color scheme or filter. You can even toggle through layouts easily. When you choose a new layout, Spark will rearrange all the pieces of your current thumbnail to align with the new layout so you can quickly see what it looks like instead of having to rebuild.
Click to check more YouTube thumbnail makers
Part 4: How to Make Thumbnails That Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
Here are the top 10 best practices for creating effective YouTube thumbnails:
#1. Show What Your Video Is About
Being mysterious and clickbaity can get you views, if you’re already big. For small YouTubers, it pays off to be clear about your video’s topic. You want people to click who want to watch the actual content of your video. Even if you manage to get some clicks by being mysterious, you’ll probably end up with low viewer retention because people are clicking away when they realize your video isn’t what they were looking for. That will make YouTube’s algorithm rank your video lower, and then even fewer people will find it.
If your video is a product review, show the product in the thumbnail and maybe even write ‘review’ on it. If your video is a makeup tutorial, show your face with the finished makeup and maybe even include pictures of the products you used. People want to know what they’re clicking on before they click.
#2. Use a Consistent Layout
As you grow, you’ll want people to be able to see one of your thumbnails and instantly know it’s yours. Building a recognizable brand is about consistency. Try to stick with one basic layout for all of your videos. You can still customize every individual thumbnail by using different facial expressions and different graphics, but try to use similar backgrounds, fonts, and general layouts (i.e. you to the right of the thumbnails, text to the left) over and over.
#3. Use Your Face
Why should people want to watch your videos? If the answer is ‘because I can teach them to create delicious food’ or ‘because they want to learn about the latest iPhone’ then your thumbnail should include that food or that iPhone.
If part of the reason people want to watch your videos is you – your personality and your sense of humor – then you should be in your thumbnail.
Viewers who are on YouTube because they like seeing a creator’s personality like to feel the presence of that personality in the video thumbnail, and eye contact naturally draws attention and clicks.
#4. Add Small Graphics
Adding small graphics, like emojis or hearts, to your thumbnail can help you stand out in a couple different ways. First, if they’re being compared to thumbnails that are just screenshots from the video, your thumbnails will look a lot more polished. Second, they’ll add a splash of color which can draw eyes to your video in a search where other thumbnails are not using those same colors.
#5. Your Text Should Be Huge
Your thumbnail will end up being a fraction of the size it is while you’re creating it in your thumbnail maker, and that means that any text you use will end up being shrunk down. You could probably type a six-word sentence in a size 18 font and have it look fine while you’re making your thumbnail, but after you upload it there’s no way people will be able to read it at a glance.
Aim for a huge font size, and 3 words or less (so your thumbnail doesn’t end up looking crowded).
#6. Check Out The Competition
Type your video’s title or topic into the search engine on YouTube and look at the thumbnails for the videos that come up. These are your competition. You want to make a thumbnail that is similar enough to what comes up that viewers know it’s on the same topic, but different enough that it stands out.
Generally, if most of the thumbnails have the same layout, you’ll want to mimic that layout. Where you can break from the crowd is in the colors, fonts, and graphics you use.
Part 5: Animated YouTube Thumbnails
Whether or not you upload a custom thumbnail to YouTube, YouTube’s A.I will choose what it thinks are the 3 juiciest seconds of your video (you cannot choose for yourself) and play them as a GIF-like animation when people mouseover your video thumbnails.
As of now, this only works in the Google Chrome desktop browser. Videos have to be at least 30 seconds long to get moving thumbnails.
Alright, now that you know everything about YouTube thumbnails, go make one! Tell us in the comments what you’re going to do to make your video thumbnails stand out.
Touch Up YouTube Videos with Effects & Elements in Filmora
As one of the most widely used video editing software in YouTube video editing, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface. Download the free trial version and get started now.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions
Search for any topic on YouTube and you’ll find thousands of videos. How do you decide which of them to watch? Thumbnails play a major role in what viewers decide to click on. They’re often more important than video titles.
Viewers click on thumbnails that both standout and feel relevant to their search. Your task when it comes to creating YouTube thumbnails is to make something that does both of those things while also maintaining your personal style.
- How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
- How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
- YouTube Thumbnail Makers
- How to Make Thumbnails that Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
- Animated YouTube Thumbnails
Part 1: How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
In order to create a custom video thumbnail, you’ll need a program to put it together in. You can use an image editing program like Photoshop if you have one, but if you don’t you can check out these free thumbnail makers.
Here are some examples of popular thumbnail styles.
1. The Classic Thumbnail (Photo or Screenshot)
A photo that shows what happens in your video – whether that means the finished ‘look’ from your makeup tutorial or you posing in front of the landmark you shot your travel vlog in front of – is a great way to let viewers know what to expect. While curiosity can be a big motive behind clicking on a video thumbnail (or anything online), when people have searched for a specific topic they want to be convinced that your video has what they’re looking for.
#1. Choose Your Photo
To start off, either choose a still frame from your video or take a photograph while you’re still set up from your video. A separate photograph is usually a better idea because your video editor might not be able to export a high-quality snapshot, and also because you’re able to choose your facial expression.
Aim to make this shot a close-up or medium close-up and make sure you’re either in the center of the screen or off to one side, as per the ‘rule of thirds’. Many cameras allow you to bring an optional grid up onto your viewfinder. This will divide your screen into three equal segments both vertically and horizontally. Try to make sure your eyes line up with the top line, and if you’re going to be off to one side then make sure you’re on one of the vertical lines. This will ensure your image is visually appealing.
If you want to add text later, it’s a good idea to be off to one side.
Including your face is important for most types of YouTube videos. People are attracted to eye contact and are more likely to click on thumbnails that feature a face. Gamers might choose to use a picture of a video game character instead and it will have the same effect.
Some situations where it isn’t essential to include your face include tech reviews, where viewers will be more interested in seeing the product, and cooking videos where people are looking to be tempted by a yummy food pic.
#2. Add Text and/or Images
This part isn’t essential – in some cases, a photo is enough – but a lot of the thumbnails for the videos ranked highest in YouTube’s search results include either a couple of words of text, a simple graphic (i.e. an emoji), or both.
In some cases you might use text to make it clear what type of video you’ve made, i.e. ‘review’ or ‘tutorial’. It’s best to keep any text you use brief, but you could get a bit more descriptive and write something like ‘fall makeup tutorial’. Three words is probably the most you can get away with. Remember that your text will be shrunk down with the rest of your image; you need to make it big enough to read easily once it’s shrunk, and that means you don’t have a ton of room for text.
