Free Placeholder Image Generator
Pick a size and colors, generate a placeholder image, and download it — great for mockups and layout testing.
Why generate placeholders locally instead of loading them from a URL
Older placeholder services work by giving you a URL pattern — request an image at a certain size and their server renders and returns it. That means every placeholder in a design mockup triggers a real network request to a third party, which slows down page loads during development and quietly sends your dimension choices to someone else's server. This tool draws the image directly on an HTML5 <canvas> in your browser and hands you the resulting file — no round trip, no external request, and it works instantly even if you're offline.
Common sizes worth knowing
- 1200×630 — the standard Open Graph / social share preview image size used by Facebook, LinkedIn, and most link-unfurling tools.
- 1080×1080 — a square Instagram feed post.
- 1280×720 — 16:9, the standard YouTube thumbnail and a common video frame size.
- 16:9 or 4:3 — general hero-image and video-placeholder ratios for web layouts.
Typing one of these directly into the width/height fields gives you an on-the-spot preview of how that exact aspect ratio will sit in your layout, before any real asset exists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's this used for?
Placeholder images are handy for mocking up designs, testing layouts before real assets are ready, or filling space in a prototype so you can judge proportions and spacing.
What's the maximum size?
4000×4000 pixels — large enough for most mockup and print-preview needs while keeping generation fast in the browser.
Which format should I choose?
PNG for the smallest file with crisp solid colors and text (this tool's default). JPEG or WebP if you specifically need one of those formats for a testing scenario.
What size should I use for a social media preview image?
1200×630 is the widely-used standard for Open Graph link previews on platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn — generating a placeholder at that exact size lets you check how your layout and text will actually crop before the real image is ready.
Why not just use a placeholder image URL service?
Those services require a live network request to a third-party server every time the image loads, which adds latency during development and sends your chosen dimensions off-device. Generating it locally with Canvas is instant and never leaves your browser.
Is the image generated on a server?
No. It's drawn entirely in your browser using the Canvas API and never uploaded anywhere.