YouTube Thumbnail Prompt Generator
Describe your video in a few words, pick a layout and a look, and copy a thumbnail prompt formatted for your image model. The default layout leaves empty space for a title you add later in an editor.
Your prompt
youtube thumbnail, a surprised creator holding a glowing smartphone, subject on the left third, empty space on the right for a title, bold saturated colors, high contrast, strong rim light separating the subject from the background --ar 16:9 --no text, letters, watermark, logo
Paste into Midjourney. --no reads each word separately, so it works best with single words.
- Subject
- Style
- Settings
- Avoid
36 YouTube Thumbnail prompts to copy
Written in keyword style, so they work in Midjourney, Stable Diffusion and Flux as they are. For ChatGPT or Gemini you can paste them as well, or rebuild one in the generator above with the ChatGPT / Gemini format.
Gaming
youtube thumbnail, gamer screaming at the camera, controller in hand, explosion of colorful light behind, bold saturated colors, empty space on the right
youtube thumbnail, giant boss monster looming over a tiny player character, dramatic low angle, red and black palette, high contrast
youtube thumbnail, blocky voxel world split in half, left side green and peaceful, right side burning, before and after comparison
youtube thumbnail, treasure chest overflowing with glowing loot, centered, golden light rays, dark cave background
youtube thumbnail, two esports players face to face, blue versus red lighting, intense expressions, lightning between them
youtube thumbnail, speedrunner character mid-jump with motion streaks, timer-style glowing frame, neon purple background
Tech and reviews
youtube thumbnail, new smartphone floating at an angle, glossy reflections, clean gradient background, subject on the left, empty space on the right
youtube thumbnail, close-up of a man raising one eyebrow while holding a laptop, studio lighting, minimal tech style
youtube thumbnail, two headphones side by side with a glowing VS divider, clean white background, product photography style
youtube thumbnail, desk setup with RGB lighting, wide shot, purple and cyan glow, one keyboard in sharp focus
youtube thumbnail, broken phone screen with dramatic cracks, extreme close-up, harsh side light, dark background
youtube thumbnail, robot hand and human hand reaching toward each other, soft blue glow, cinematic color grade
Tutorials and how-to
youtube thumbnail, hands typing on a keyboard with a glowing code window behind, clean tech style, empty space on the right
youtube thumbnail, messy garage on the left and organized garage on the right, before and after split, bright daylight
youtube thumbnail, paint brush and fresh paint stroke across a white wall, bold color, single object as the hero
youtube thumbnail, woman pointing at a giant floating checklist, friendly smile, bright studio lighting, flat pastel background
youtube thumbnail, close-up of a guitar fretboard with one finger pressing a string, warm light, shallow depth of field
youtube thumbnail, kitchen knife slicing a tomato in slow motion, droplets frozen in the air, dark background, rim light
Vlogs and travel
youtube thumbnail, traveler with a backpack standing at a cliff edge above turquoise sea, wide shot, golden hour, cinematic color grade
youtube thumbnail, excited couple taking a selfie in a crowded night market, neon signs, warm and cool contrast
youtube thumbnail, tiny cabin in a snowy forest at blue hour, warm window light, cozy mood, empty sky for a title
youtube thumbnail, person sitting on a suitcase in an empty airport at night, cinematic, moody blue light
youtube thumbnail, morning routine flat lay, coffee, journal and phone on a bright table, overhead view, soft daylight
youtube thumbnail, van parked by a mountain lake, wide shot, sunrise mist, subject on the left third
Money and business
youtube thumbnail, man holding a stack of cash with a shocked face, green glow behind, bold saturated colors
youtube thumbnail, stock chart arrow crashing down through the floor, dramatic red lighting, 3D render
youtube thumbnail, empty wallet on the left and full piggy bank on the right, before and after split, clean background
youtube thumbnail, young entrepreneur at a laptop in a dark room lit only by the screen, cinematic, empty space on the right
youtube thumbnail, giant golden key unlocking a padlock shaped like a house, 3D render, soft studio light
youtube thumbnail, woman pointing at a rising graph, confident smile, clean minimal office background, bright light
Reactions and challenges
youtube thumbnail, two friends reacting with wide eyes and open mouths, bright yellow background, glow outline around both
youtube thumbnail, person standing in front of 100 identical boxes, one box glowing, wide shot, playful mood
youtube thumbnail, close-up of a face covered in ice, frosty breath, blue light, extreme expression
youtube thumbnail, giant burger next to a small person for scale, studio lighting, bold red background
youtube thumbnail, hand hovering over a big red button, dramatic spotlight, dark background, tension
youtube thumbnail, kid laughing in a ball pit full of colorful balls, high angle, bright saturated colors
Tips
- YouTube recommends 3840 × 2160 thumbnails for videos (16:9) and 2160 × 3840 for Shorts (9:16), with a minimum width of 640 pixels; podcast playlists use 1:1. Most image models output less, so upscale before you upload.
- Check the result at the size people will see it. On a phone a thumbnail is a small card, so one face or one object reads better than a busy scene.
- Add the title in an editor such as Canva, Photoshop or Figma. You control the font and spelling there; image models can still garble longer text.
- Do not use another creator’s face, a celebrity or a brand logo without permission.
Need a longer negative prompt? Use the negative prompt generator. For any other subject, the main prompt generator has more styles and settings.