You should also avoid fonts that are harder to read. Fonts with a lot of curves can be harder to read, and you want to make sure you choose a color that stands out from your background. Yellow might work against black, but it probably won’t work against the beige wall of your sunny bedroom. Sans serif fonts tend to be best.
Another tactic used in successful thumbnails is to add small graphics, like emojis or small images (i.e. pumpkins for a Halloween video), which are related to your video’s content. As with text, you don’t want to overload your thumbnail with images, but they’re a great way to add something eye-catching that’s a bit different from competing thumbnails.
2. The Emotional Laser (Background + Face Reacting)
One increasingly popular style of YouTube thumbnail is what we’re going to call the ‘Emotional Laser’. It’s bright (like, blindingly bright), it communicates a clear feeling, and it creates high expectations for how exciting the video’s content is going to be.
The three main elements of the Emotional Laser thumbnail are a background (usually bright), your face on the right wearing an over-pronounced expression, and either the thing your expression is in reaction to (i.e. food, a product, the topic of your video in text) or reinforcement of your emotion (i.e an emoji or question marks) on the left.
#1. Ham It Up (Take Your Reaction Photo)
Take a high-quality photograph of yourself conveying strong emotion. Generally, you want to look extremely excited, disgusted, angry, or shocked depending on the theme of the video.
If there’s an object you want to include in your thumbnail, like a product you’ll be talking about, then it’s a good idea to hold it for this photo. Hold it to one side of your head, turn towards it slightly (but not so much that the camera can only see the side of your face) and put on the expression that’s supposed to be a reaction to the object.
It can be a good idea to take this photo in front of a solid color so you can remove the background easily with chroma key.
#2. Choose Your Background
Your background might be scenery, a solid color, or even the room you filmed the video in. Light or bright colors are popular. Make sure there’s nothing that will distract from your expression. If your background is a room, or anything else where there could be things like pictures hanging, you may want to add a blur effect in the next step.
#3. Put It Together
In your thumbnail maker or a program like Photoshop, you’ll need to put your photo and your background together. This will work differently depending on what program you use. If your program has a chroma key tool and your reaction photo was taken against a solid color then you can make that solid color transparent.
What if I don’t have a separate background? If you don’t have a background you want to use, but you still want your reaction to stand out the same way it would if you did, then you can use your photo editor’s blur tool to turn the normal background of your photo into something you can pop-out from.
#4. Add Extras (Text, Emojis, etc.)
If instead of an object you plan to fill the other side of your thumbnail with text, question marks, emojis, or some other graphic element then now is the time to add it.
Part 2: How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
When you upload a new video to YouTube, you will see a Custom thumbnail option under Video thumbnails after your upload is complete.
If you want to add a custom thumbnail to a video that’s already up, that’s easy too.
- Go to your Video Manager in the Creator Studio.
- Find the video you want to change the thumbnail for and click Edit next to it.
- Click Custom thumbnail on the right of the preview screen.
- Upload your thumbnail and click Save changes.
Remember when you’re uploading custom thumbnails that you need to use a .JPG, .GIF, .BMP, or .PNG image with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and that your file size has to be under 2MB.
YouTube recommends that thumbnail images have a resolution of 1280x720px, and you cannot upload an image with a width of less than 640 pixels.
Make sure that all of your thumbnails adhere to YouTube’s Community guidelines. Anything sexually suggestive, violent, or otherwise graphic could result in your video being age-restricted.
Part 3: YouTube Thumbnail Makers
You don’t have to go out and buy a photo editor like Photoshop to make custom video thumbnails (although it’s a good thing to use if you already have it). Here are two free online programs you can use instead:
Canva is an intuitive option with templates for Thumbnails, Channel Art, and other social media graphics. There are stock photos and graphics provided, but not all of them are free (paid options cost $1 each). Canva’s templates do tend to include paid resources, so you may want to use them mostly for their layouts or as inspiration and replace everything they provide with your own images.
Generally, using Canva is as easy as dragging and dropping things where you want them. You’ll be able to set the dimensions for your project so the image you export is a perfect size. Adding text and changing the size, font, or color is easy too.
Adobe Spark also has templates for channel art, and it’s also very easy to use. The first time you use it helpful notes will pop up to guide you through the process. Using templates is especially simple because you just click on the elements in the pre-made thumbnail and replace them with your own photos/text.
You can make changes to the colors in your Spark thumbnail easily by selecting a new color scheme or filter. You can even toggle through layouts easily. When you choose a new layout, Spark will rearrange all the pieces of your current thumbnail to align with the new layout so you can quickly see what it looks like instead of having to rebuild.
Click to check more YouTube thumbnail makers
Part 4: How to Make Thumbnails That Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
Here are the top 10 best practices for creating effective YouTube thumbnails:
#1. Show What Your Video Is About
Being mysterious and clickbaity can get you views, if you’re already big. For small YouTubers, it pays off to be clear about your video’s topic. You want people to click who want to watch the actual content of your video. Even if you manage to get some clicks by being mysterious, you’ll probably end up with low viewer retention because people are clicking away when they realize your video isn’t what they were looking for. That will make YouTube’s algorithm rank your video lower, and then even fewer people will find it.
If your video is a product review, show the product in the thumbnail and maybe even write ‘review’ on it. If your video is a makeup tutorial, show your face with the finished makeup and maybe even include pictures of the products you used. People want to know what they’re clicking on before they click.
#2. Use a Consistent Layout
As you grow, you’ll want people to be able to see one of your thumbnails and instantly know it’s yours. Building a recognizable brand is about consistency. Try to stick with one basic layout for all of your videos. You can still customize every individual thumbnail by using different facial expressions and different graphics, but try to use similar backgrounds, fonts, and general layouts (i.e. you to the right of the thumbnails, text to the left) over and over.
#3. Use Your Face
Why should people want to watch your videos? If the answer is ‘because I can teach them to create delicious food’ or ‘because they want to learn about the latest iPhone’ then your thumbnail should include that food or that iPhone.
If part of the reason people want to watch your videos is you – your personality and your sense of humor – then you should be in your thumbnail.
Viewers who are on YouTube because they like seeing a creator’s personality like to feel the presence of that personality in the video thumbnail, and eye contact naturally draws attention and clicks.
