How MrBeast Designs His YouTube Thumbnails (Thumbnail Template Guide)

MrBeast is one of the most watched creators on YouTube. His thumbnails are a big reason why people click. They are simple, bold, and emotionally charged. If you want to design thumbnails that grab attention like his, this guide breaks down the structure, template, fonts, backgrounds, picture choices, color strategy, and testing workflow he often uses. I will also show how to analyze real MrBeast thumbnails using Thumbli.net so you can study them at full resolution.

Why study MrBeast thumbnails

Studying a master is one of the fastest ways to learn. MrBeast thumbnails are optimized for two things: clarity and emotional curiosity. They work on phones and large screens. They perform across niches: challenges, philanthropy, stunts, and experiments. You are not copying his brand. You are learning patterns you can adapt to your own style.

The MrBeast thumbnail template: a simple breakdown

Most viral MrBeast thumbnails follow a repeatable template. Use this as a starting point and adapt it to your content and personality.

1. Main subject close-up: A large face or object that fills one third to one half of the frame. Faces show clear emotion, often surprise or shock.
2. Bold short text: 2 to 4 words max. Text is large, outlined, and placed in an uncluttered area.
3. High contrast background: The background is simple but vibrant to make the subject pop.
4. Supporting prop or scene: A second visual element that creates context, for example money, a car, or a pile of items.
5. Clear lighting and strong edges: Subjects are well lit with crisp cutouts and subtle drop shadows to create separation from the background.

Canvas and composition

Start with the right canvas and safe zones so your thumbnail is readable on every device.

• Canvas size: 1280 x 720 pixels. This is YouTube’s recommended size and hits the balance between quality and file size.
• Aspect ratio: 16:9.
• Safe margins: Keep important elements at least 60 px from the edges to avoid cropping on small screens or UI overlays.
• Rule of thirds: Place the face or main object near one of the thirds intersections to create visual tension and focus.

Subject and photography

MrBeast thumbnails often use professionally lit photos. You do not need a pro camera to emulate the feel, but pay attention to these points:

• Close-up faces: Use tight headshots with expressive emotions. Eyes and mouth communicate the most energy.
• High shutter and good light: Avoid motion blur. Use natural light near a window or softbox lighting for crisp results.
• Simple backgrounds: Use a plain wall, backdrop, or green screen so you can cut out the subject cleanly in post.
• Multiple takes: Shoot several expressions. Pick the photo with the strongest, most readable emotion at small sizes.

Cutouts and subject isolation

Isolate your subject from the background with clean cutouts. This improves clarity and allows you to position the subject over any background color or texture.

• Use tools like Photoshop, Photopea, or Canva with background remover.
• Add a thin outline or stroke to the subject. White or black strokes work, but slightly colored strokes often look better with a vibrant background.
• Apply a subtle drop shadow to create depth and separation from the background.

Text: wording, font, and treatment

Text in MrBeast thumbnails is short, readable, and bold. Follow these rules:

• Words: 2 to 4 impactful words. Examples: "$1,000,000", "I Survived", "Last To Leave".
• Font choice: Use bold, geometric sans serif fonts. Fonts similar to Anton, Impact, Bebas Neue, or Montserrat Extra Bold work well. Avoid thin scripts and narrow fonts that collapse at small sizes.
• Size and weight: Large, heavy weight. Text should be readable at 200 px wide or smaller.
• Outline and shadow: Add a strong outline and a small shadow to keep text legible over any background.
• Contrast: Use bright text on dark backgrounds or dark text on bright backgrounds. Consider colored outlines for extra pop.

Backgrounds and color strategy

Color choices are intentional. They create emotion and separate the subject from the background.

• Vibrant gradients: Use sunset gradients, neon hues, or saturated single-color backgrounds to attract the eye.
• Complementary colors: Pick colors that contrast with the subject’s clothing and skin tone.
• Simple patterns: Avoid busy textures. Subtle radial gradients or blurred scenes work best.
• Light bloom: Add rim lighting behind the subject to create separation and drama.

Props and context elements

MrBeast often pairs faces with a large, recognizable prop. The prop tells the story immediately.

