01
Thumbnail
A 16:9 file at the resolution YouTube recommends, within the size YouTube Studio accepts.
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YouTube thumbnail design: single or monthly, with variants for A/B testing
We design YouTube thumbnails that read on a phone screen: a face, a short title and strong contrast, in one layout for the whole channel. We prepare variants for A/B testing in YouTube Studio. One thumbnail starts at 90 PLN net.
- Price
- from 90 PLN
- Timeline
- 1-2 business days
- Copyright
- Full
In short
How much does a YouTube thumbnail cost?
One thumbnail starts at 90 PLN net, 10 thumbnails with variants and a template at 750 PLN, and up to 20 thumbnails a month at 1,400 PLN. YouTube recommends 3840 x 2160 pixels in 16:9, with a minimum width of 640 pixels. The file can be up to 2 MB when uploaded from a phone and up to 50 MB from a computer.
- Price
- from 90 PLN
- Timeline
- 1-2 business days
What you get in a thumbnail project
We check every thumbnail at the size viewers see it on a phone.
02
Cut-out and retouch
The person cut out of the frame, contrast boosted, clear eyes and colours.
03
Thumbnail text
A short line that complements the video title and reads on a phone.
04
Test variants
A second version with a different shot or text for an A/B test in YouTube Studio.
05
Channel template
In the 10 and 20 thumbnail packages, a layout, typefaces and colours shared across the channel.
06
Source files
Layered files for further versions.
The image that decides the click
A thumbnail is the first thing viewers see next to a video title: on the home page, in search results and in suggestions. On a phone it is a few centimetres wide, so what matters is what can be read in a split second. Small text, five elements and a dark photo get lost at that size.
We design thumbnails around one idea: an emotion on a face, an object, a result or a question the viewer wants answered. The text on the thumbnail does not repeat the video title but adds to it, and the colours and layout are distinctive enough that regular viewers recognise your channel in a list.
YouTube lets you test up to three thumbnails for one video in YouTube Studio and picks the one with which viewers watch longest. That is why our packages include variants that differ in something meaningful, such as the shot or the text, not just the shade of the background.
We make thumbnails from your frames or photos from the shoot. If we also edit your video, we pick frames during the edit, so the thumbnail and the start of the video tell the same story.
What makes a thumbnail stand out in a list
One idea
One face, one object or one situation instead of a collage of many elements.
Short text
A few words that add something to the video title instead of repeating it.
Contrast
The person clearly separated from the background and colours that stand out from the YouTube interface.
Recognition
A consistent channel layout, typefaces and colours that viewers recognise.
Packages and prices
Net prices. Anything beyond a package is quoted before we start.
1 Thumbnail
One thumbnail for a video, from your frame and title.
from90 PLN
1-2 business days
- 1 thumbnail in 16:9
- Cut-out and frame retouch
- Thumbnail text
- A file at the resolution YouTube recommends
Most chosen
10 Thumbnails
Ten thumbnails in one channel layout, each with a test variant.
from750 PLN
1-2 weeks
- Channel layout template
- 10 thumbnails in 16:9
- A second variant of each for A/B testing
- Source files
20 per Month
Ongoing work: thumbnails for every video in the month, with test variants.
from1,400 PLN
billed monthly
- Up to 20 thumbnails a month
- A second variant of each for A/B testing
- Each thumbnail within 2 business days of receiving materials
- Channel template developed as we go
Net prices in PLN, starting from the amount shown for the scope described. We reserve about 15% of the project time for revisions, so a bigger project gets proportionally more time for changes. Anything beyond the package is quoted before we start.
Package comparison
| Scope | 1 Thumbnail | 10 Thumbnails | 20 per Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thumbnails | 1 | 10 | up to 20 a month |
| Test variants | none | yes | yes |
| Channel template | none | yes | yes |
| Source files | on request | yes | yes |
| Time per thumbnail | 1-2 business days | within the batch | up to 2 business days |
| Timeline | 1-2 business days | 1-2 weeks | billed monthly |
How we design thumbnails
Stage
0
Materialsa few hours
The video title, topic, frames or photos and what should draw viewers in.