#4. Add Small Graphics
Adding small graphics, like emojis or hearts, to your thumbnail can help you stand out in a couple different ways. First, if they’re being compared to thumbnails that are just screenshots from the video, your thumbnails will look a lot more polished. Second, they’ll add a splash of color which can draw eyes to your video in a search where other thumbnails are not using those same colors.
#5. Your Text Should Be Huge
Your thumbnail will end up being a fraction of the size it is while you’re creating it in your thumbnail maker, and that means that any text you use will end up being shrunk down. You could probably type a six-word sentence in a size 18 font and have it look fine while you’re making your thumbnail, but after you upload it there’s no way people will be able to read it at a glance.
Aim for a huge font size, and 3 words or less (so your thumbnail doesn’t end up looking crowded).
#6. Check Out The Competition
Type your video’s title or topic into the search engine on YouTube and look at the thumbnails for the videos that come up. These are your competition. You want to make a thumbnail that is similar enough to what comes up that viewers know it’s on the same topic, but different enough that it stands out.
Generally, if most of the thumbnails have the same layout, you’ll want to mimic that layout. Where you can break from the crowd is in the colors, fonts, and graphics you use.
Part 5: Animated YouTube Thumbnails
Whether or not you upload a custom thumbnail to YouTube, YouTube’s A.I will choose what it thinks are the 3 juiciest seconds of your video (you cannot choose for yourself) and play them as a GIF-like animation when people mouseover your video thumbnails.
As of now, this only works in the Google Chrome desktop browser. Videos have to be at least 30 seconds long to get moving thumbnails.
Alright, now that you know everything about YouTube thumbnails, go make one! Tell us in the comments what you’re going to do to make your video thumbnails stand out.
Touch Up YouTube Videos with Effects & Elements in Filmora
As one of the most widely used video editing software in YouTube video editing, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface. Download the free trial version and get started now.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions
Search for any topic on YouTube and you’ll find thousands of videos. How do you decide which of them to watch? Thumbnails play a major role in what viewers decide to click on. They’re often more important than video titles.
Viewers click on thumbnails that both standout and feel relevant to their search. Your task when it comes to creating YouTube thumbnails is to make something that does both of those things while also maintaining your personal style.
- How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
- How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
- YouTube Thumbnail Makers
- How to Make Thumbnails that Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
- Animated YouTube Thumbnails
Part 1: How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
In order to create a custom video thumbnail, you’ll need a program to put it together in. You can use an image editing program like Photoshop if you have one, but if you don’t you can check out these free thumbnail makers.
Here are some examples of popular thumbnail styles.
1. The Classic Thumbnail (Photo or Screenshot)
A photo that shows what happens in your video – whether that means the finished ‘look’ from your makeup tutorial or you posing in front of the landmark you shot your travel vlog in front of – is a great way to let viewers know what to expect. While curiosity can be a big motive behind clicking on a video thumbnail (or anything online), when people have searched for a specific topic they want to be convinced that your video has what they’re looking for.
#1. Choose Your Photo
To start off, either choose a still frame from your video or take a photograph while you’re still set up from your video. A separate photograph is usually a better idea because your video editor might not be able to export a high-quality snapshot, and also because you’re able to choose your facial expression.
Aim to make this shot a close-up or medium close-up and make sure you’re either in the center of the screen or off to one side, as per the ‘rule of thirds’. Many cameras allow you to bring an optional grid up onto your viewfinder. This will divide your screen into three equal segments both vertically and horizontally. Try to make sure your eyes line up with the top line, and if you’re going to be off to one side then make sure you’re on one of the vertical lines. This will ensure your image is visually appealing.
If you want to add text later, it’s a good idea to be off to one side.
Including your face is important for most types of YouTube videos. People are attracted to eye contact and are more likely to click on thumbnails that feature a face. Gamers might choose to use a picture of a video game character instead and it will have the same effect.
Some situations where it isn’t essential to include your face include tech reviews, where viewers will be more interested in seeing the product, and cooking videos where people are looking to be tempted by a yummy food pic.
#2. Add Text and/or Images
This part isn’t essential – in some cases, a photo is enough – but a lot of the thumbnails for the videos ranked highest in YouTube’s search results include either a couple of words of text, a simple graphic (i.e. an emoji), or both.
In some cases you might use text to make it clear what type of video you’ve made, i.e. ‘review’ or ‘tutorial’. It’s best to keep any text you use brief, but you could get a bit more descriptive and write something like ‘fall makeup tutorial’. Three words is probably the most you can get away with. Remember that your text will be shrunk down with the rest of your image; you need to make it big enough to read easily once it’s shrunk, and that means you don’t have a ton of room for text.
You should also avoid fonts that are harder to read. Fonts with a lot of curves can be harder to read, and you want to make sure you choose a color that stands out from your background. Yellow might work against black, but it probably won’t work against the beige wall of your sunny bedroom. Sans serif fonts tend to be best.
Another tactic used in successful thumbnails is to add small graphics, like emojis or small images (i.e. pumpkins for a Halloween video), which are related to your video’s content. As with text, you don’t want to overload your thumbnail with images, but they’re a great way to add something eye-catching that’s a bit different from competing thumbnails.
2. The Emotional Laser (Background + Face Reacting)
One increasingly popular style of YouTube thumbnail is what we’re going to call the ‘Emotional Laser’. It’s bright (like, blindingly bright), it communicates a clear feeling, and it creates high expectations for how exciting the video’s content is going to be.
The three main elements of the Emotional Laser thumbnail are a background (usually bright), your face on the right wearing an over-pronounced expression, and either the thing your expression is in reaction to (i.e. food, a product, the topic of your video in text) or reinforcement of your emotion (i.e an emoji or question marks) on the left.
#1. Ham It Up (Take Your Reaction Photo)
Take a high-quality photograph of yourself conveying strong emotion. Generally, you want to look extremely excited, disgusted, angry, or shocked depending on the theme of the video.
If there’s an object you want to include in your thumbnail, like a product you’ll be talking about, then it’s a good idea to hold it for this photo. Hold it to one side of your head, turn towards it slightly (but not so much that the camera can only see the side of your face) and put on the expression that’s supposed to be a reaction to the object.
It can be a good idea to take this photo in front of a solid color so you can remove the background easily with chroma key.