• Money or stacks for challenge videos.
• Cars or giant objects for large prize videos.
• Food or tools for challenge and stunt videos.

Make sure the prop is large, simple, and readable at small sizes. If it is too detailed, it will lose meaning on mobile.

Layering and visual hierarchy

Good thumbnails have an obvious reading order. Decide which element is most important and place it prominently.

1. Subject face or main object
2. Supporting prop or scene
3. Short text
4. Branding elements, if any

Use size, contrast, and placement to enforce the hierarchy. The viewer’s eye should land on the face first, then the text, then the prop.

Branding without being repetitive

MrBeast keeps some consistent elements, but he varies enough to avoid fatigue. Consider a small logo or color accent that signals your channel without distracting from the hook.

Emotion and curiosity

MrBeast thumbnails often trigger curiosity. Use visuals that ask a question without words. Surprised faces, piles of items, or exaggerated reactions create the feeling of "I need to see this".

Testing and iteration

Successful creators test. MrBeast’s team runs multiple thumbnail concepts and picks the best performing version. You can do this with simple methods:

• Manual A/B: Upload one version, track CTR for a few days, switch to another, compare results.
• YouTube’s Test and Compare: Use YouTube Studio if available to run official thumbnail tests.
• Thumbli check: Preview your thumbnail on Thumbli.net to see how it appears at different sizes and platforms. Thumbli helps you catch small text issues, bad crops, or overcompression before you publish.

Workflow: step by step template

Here is a practical, repeatable workflow inspired by MrBeast’s approach that any creator can use.

1. Plan the story: Decide the single idea your thumbnail should communicate.
2. Shoot multiple expressions and prop shots: Capture at least 10 headshots with varied emotion plus closeups of key props.
3. Pick the strongest photo: Choose the image that reads best at small sizes.
4. Cut out the subject and place on a vibrant background: Use a gradient or solid color that contrasts with skin tones and props.
5. Add a large short text block: Keep it bold with a 2 to 4 word phrase and place it in an uncluttered area.
6. Apply outline and shadow to both subject and text: Ensure separation and legibility.
7. Export at 1280 x 720, high quality: Save as PNG or high quality JPG under 2 MB.
8. Preview on Thumbli: Check mobile, desktop, and dark mode. Tweak if text or props are cut off.

Fonts and exact suggestions

Fonts that mimic MrBeast’s feel are bold and simple. Try these:

• Anton
• Bebas Neue
• Impact
• Montserrat Extra Bold

Use uppercase for short phrases and add a strong stroke. For multi word titles, break the phrase into two lines to improve readability.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Too much text. If viewers need to read, they will not click quickly.
• Busy backgrounds that compete with the subject.
• Low contrast between text and background.
• Cluttered props that become unrecognizable at small sizes.
• Small facial expressions. If the emotion is weak, the thumbnail loses power.

Legal and ethical notes

Study MrBeast for inspiration, but do not copy his exact thumbnails or brand elements. Use Thumbli to analyze composition and color, not to reproduce or claim ownership of someone else’s artwork. Respect copyright and design ownership when adapting successful patterns.

Real world example breakdown

Take a popular MrBeast thumbnail and analyze it using the template above. Look at composition, subject expression, text wording, color contrast, and prop clarity. Use Thumbli to download the thumbnail in max resolution and zoom in to study edges and text rendering. This practice helps you understand micro decisions like stroke width and shadow opacity.

Checklist before upload

• 1280 x 720 canvas
• Subject fills one third to one half of frame
• 2 to 4 word headline, bold font
• High contrast background
• Clear prop or context element
• Clean cutout and subtle drop shadow
• Previewed on Thumbli for multiple devices
• Exported as PNG or high quality JPG under 2 MB

Conclusion

MrBeast thumbnails are a study in clarity, emotion, and simple storytelling. They are not flashy for the sake of flashy. Each element serves a purpose: grab attention, explain context, and create curiosity. Use the template and workflow in this guide to create thumbnails that are readable, emotionally resonant, and testable. And remember to use Thumbli.net to inspect and compare real thumbnails so you can learn what works at full resolution.

Now go shoot strong expressions, pick a bold word, and design with clarity. Your next thumbnail might be the one that finally makes people stop scrolling. 🚀