What fonts work best for thumbnail text?

Bold, thick, sans-serif fonts. Impact, Arial Black, Bebas Neue, Montserrat Bold work brilliantly. Avoid thin fonts, script fonts, or anything decorative. Readability beats aesthetics at thumbnail size.

How do I make text readable on any background?

Use text effects - add white outline on dark backgrounds, black outline on light backgrounds. Or add semi-transparent shape behind text. This thumbnail text editor handles both automatically.

What's the ideal text size for thumbnails?

Depends on word count. 3-4 words can be massive (100-200pt). Longer text needs smaller sizes (60-80pt). Test at 320px width - if text is readable at that size, it works everywhere.

Should thumbnail text be all caps or mixed case?

All caps for maximum impact and readability at small sizes. Mixed case works for longer text or professional content. Gaming and entertainment lean heavily towards all caps.

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Thumbnail Studio

Thumbnail Text Editor | Add Bold Text to Your Thumbnails

70% of YouTube views happen on mobile, where text under 60pt becomes unreadable. Add bold headlines at 72pt or bigger with drop shadows, stroke outlines, and high-contrast colors (white on red, yellow on black) that stay readable on tiny phone screens.

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Examples

Thumbnail Gallery

Real thumbnails created with Thumbnail Studio

How It Works

Create Thumbnails in 4 Simple Steps

Choose Readable Fonts

Pick from fonts tested for thumbnail readability. Bold, thick fonts work best. Decorative fonts fail at small sizes. Our library includes only thumbnail-proven typography.

Size for Mobile

Preview text at actual mobile thumbnail size. If you can't read it on phone, make it bigger. 70% of views happen on mobile - design for that reality.

Add Effects That Pop

Layer glow, shadow, outline effects to make text pop against any background. Ensure text stays readable even on busy images.

Export and Test

Export in HD, 2K, or 4K. View your thumbnail on your phone to confirm text is readable at small sizes before publishing.

Best Practices

Tips for Making Great Thumbnails

Keep text under 5 words maximum. "INSANE WIN" beats "Watch Me Get This Incredible Victory". Short text is readable text.

Use colour contrast - bright text on dark backgrounds, dark text on bright backgrounds. Test contrast ratios with accessibility tools.

Add outlines or shadows to every text element. Makes text readable against complex or multicoloured backgrounds.

Test text on actual mobile device before publishing. Desktop preview lies. Mobile reality reveals readability issues.

Common Mistakes

What to Avoid

Using fancy decorative fonts that blur at thumbnail size. Just because a font looks cool doesn't mean it works tiny.

Cramming full sentences into thumbnails. Text is teaser, not transcript. Use minimal words for maximum impact.

Forgetting text needs to work on both dark mode and light mode. YouTube, Twitch, and social platforms have multiple UI modes.

Benefits

Why Choose Thumbnail Studio?

Readable at Any Size

Tools designed specifically for thumbnail text. Automatic sizing suggestions, readability warnings, mobile preview. Never publish blurry or tiny text again.

Effects Library Included

Professional text effects in one click. Glow, shadow, outline, gradient, 3D - effects proven to increase click-through rates. No manual layer manipulation needed.

Contrast Testing Built In

Automatic contrast checking against backgrounds. Tool warns when text readability drops below acceptable levels. Ensures accessibility standards.

Add Powerful Text to Your Thumbnails

Create bold, readable text that converts views into clicks. Built specifically for thumbnail typography. Free to start.

Start Editing Thumbnail Text

No credit card required • Free plan available

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

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