About Shorts Thumbnail Generator
Vertical-first content — Shorts, Reels, TikTok — needs a 1080×1920 cover with text that reads at thumb-zone size. The Shorts Thumbnail Generator drops a background image, lets you type a headline, and renders the composite locally. Choose top / centre / bottom placement, optional background band for legibility, custom text and band colours. The bold sans-serif default works for most shots; for trickier ones, switch off the band and use the auto-stroke fallback.
- No uploads
- Browser-only
- Works offline
- 100% free
How it works
- 1
Drop a background
Anything portrait works best. Landscape sources get centre-cropped to 9:16.
- 2
Type the headline
Up to 60 characters; long lines wrap automatically. Auto-uppercase for bolder reads.
- 3
Position + colours
Bottom placement is the most-readable for vertical playback. Toggle the band off for cleaner full-bleed compositions.
Related tools
Browse allResize images to YouTube's 1280×720 thumbnail or 1080×1920 Shorts cover.
Crop to Reel cover dimensions with a feed-crop safe-area overlay.
Overlay UI safe-area guides for Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
Convert images to common social aspect ratios with crop, pad, or blur fill.
Frequently asked questions
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. Every tool on SnapToolz runs entirely inside your browser using JavaScript and WebAssembly. Your file is read locally, processed in memory, and the result is offered as a download. Nothing is sent to a server — there isn't one to send to.
Can I use my own font?
Not currently — the tool uses the system sans-serif (ui-sans-serif → Helvetica → Arial fallback) for predictable cross-platform rendering. Custom font support is planned.
Will this work for TikTok and Instagram Reels too?
Yes. 1080×1920 is the standard 9:16 vertical canvas across YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, TikTok, and Snapchat. Same export works on all platforms.
Does it work offline?
Yes. SnapToolz is a Progressive Web App. After your first visit, the app is cached on your device and every tool keeps working without an internet connection.
Is SnapToolz free?
Yes — every tool is 100% free with no sign-up, no watermark, no hidden tier. The whole platform is open source and we have no plan to gate features.