#2. Choose Your Background
Your background might be scenery, a solid color, or even the room you filmed the video in. Light or bright colors are popular. Make sure there’s nothing that will distract from your expression. If your background is a room, or anything else where there could be things like pictures hanging, you may want to add a blur effect in the next step.
#3. Put It Together
In your thumbnail maker or a program like Photoshop, you’ll need to put your photo and your background together. This will work differently depending on what program you use. If your program has a chroma key tool and your reaction photo was taken against a solid color then you can make that solid color transparent.
What if I don’t have a separate background? If you don’t have a background you want to use, but you still want your reaction to stand out the same way it would if you did, then you can use your photo editor’s blur tool to turn the normal background of your photo into something you can pop-out from.
#4. Add Extras (Text, Emojis, etc.)
If instead of an object you plan to fill the other side of your thumbnail with text, question marks, emojis, or some other graphic element then now is the time to add it.
Part 2: How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
When you upload a new video to YouTube, you will see a Custom thumbnail option under Video thumbnails after your upload is complete.
If you want to add a custom thumbnail to a video that’s already up, that’s easy too.
- Go to your Video Manager in the Creator Studio.
- Find the video you want to change the thumbnail for and click Edit next to it.
- Click Custom thumbnail on the right of the preview screen.
- Upload your thumbnail and click Save changes.
Remember when you’re uploading custom thumbnails that you need to use a .JPG, .GIF, .BMP, or .PNG image with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and that your file size has to be under 2MB.
YouTube recommends that thumbnail images have a resolution of 1280x720px, and you cannot upload an image with a width of less than 640 pixels.
Make sure that all of your thumbnails adhere to YouTube’s Community guidelines. Anything sexually suggestive, violent, or otherwise graphic could result in your video being age-restricted.
Part 3: YouTube Thumbnail Makers
You don’t have to go out and buy a photo editor like Photoshop to make custom video thumbnails (although it’s a good thing to use if you already have it). Here are two free online programs you can use instead:
Canva is an intuitive option with templates for Thumbnails, Channel Art, and other social media graphics. There are stock photos and graphics provided, but not all of them are free (paid options cost $1 each). Canva’s templates do tend to include paid resources, so you may want to use them mostly for their layouts or as inspiration and replace everything they provide with your own images.
Generally, using Canva is as easy as dragging and dropping things where you want them. You’ll be able to set the dimensions for your project so the image you export is a perfect size. Adding text and changing the size, font, or color is easy too.
Adobe Spark also has templates for channel art, and it’s also very easy to use. The first time you use it helpful notes will pop up to guide you through the process. Using templates is especially simple because you just click on the elements in the pre-made thumbnail and replace them with your own photos/text.
You can make changes to the colors in your Spark thumbnail easily by selecting a new color scheme or filter. You can even toggle through layouts easily. When you choose a new layout, Spark will rearrange all the pieces of your current thumbnail to align with the new layout so you can quickly see what it looks like instead of having to rebuild.
Click to check more YouTube thumbnail makers
Part 4: How to Make Thumbnails That Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
Here are the top 10 best practices for creating effective YouTube thumbnails:
#1. Show What Your Video Is About
Being mysterious and clickbaity can get you views, if you’re already big. For small YouTubers, it pays off to be clear about your video’s topic. You want people to click who want to watch the actual content of your video. Even if you manage to get some clicks by being mysterious, you’ll probably end up with low viewer retention because people are clicking away when they realize your video isn’t what they were looking for. That will make YouTube’s algorithm rank your video lower, and then even fewer people will find it.
If your video is a product review, show the product in the thumbnail and maybe even write ‘review’ on it. If your video is a makeup tutorial, show your face with the finished makeup and maybe even include pictures of the products you used. People want to know what they’re clicking on before they click.
#2. Use a Consistent Layout
As you grow, you’ll want people to be able to see one of your thumbnails and instantly know it’s yours. Building a recognizable brand is about consistency. Try to stick with one basic layout for all of your videos. You can still customize every individual thumbnail by using different facial expressions and different graphics, but try to use similar backgrounds, fonts, and general layouts (i.e. you to the right of the thumbnails, text to the left) over and over.
#3. Use Your Face
Why should people want to watch your videos? If the answer is ‘because I can teach them to create delicious food’ or ‘because they want to learn about the latest iPhone’ then your thumbnail should include that food or that iPhone.
If part of the reason people want to watch your videos is you – your personality and your sense of humor – then you should be in your thumbnail.
Viewers who are on YouTube because they like seeing a creator’s personality like to feel the presence of that personality in the video thumbnail, and eye contact naturally draws attention and clicks.
#4. Add Small Graphics
Adding small graphics, like emojis or hearts, to your thumbnail can help you stand out in a couple different ways. First, if they’re being compared to thumbnails that are just screenshots from the video, your thumbnails will look a lot more polished. Second, they’ll add a splash of color which can draw eyes to your video in a search where other thumbnails are not using those same colors.
#5. Your Text Should Be Huge
Your thumbnail will end up being a fraction of the size it is while you’re creating it in your thumbnail maker, and that means that any text you use will end up being shrunk down. You could probably type a six-word sentence in a size 18 font and have it look fine while you’re making your thumbnail, but after you upload it there’s no way people will be able to read it at a glance.
Aim for a huge font size, and 3 words or less (so your thumbnail doesn’t end up looking crowded).
#6. Check Out The Competition
Type your video’s title or topic into the search engine on YouTube and look at the thumbnails for the videos that come up. These are your competition. You want to make a thumbnail that is similar enough to what comes up that viewers know it’s on the same topic, but different enough that it stands out.
Generally, if most of the thumbnails have the same layout, you’ll want to mimic that layout. Where you can break from the crowd is in the colors, fonts, and graphics you use.
Part 5: Animated YouTube Thumbnails
Whether or not you upload a custom thumbnail to YouTube, YouTube’s A.I will choose what it thinks are the 3 juiciest seconds of your video (you cannot choose for yourself) and play them as a GIF-like animation when people mouseover your video thumbnails.
As of now, this only works in the Google Chrome desktop browser. Videos have to be at least 30 seconds long to get moving thumbnails.
Alright, now that you know everything about YouTube thumbnails, go make one! Tell us in the comments what you’re going to do to make your video thumbnails stand out.