1Ideaa few hours
One main idea for the thumbnail and a short line of text.
2Design1 day
Cut-out, retouch, composition and text in the channel layout.
3Size testa few hours
A preview at phone size, next to other thumbnails.
4Filesa few hours
The thumbnail and variant ready to upload.
5
We reserve about 15% of the project time for revisions. The best thumbnails come from frames shot with them in mind: a clear expression, good light and a background that can be separated.
What thumbnail pricing depends on
The price depends on the number of thumbnails, variants and the quality of materials.
- 1
Materials
A good frame with a clear expression is faster than cutting a person out of a dark, blurry shot.
- 2
Illustration
Drawn elements or collages take more work than a photo composition.
- 3
Variants
Each test variant is a separate idea and design.
- 4
Speed
Same-day thumbnails need time reserved in the calendar.
How not to overpay
- Shoot frames with the thumbnail in mind
- Order a batch instead of single thumbnails
- Set a channel template at the start
- Send materials in advance
Who we design thumbnails for
YouTube creators
When the videos are good but thumbnails are rushed right before publishing.
Streamers
When VODs and highlights go to YouTube and need thumbnails.
Game studios
When the game's channel publishes devlogs, trailers and updates.
Companies and experts
When an educational or company channel should look professional.
Video podcasts
When every episode needs a thumbnail with the guest and topic.
What to prepare before ordering thumbnails
A few frames and what the video is about are enough.
0 / 6 ready
- The video title and topic
- Frames from the shoot or photos with a clear expression
- The channel logo or mark, if you have one
- Thumbnails that worked best for you
- Channels whose thumbnails you like
- The publish date
YouTube thumbnails: requirements and A/B tests
Based on YouTube help, checked on 6 October 2026.
| Parameter | YouTube requirement | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Video resolution | 3840 x 2160 px recommended, at least 640 px wide | we deliver at the highest resolution |
| Shorts resolution | 2160 x 3840 px recommended | a separate vertical layout on request |
| File size | up to 2 MB from a phone, up to 50 MB from a computer | the file fits both limits |
| A/B test | up to 3 thumbnails or titles per video | variants differ in something meaningful |
| Test result | the version with the highest watch time share wins | the thumbnail should promise what the video delivers |
| Test quality | a thumbnail below 1280 x 720 downscales all variants to 854 x 480 | every variant at full resolution |
Thumbnails that work for your channel
The thumbnail promises, the video delivers
In an A/B test YouTube does not pick the thumbnail with the most clicks, but the one with which viewers watch longest. A thumbnail that attracts clicks with a promise the video does not keep loses, because viewers leave quickly.
That is why we design thumbnails that show what is really in the video, in the most striking way. The strongest moment, result or emotion from the footage is honest material for a thumbnail, and an A/B test shows which works best.
Variants that test something
According to YouTube help, variants that are too similar make a test run longer, because it is harder to find a winner. A variant that only changes the background colour tests very little. It is better to compare two ideas: a close-up face versus an object, a question versus a result, a bright versus a dark mood.
A test can take up to two weeks. YouTube suggests starting with older videos so the test has less effect on the whole channel. In the monthly package we can prepare further variants based on results you share with us.
A consistent channel layout
A viewer who knows a channel recognises its videos by their thumbnails before reading the title. A consistent layout helps: the same place for the face and text, the same typefaces and colours, sometimes a series mark. In the 10 and 20 thumbnail packages we start with such a template.
A template does not mean every thumbnail looks the same. It gives a frame in which each thumbnail can show a different topic while the channel still looks consistent.
Questions before you order
Let us start with a talk about your project
A free online consultation or a quote in the calculator.