How to Make a TikTok Thumbnail

A great TikTok thumbnail does more than just look nice - it convinces someone to stop scrolling and watch your video. More importantly, it turns a casual viewer into a follower by giving them a reason to visit your profile and see what else you have to offer. This guide breaks down exactly how to create and select a thumbnail that grabs attention, whether you're using TikTok's built-in tools or creating a fully custom design.

Why Your TikTok Thumbnail Matters More Than You Think

On TikTok, your video’s thumbnail, or “cover,” is your video's first impression. It's the static image people see before they press play. While the "For You Page" is all about auto-playing videos, your thumbnail is the star player in a few other critical places:

• Your Profile Page: This is the most obvious place. Your thumbnails create a visual grid that acts like a portfolio. A consistent, high-quality grid of thumbnails tells visitors what your account is about at a glance and encourages them to tap on older content. A messy, inconsistent grid can make an otherwise great account feel unprofessional.
• Search Results: When users search for a hashtag, sound, or keyword, TikTok displays a grid of video results with their thumbnails. An eye-catching thumbnail with clear text is far more likely to get tapped than a blurry, random screen grab.
• The "Following" Tab: While a user's primary feed auto-plays, thumbnails are still visible here and represent your content when shared or saved.

Think of it like this: your content is the product, and your thumbnail is the packaging. Excellent packaging makes people want to see what’s inside.

Part 1: The Fast and Easy Way Using TikTok's Native Editor

The quickest way to add a cover is directly within the TikTok app while uploading. This method is perfect for creators who want something better than a random frame but don't want to spend time in another app. It’s convenient, immediate, and gets the job done.

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting a Thumbnail in TikTok

1. Film or Upload Your Video: After you finish recording or uploading your clip and make your edits (adding sounds, effects, etc.), tap “Next” to go to the final posting screen.
2. Find ‘Select Cover’: On the posting screen, where you write your caption and add hashtags, you’ll see a smaller version of your video thumbnail in the top right corner. Tap on it where it says ‘Select cover’.
3. Choose the Best Frame: TikTok will now show you a filmstrip of your entire video at the bottom of the screen. Drag the pink box (the scrubber) along this timeline to preview different frames. Your goal is to find a moment that is clear, engaging, and representative of the video's content. Look for frames where you’re making eye contact, showing the final product of a DIY, or landing a big moment in a dance.
4. Pick a Text Style: At the bottom, you'll see a variety of preset text styles. These are TikTok's built-in thumbnail templates. They come in different fonts, colors, and background treatments. Tap through them to see what looks best on your chosen frame. Some are very bold and blocky, while others are more subtle. Pick one that matches your video's vibe and is easy to read.
5. Add Your Text: Once you've selected a style, a text box will appear on the thumbnail preview. Type in a short, punchy title that creates curiosity. Think of it as a headline for your video. For example:
   • "I Tried the Viral Hack"
   • "3 Mistakes to Avoid"
   • "The Final Reveal"
   • "Wait for Her Reaction"
   Keep your text centered and mind the on-screen UI elements (like buttons and text) that will cover parts of your frame once the video is live.
6. Save Your Cover: When you're happy with the frame and the text, tap ‘Save’ in the top right corner. You'll be taken back to the posting screen, and your new cover will appear. That’s it! Now just publish your video.

Pros and Cons of the Native Method

• Pros: Fast, convenient, and requires no external apps. It's a huge improvement over letting TikTok pick a random, often blurry, frame.
• Cons: Limited design options. You’re stuck with TikTok's fonts and styles, which makes it difficult to maintain a unique brand identity. The text-over-video format can sometimes look cluttered.

Part 2: The Pro Method: Creating a Fully Custom Thumbnail

For businesses, brands, and creators who want total control over their aesthetic, creating a custom thumbnail outside of TikTok is the way to go. This approach lets you use your own brand fonts, colors, and layouts to build a professional and instantly recognizable grid on your profile. The trick is to embed your custom thumbnail into your video file before you upload it.

Step 1: Design Your Thumbnail in an External Tool

You can use any graphic design tool you’re comfortable with. The key is to start with the right dimensions.

• Dimensions: Your design should be 1080x1920 pixels, a perfect 9:16 aspect ratio to match a phone screen.
• Popular Tools:
  • Canva: Incredibly user-friendly and full of thousands of templates. You can search specifically for "TikTok Video" templates to get started.
  • Adobe Express: A great free alternative to Canva with powerful features.
  • Figma: A bit more advanced but offers ultimate flexibility for creating reusable templates.
  • Photoshop: The professional go-to for complete creative control.

Step 2: Follow Design Best Practices

A good thumbnail is more art than science, but following a few principles can dramatically improve your results.

• Use a High-Quality Still Image: Take a high-resolution screenshot from your video or, even better, take a separate photo specifically for the thumbnail. A photo of your face and an engaging expression usually performs very well.
• Make Text Bold and Readable: Use a font that’s easy to read on a tiny screen. Use high-contrast colors (e.g., white text on a dark background or black text on a light background). Keep the text to a minimum - three to five powerful words are often enough to pique interest.
• Think About Branding: If you have brand colors or fonts, use them! Consistency is what makes your profile grid look clean and professional. Choose one or two thumbnail styles and stick with them to build a cohesive look.
• Mind the Safe Zones: Remember that TikTok overlays text (your name, caption) and icons (like, comment, share buttons) on your video. While your thumbnail is only an image, these elements will be displayed over the beginning of the actual video. Keep your essential design elements - like text or faces - in the center region so they aren't obscured.

When you're happy with your design, export it as a high-quality JPG or PNG file.

Step 3: Add the Thumbnail to Your Video File

This is the magic step. You need to attach your newly created image to the very end of your video file. You can do this in any basic video editing app (like CapCut, InShot, VN Editor, or even iMovie on a Mac).

1. Open your final, edited TikTok video in your chosen video editor.
2. Import your thumbnail image file and add it as the very last clip of the video.
3. CRITICALLY: Trim the duration of this image clip to be as short as possible. The goal is 0.1 seconds. This makes it so quick that it's practically invisible to the human eye when the video plays or loops, but still exists as a frame in the video file.
4. Export the entire video (your original footage + the 0.1s image clip at the end). This newly exported file is what you will upload to TikTok.

Step 4: Select Your Custom Frame in TikTok

Now, head back to TikTok and start the upload process with your new video file.

1. On the posting screen, tap ‘Select cover’ just like before.
2. Drag the scrubber on the filmstrip all the way to the absolute end. The very last frame available will be the custom thumbnail you just added.
3. Select that frame. Since you've already designed it with text, there is no need to add any of TikTok's text styles. Simply leave the design as is.
4. Tap ‘Save’. Your perfect, high-quality custom thumbnail is now set!

Now when somebody visits your profile, they will see a beautiful grid of custom-designed covers that reflect your brand identity and make your account look polished and purposeful.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a thoughtful thumbnail - whether you do it in two minutes inside the TikTok app or take twenty minutes to create a custom one - signals to viewers that you care about your content. It bridges the gap between a single viral video and a profile worth following, helping you build a loyal community one well-designed cover at a time.

This level of attention to your branding is key for long-term growth. When you take the time to build a cohesive profile grid, you can manage and visualize your entire strategy more effectively. Our design philosophy with Postbase is built on that very same idea. We created a visual content calendar that lets you see your entire content plan at a glance, allowing you to easily spot where your branding is strong and where it could use more consistency across all of your platforms.