Touch Up YouTube Videos with Effects & Elements in Filmora
As one of the most widely used video editing software in YouTube video editing, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface. Download the free trial version and get started now.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Revolutionize Your Intellect with These 15 YT Channels
Versatile YouTube Video Editor - Filmora
An easy yet powerful editor
Numerous effects to choose from
Detailed tutorials provided by the official channel
A huge number of social media channels have now become a medium for sharing knowledge. The same is seen in the case of YouTube channels. More and more YouTube channels are now coming up with educational content that can help expand your knowledge. Here are some of the top science YouTube channels in 2024 that you can follow to expand your knowledge in the corresponding field.
In this article
01 15 Best Science YouTube Channels
02 How to Start Your Own Science Channel on YouTube?
Part 1: 15 Best Science YouTube Channels
Here are the top 15 science YouTube channels that cover a wide range of science topics, including physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, and so on.
1. minutephysics
If you are looking for the best physics YouTube channels, minutephysics should make your list. The channel tried to explain physics in a cool and understanding way. Besides, there are some sweet parts of science involved. The Physics YouTube channel comes up with 2 videos every quarter, more or less.
2. Amoeba Sisters
When you visit the channel, its outlook may confuse you with some type of cartoon channel. But actually, it is to explain the tough science topics in an easy and entertaining manner- through cartoons. The channel covers videos on a wide range of scientific topics. But it is actually one of the best biology YouTube channels out there. The channel updates its videos every week, i.e., two videos per quarterly.
3. Tyler DeWitt
The best chemistry YouTube channels can make your fear in chemistry go away with their videos. Tyler DeWitt is such a channel. If you are looking for the best YouTube channel for class 11 science, specifically for chemistry, what better way can there be to learn it from a high school teacher, that too in an accessible way?
4. Computerphile
The name ‘Computerphile’ suggests someone who is fond of computers. Well, it is one of the best computer science YouTube channels you will find. The channel covers videos on almost all parts of the computer and related things. Computerphile comes up with a new video every week.
5. sentdex
It is one of the best data science YouTube channels you will find. The channel creates tutorial videos, which are based on text. It offers videos on deep analysis, machine learning, and so on. Sentdex comes with new videos around ten days apart.
6. NASA
When you are going through a list of best science YouTube channels, it must involve space. And here is one of the best astronomy YouTube channels, NASA itself. The channel offers live streaming, so you can continuously be in the quest. With daily video upload, sometimes 2 videos in a day, NASA has managed to make the list of the bests.
7. Bloomberg Politics
Bloomberg Politics is one of the best YouTube channels for political science. The channel offers non-partisan global political coverage with regular videos. Its videos include breaking news, political analysis videos, digital videos, and so on. The channel releases 13 videos a week, which is 2 videos a day.
8. Sick Science
Kids learn more easily through practical tutorials like videos. Hence, the best YouTube science channels for kids may be a great way to make them learn something. The channel offers scientific experiments on a wide range of topics, which makes it easier for kids to learn. From Physics to Chemistry, the channel covers it all. Here is a video on egg experiments from Sick Science.
9. AsapSCIENCE
Here is yet another of the best YouTube science channels for kids. The videos are informational with fun at the same time. AsapScience investigates various scientific questions on a wide spectrum of subjects. Although the channel is a perfect choice for kids, adults will love it nevertheless. The channel comes with new videos every week. Here is a video link from AsapScience.
10. SciSHow Space
If you are looking for more of the best astronomy YouTube channels, here is another one. SciShow Space explores the outer universe on Tuesday and Friday every week. The hosts share information regarding the space and more in a few-minute range. The videos come in two times a week. Here is a video link from SciShow Space.
11. The PC Security Channel
With the ever-evolving digital world, the security of your PC has become as important as that of your house or even your life. The PC Security Channel is one of the best computer science YouTube channels, which help you protect your PC in a more sophisticated way. The channel comes with new videos every week. Here is a video link from the channel.
12. Chemical & Engineering News
The next on our list of best Science YouTube channels is Chemical & Engineering News. It is a publication of the American Chemical Society. The channel focuses on updated news of the chemical and engineering industry, that specifies more on the chemistry-related work of professionals. From scientific experiments to scientists’ lives, there is a wide range of topics. Here is a video link from the channel:
13.CrashCourse
With the animated presentation of the scientific content in an easy manner and covering videos on biology, chemistry, and so on, no need to explain why CrashCourse made our list of the best science YouTube channels. The channel stacks interesting information in all of its videos. If you don’t feel like learning Biology, you can still go through the videos on computer science. It is also there. The channel releases 3-4 videos a week. Here is a video link from the channel.
14. Physics Girl
When we talk about the best science YouTube channels, Physics Girl must be on that list. From DIY experiments to explaining difficult scientific topics, Physics Girl has made learning Physics easier than ever. The channel comes with 5 videos per month. Here is a video link from Physics Girl.
15. Physics Online
If you are looking for the best Physics YouTube channels that are the perfect choice for a student of high school, Physics Online is where you go to. The channel offers videos with online tutorials on the basic concepts along with interesting experiments, which can make your Physics learning a complete package. The channel also shows how you need to answer questions in the exams. The update frequency of Physics Online is 3 videos per week.
Part 2: How to Start Your Own Science Channel on YouTube?
Starting and managing your own science channel is not only interesting but also challenging. Here are some tips that can help you start your own science channel on YouTube.
Tip 1: Do enough research
As you are trying to create educational content, you must do adequate research to come up with accurate information. Also, in this era of increasing competition, a lack of research will do nothing but harm.
Tip 2: Create high-quality content
Content quality matters and that applies to educational content too. This is the part where you need to put most of your time in. Researching the topic and then presenting them in an engaging way can be the source of your high-quality content.
Tip 3: Use the best tools
When creating videos for your new science YouTube channel, make sure you use the best tools available. You can use Filmora to edit your videos to give them the professional and engaging look they require.
Wondershare Filmora
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Tip 4: Make your content engaging
Subscribers crowd in channels that can connect with them. Some ways to do that is interactive videos with your subscribers, DIY videos, science experiments, and so on.
Tip 5: Avoid trolls
When you start an educational channel, there will be some people who will mock you at every chance. But to keep continuing is the key here. You need to put your best, not what people think of you or your content.
Tip 6: Information and practical
As you are trying to create educational content on your YouTube channel, you need to make them as informative and practical as possible.
Conclusion
The best science YouTube channels have one thing in common- high-quality content. As you try to become a YouTuber with educational content, you need to keep that in mind. Hopefully, the tips in this regard will come in handy.
