Is the thumbnails tool free to use?

Yes. The online thumbnail generator is free. You can upload a clip, pick intervals (1s, 2s, 5s, 10s, etc.), and download a ZIP of JPGs.

Which video formats are supported?

Most common formats supported by FFmpeg, including MP4, MOV, M4V, MKV. If FFmpeg can decode it, the tool can extract frames.

How do I generate thumbnails every N seconds with FFmpeg?

Use the fps filter: ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "fps=1/N,scale=480:-1" thumbs-%04d.jpg. Replace N with your interval (e.g., 5 for every five seconds).

Are my uploads private?

Uploads are processed server-side, and output is provided as a direct download. We don’t share your files. See the Privacy section on the site for details.

What if I need letterbox/blur padding instead?

Use the Aspect Tools to Fit/Fill/BlurPad to a target frame (e.g., 1920×1080 or 1080×1920). It keeps or adapts aspect ratio for social platforms.

Generate Video Thumbnails Online (FFmpeg)

What it does

Extracts frames at your chosen interval (e.g., every 1, 2, 5, 10 etc. seconds).
Rescales to a tidy web width (480 px).
Bundles everything into a single ZIP for easy download.

Tip: Use the results for storyboards, QA, preview galleries, or selecting YouTube thumbnail candidates.

FFmpeg Thumbnail Commands (Copy-ready)

Every 5 seconds (480 px wide)

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "fps=1/5,scale=480:-1" -q:v 2 thumbs-%04d.jpg

Use -q:v 2 for high JPG quality (lower is better).

Every 1 second

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "fps=1,scale=480:-1" -q:v 2 thumbs-%04d.jpg

Every 10 seconds

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "fps=1/10,scale=480:-1" -q:v 2 thumbs-%04d.jpg

Exact frames per minute (e.g., 6 per minute)

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "fps=6/60,scale=480:-1" -q:v 2 thumbs-%04d.jpg

Advanced: If your source has variable frame rate (VFR) and timing accuracy matters, you can map based on timestamps via select='not(mod(t,5))' instead of fps.

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "select='not(mod(t,5))',scale=480:-1" -vsync vfr -q:v 2 thumbs-%04d.jpg

Why creators & editors like this

Fast review: flip through frames without scrubbing a timeline.
Better picks: quickly shortlist strong thumbnail candidates.
Consistent sizing: default scale to a tidy web width for lightweight review.

Need to prep deliverables? Use Web-Ready or fix aspect issues with Aspect Tools (Fit, Fill, BlurPad).

FAQ

Is the thumbnails tool free?

Yes — no sign-up required. Upload, pick intervals, download a ZIP.

Which formats are supported?

Most FFmpeg-decodable formats: MP4, MOV, M4V, MKV, and more.

Can I change the image size/quality?

By default, we scale to a web-friendly width (e.g., 480px). If you’re running the command locally, adjust scale=WIDTH:-1 and -q:v (1–3 high quality, 4–5 good, larger numbers = more compression).

What if I need letterbox or blurred padding?

Use Aspect Tools to Fit/Fill/BlurPad to a target frame (e.g., 1920×1080 or 1080×1920).

Try it now

Open the thumbnails tool, pick intervals (1s/2s/5s/10s), and download a ZIP of JPGs.

Open Thumbnails Tool →

Prefer the command line? Copy any command above and run it locally with FFmpeg installed.