A huge number of social media channels have now become a medium for sharing knowledge. The same is seen in the case of YouTube channels. More and more YouTube channels are now coming up with educational content that can help expand your knowledge. Here are some of the top science YouTube channels in 2024 that you can follow to expand your knowledge in the corresponding field.
In this article
01 15 Best Science YouTube Channels
02 How to Start Your Own Science Channel on YouTube?
Part 1: 15 Best Science YouTube Channels
Here are the top 15 science YouTube channels that cover a wide range of science topics, including physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, and so on.
1. minutephysics
If you are looking for the best physics YouTube channels, minutephysics should make your list. The channel tried to explain physics in a cool and understanding way. Besides, there are some sweet parts of science involved. The Physics YouTube channel comes up with 2 videos every quarter, more or less.
2. Amoeba Sisters
When you visit the channel, its outlook may confuse you with some type of cartoon channel. But actually, it is to explain the tough science topics in an easy and entertaining manner- through cartoons. The channel covers videos on a wide range of scientific topics. But it is actually one of the best biology YouTube channels out there. The channel updates its videos every week, i.e., two videos per quarterly.
3. Tyler DeWitt
The best chemistry YouTube channels can make your fear in chemistry go away with their videos. Tyler DeWitt is such a channel. If you are looking for the best YouTube channel for class 11 science, specifically for chemistry, what better way can there be to learn it from a high school teacher, that too in an accessible way?
4. Computerphile
The name ‘Computerphile’ suggests someone who is fond of computers. Well, it is one of the best computer science YouTube channels you will find. The channel covers videos on almost all parts of the computer and related things. Computerphile comes up with a new video every week.
5. sentdex
It is one of the best data science YouTube channels you will find. The channel creates tutorial videos, which are based on text. It offers videos on deep analysis, machine learning, and so on. Sentdex comes with new videos around ten days apart.
6. NASA
When you are going through a list of best science YouTube channels, it must involve space. And here is one of the best astronomy YouTube channels, NASA itself. The channel offers live streaming, so you can continuously be in the quest. With daily video upload, sometimes 2 videos in a day, NASA has managed to make the list of the bests.
7. Bloomberg Politics
Bloomberg Politics is one of the best YouTube channels for political science. The channel offers non-partisan global political coverage with regular videos. Its videos include breaking news, political analysis videos, digital videos, and so on. The channel releases 13 videos a week, which is 2 videos a day.
8. Sick Science
Kids learn more easily through practical tutorials like videos. Hence, the best YouTube science channels for kids may be a great way to make them learn something. The channel offers scientific experiments on a wide range of topics, which makes it easier for kids to learn. From Physics to Chemistry, the channel covers it all. Here is a video on egg experiments from Sick Science.
9. AsapSCIENCE
Here is yet another of the best YouTube science channels for kids. The videos are informational with fun at the same time. AsapScience investigates various scientific questions on a wide spectrum of subjects. Although the channel is a perfect choice for kids, adults will love it nevertheless. The channel comes with new videos every week. Here is a video link from AsapScience.
10. SciSHow Space
If you are looking for more of the best astronomy YouTube channels, here is another one. SciShow Space explores the outer universe on Tuesday and Friday every week. The hosts share information regarding the space and more in a few-minute range. The videos come in two times a week. Here is a video link from SciShow Space.
11. The PC Security Channel
With the ever-evolving digital world, the security of your PC has become as important as that of your house or even your life. The PC Security Channel is one of the best computer science YouTube channels, which help you protect your PC in a more sophisticated way. The channel comes with new videos every week. Here is a video link from the channel.
12. Chemical & Engineering News
The next on our list of best Science YouTube channels is Chemical & Engineering News. It is a publication of the American Chemical Society. The channel focuses on updated news of the chemical and engineering industry, that specifies more on the chemistry-related work of professionals. From scientific experiments to scientists’ lives, there is a wide range of topics. Here is a video link from the channel:
13.CrashCourse
With the animated presentation of the scientific content in an easy manner and covering videos on biology, chemistry, and so on, no need to explain why CrashCourse made our list of the best science YouTube channels. The channel stacks interesting information in all of its videos. If you don’t feel like learning Biology, you can still go through the videos on computer science. It is also there. The channel releases 3-4 videos a week. Here is a video link from the channel.
14. Physics Girl
When we talk about the best science YouTube channels, Physics Girl must be on that list. From DIY experiments to explaining difficult scientific topics, Physics Girl has made learning Physics easier than ever. The channel comes with 5 videos per month. Here is a video link from Physics Girl.
15. Physics Online
If you are looking for the best Physics YouTube channels that are the perfect choice for a student of high school, Physics Online is where you go to. The channel offers videos with online tutorials on the basic concepts along with interesting experiments, which can make your Physics learning a complete package. The channel also shows how you need to answer questions in the exams. The update frequency of Physics Online is 3 videos per week.
Part 2: How to Start Your Own Science Channel on YouTube?
Starting and managing your own science channel is not only interesting but also challenging. Here are some tips that can help you start your own science channel on YouTube.
Tip 1: Do enough research
As you are trying to create educational content, you must do adequate research to come up with accurate information. Also, in this era of increasing competition, a lack of research will do nothing but harm.
Tip 2: Create high-quality content
Content quality matters and that applies to educational content too. This is the part where you need to put most of your time in. Researching the topic and then presenting them in an engaging way can be the source of your high-quality content.
Tip 3: Use the best tools
When creating videos for your new science YouTube channel, make sure you use the best tools available. You can use Filmora to edit your videos to give them the professional and engaging look they require.
Wondershare Filmora
Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects!
Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >
Tip 4: Make your content engaging
Subscribers crowd in channels that can connect with them. Some ways to do that is interactive videos with your subscribers, DIY videos, science experiments, and so on.
Tip 5: Avoid trolls
When you start an educational channel, there will be some people who will mock you at every chance. But to keep continuing is the key here. You need to put your best, not what people think of you or your content.
Tip 6: Information and practical
As you are trying to create educational content on your YouTube channel, you need to make them as informative and practical as possible.
Conclusion
The best science YouTube channels have one thing in common- high-quality content. As you try to become a YouTuber with educational content, you need to keep that in mind. Hopefully, the tips in this regard will come in handy.
A huge number of social media channels have now become a medium for sharing knowledge. The same is seen in the case of YouTube channels. More and more YouTube channels are now coming up with educational content that can help expand your knowledge. Here are some of the top science YouTube channels in 2024 that you can follow to expand your knowledge in the corresponding field.
In this article
01 15 Best Science YouTube Channels
02 How to Start Your Own Science Channel on YouTube?
Part 1: 15 Best Science YouTube Channels
Here are the top 15 science YouTube channels that cover a wide range of science topics, including physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, and so on.
1. minutephysics
If you are looking for the best physics YouTube channels, minutephysics should make your list. The channel tried to explain physics in a cool and understanding way. Besides, there are some sweet parts of science involved. The Physics YouTube channel comes up with 2 videos every quarter, more or less.
2. Amoeba Sisters
When you visit the channel, its outlook may confuse you with some type of cartoon channel. But actually, it is to explain the tough science topics in an easy and entertaining manner- through cartoons. The channel covers videos on a wide range of scientific topics. But it is actually one of the best biology YouTube channels out there. The channel updates its videos every week, i.e., two videos per quarterly.
3. Tyler DeWitt
The best chemistry YouTube channels can make your fear in chemistry go away with their videos. Tyler DeWitt is such a channel. If you are looking for the best YouTube channel for class 11 science, specifically for chemistry, what better way can there be to learn it from a high school teacher, that too in an accessible way?
4. Computerphile
The name ‘Computerphile’ suggests someone who is fond of computers. Well, it is one of the best computer science YouTube channels you will find. The channel covers videos on almost all parts of the computer and related things. Computerphile comes up with a new video every week.
5. sentdex
It is one of the best data science YouTube channels you will find. The channel creates tutorial videos, which are based on text. It offers videos on deep analysis, machine learning, and so on. Sentdex comes with new videos around ten days apart.
6. NASA
When you are going through a list of best science YouTube channels, it must involve space. And here is one of the best astronomy YouTube channels, NASA itself. The channel offers live streaming, so you can continuously be in the quest. With daily video upload, sometimes 2 videos in a day, NASA has managed to make the list of the bests.
7. Bloomberg Politics
Bloomberg Politics is one of the best YouTube channels for political science. The channel offers non-partisan global political coverage with regular videos. Its videos include breaking news, political analysis videos, digital videos, and so on. The channel releases 13 videos a week, which is 2 videos a day.
8. Sick Science
Kids learn more easily through practical tutorials like videos. Hence, the best YouTube science channels for kids may be a great way to make them learn something. The channel offers scientific experiments on a wide range of topics, which makes it easier for kids to learn. From Physics to Chemistry, the channel covers it all. Here is a video on egg experiments from Sick Science.
9. AsapSCIENCE
Here is yet another of the best YouTube science channels for kids. The videos are informational with fun at the same time. AsapScience investigates various scientific questions on a wide spectrum of subjects. Although the channel is a perfect choice for kids, adults will love it nevertheless. The channel comes with new videos every week. Here is a video link from AsapScience.
10. SciSHow Space
If you are looking for more of the best astronomy YouTube channels, here is another one. SciShow Space explores the outer universe on Tuesday and Friday every week. The hosts share information regarding the space and more in a few-minute range. The videos come in two times a week. Here is a video link from SciShow Space.
11. The PC Security Channel
With the ever-evolving digital world, the security of your PC has become as important as that of your house or even your life. The PC Security Channel is one of the best computer science YouTube channels, which help you protect your PC in a more sophisticated way. The channel comes with new videos every week. Here is a video link from the channel.
12. Chemical & Engineering News
The next on our list of best Science YouTube channels is Chemical & Engineering News. It is a publication of the American Chemical Society. The channel focuses on updated news of the chemical and engineering industry, that specifies more on the chemistry-related work of professionals. From scientific experiments to scientists’ lives, there is a wide range of topics. Here is a video link from the channel:
13.CrashCourse
With the animated presentation of the scientific content in an easy manner and covering videos on biology, chemistry, and so on, no need to explain why CrashCourse made our list of the best science YouTube channels. The channel stacks interesting information in all of its videos. If you don’t feel like learning Biology, you can still go through the videos on computer science. It is also there. The channel releases 3-4 videos a week. Here is a video link from the channel.
14. Physics Girl
When we talk about the best science YouTube channels, Physics Girl must be on that list. From DIY experiments to explaining difficult scientific topics, Physics Girl has made learning Physics easier than ever. The channel comes with 5 videos per month. Here is a video link from Physics Girl.
15. Physics Online
If you are looking for the best Physics YouTube channels that are the perfect choice for a student of high school, Physics Online is where you go to. The channel offers videos with online tutorials on the basic concepts along with interesting experiments, which can make your Physics learning a complete package. The channel also shows how you need to answer questions in the exams. The update frequency of Physics Online is 3 videos per week.
Part 2: How to Start Your Own Science Channel on YouTube?
Starting and managing your own science channel is not only interesting but also challenging. Here are some tips that can help you start your own science channel on YouTube.
Tip 1: Do enough research
As you are trying to create educational content, you must do adequate research to come up with accurate information. Also, in this era of increasing competition, a lack of research will do nothing but harm.
Tip 2: Create high-quality content
Content quality matters and that applies to educational content too. This is the part where you need to put most of your time in. Researching the topic and then presenting them in an engaging way can be the source of your high-quality content.
Tip 3: Use the best tools
When creating videos for your new science YouTube channel, make sure you use the best tools available. You can use Filmora to edit your videos to give them the professional and engaging look they require.
Wondershare Filmora
Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects!
Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >
Tip 4: Make your content engaging
Subscribers crowd in channels that can connect with them. Some ways to do that is interactive videos with your subscribers, DIY videos, science experiments, and so on.
Tip 5: Avoid trolls
When you start an educational channel, there will be some people who will mock you at every chance. But to keep continuing is the key here. You need to put your best, not what people think of you or your content.
Tip 6: Information and practical
As you are trying to create educational content on your YouTube channel, you need to make them as informative and practical as possible.
Conclusion
The best science YouTube channels have one thing in common- high-quality content. As you try to become a YouTuber with educational content, you need to keep that in mind. Hopefully, the tips in this regard will come in handy.
A huge number of social media channels have now become a medium for sharing knowledge. The same is seen in the case of YouTube channels. More and more YouTube channels are now coming up with educational content that can help expand your knowledge. Here are some of the top science YouTube channels in 2024 that you can follow to expand your knowledge in the corresponding field.
In this article
01 15 Best Science YouTube Channels
02 How to Start Your Own Science Channel on YouTube?
Part 1: 15 Best Science YouTube Channels
Here are the top 15 science YouTube channels that cover a wide range of science topics, including physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, and so on.
1. minutephysics
If you are looking for the best physics YouTube channels, minutephysics should make your list. The channel tried to explain physics in a cool and understanding way. Besides, there are some sweet parts of science involved. The Physics YouTube channel comes up with 2 videos every quarter, more or less.
2. Amoeba Sisters
When you visit the channel, its outlook may confuse you with some type of cartoon channel. But actually, it is to explain the tough science topics in an easy and entertaining manner- through cartoons. The channel covers videos on a wide range of scientific topics. But it is actually one of the best biology YouTube channels out there. The channel updates its videos every week, i.e., two videos per quarterly.
3. Tyler DeWitt
The best chemistry YouTube channels can make your fear in chemistry go away with their videos. Tyler DeWitt is such a channel. If you are looking for the best YouTube channel for class 11 science, specifically for chemistry, what better way can there be to learn it from a high school teacher, that too in an accessible way?
4. Computerphile
The name ‘Computerphile’ suggests someone who is fond of computers. Well, it is one of the best computer science YouTube channels you will find. The channel covers videos on almost all parts of the computer and related things. Computerphile comes up with a new video every week.
5. sentdex
It is one of the best data science YouTube channels you will find. The channel creates tutorial videos, which are based on text. It offers videos on deep analysis, machine learning, and so on. Sentdex comes with new videos around ten days apart.
6. NASA
When you are going through a list of best science YouTube channels, it must involve space. And here is one of the best astronomy YouTube channels, NASA itself. The channel offers live streaming, so you can continuously be in the quest. With daily video upload, sometimes 2 videos in a day, NASA has managed to make the list of the bests.
7. Bloomberg Politics
Bloomberg Politics is one of the best YouTube channels for political science. The channel offers non-partisan global political coverage with regular videos. Its videos include breaking news, political analysis videos, digital videos, and so on. The channel releases 13 videos a week, which is 2 videos a day.
8. Sick Science
Kids learn more easily through practical tutorials like videos. Hence, the best YouTube science channels for kids may be a great way to make them learn something. The channel offers scientific experiments on a wide range of topics, which makes it easier for kids to learn. From Physics to Chemistry, the channel covers it all. Here is a video on egg experiments from Sick Science.
9. AsapSCIENCE
Here is yet another of the best YouTube science channels for kids. The videos are informational with fun at the same time. AsapScience investigates various scientific questions on a wide spectrum of subjects. Although the channel is a perfect choice for kids, adults will love it nevertheless. The channel comes with new videos every week. Here is a video link from AsapScience.
10. SciSHow Space
If you are looking for more of the best astronomy YouTube channels, here is another one. SciShow Space explores the outer universe on Tuesday and Friday every week. The hosts share information regarding the space and more in a few-minute range. The videos come in two times a week. Here is a video link from SciShow Space.
11. The PC Security Channel
With the ever-evolving digital world, the security of your PC has become as important as that of your house or even your life. The PC Security Channel is one of the best computer science YouTube channels, which help you protect your PC in a more sophisticated way. The channel comes with new videos every week. Here is a video link from the channel.
12. Chemical & Engineering News
The next on our list of best Science YouTube channels is Chemical & Engineering News. It is a publication of the American Chemical Society. The channel focuses on updated news of the chemical and engineering industry, that specifies more on the chemistry-related work of professionals. From scientific experiments to scientists’ lives, there is a wide range of topics. Here is a video link from the channel:
13.CrashCourse
With the animated presentation of the scientific content in an easy manner and covering videos on biology, chemistry, and so on, no need to explain why CrashCourse made our list of the best science YouTube channels. The channel stacks interesting information in all of its videos. If you don’t feel like learning Biology, you can still go through the videos on computer science. It is also there. The channel releases 3-4 videos a week. Here is a video link from the channel.
14. Physics Girl
When we talk about the best science YouTube channels, Physics Girl must be on that list. From DIY experiments to explaining difficult scientific topics, Physics Girl has made learning Physics easier than ever. The channel comes with 5 videos per month. Here is a video link from Physics Girl.
15. Physics Online
If you are looking for the best Physics YouTube channels that are the perfect choice for a student of high school, Physics Online is where you go to. The channel offers videos with online tutorials on the basic concepts along with interesting experiments, which can make your Physics learning a complete package. The channel also shows how you need to answer questions in the exams. The update frequency of Physics Online is 3 videos per week.
Part 2: How to Start Your Own Science Channel on YouTube?
Starting and managing your own science channel is not only interesting but also challenging. Here are some tips that can help you start your own science channel on YouTube.
Tip 1: Do enough research
As you are trying to create educational content, you must do adequate research to come up with accurate information. Also, in this era of increasing competition, a lack of research will do nothing but harm.
Tip 2: Create high-quality content
Content quality matters and that applies to educational content too. This is the part where you need to put most of your time in. Researching the topic and then presenting them in an engaging way can be the source of your high-quality content.
Tip 3: Use the best tools
When creating videos for your new science YouTube channel, make sure you use the best tools available. You can use Filmora to edit your videos to give them the professional and engaging look they require.
Wondershare Filmora
Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects!
Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >
Tip 4: Make your content engaging
Subscribers crowd in channels that can connect with them. Some ways to do that is interactive videos with your subscribers, DIY videos, science experiments, and so on.
Tip 5: Avoid trolls
When you start an educational channel, there will be some people who will mock you at every chance. But to keep continuing is the key here. You need to put your best, not what people think of you or your content.
Tip 6: Information and practical
As you are trying to create educational content on your YouTube channel, you need to make them as informative and practical as possible.
Conclusion
The best science YouTube channels have one thing in common- high-quality content. As you try to become a YouTuber with educational content, you need to keep that in mind. Hopefully, the tips in this regard will come in handy.
- Title: "2024 Approved The Science and Art Behind Powerful YouTube Thumbnails"
- Author: Joseph
- Created at : 2024-05-31 13:46:12
- Updated at : 2024-06-01 13:46:12
- Link: https://youtube-stream.techidaily.com/2024-approved-the-science-and-art-behind-powerful-youtube-thumbnails/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
