How to Make Reels Covers in Canva (Even If You’re Not a Designer)
If you’ve ever stared at your Instagram grid and cringed at the random Reels thumbnails… you’re not alone.
Between awkward freeze-frames and inconsistent visuals, it’s easy for even the best content to look meh on your profile.
The fix? A custom Reels cover — and you don’t need a design degree (or hours of time) to make one. Canva makes it easy, especially if you’re using templates.
In this post, I’ll walk you through:
👉 How to create Reels covers in Canva step-by-step
👉 What makes a Reels cover actually good
👉 Where to get 20 free customizable templates so you can stop starting from scratch
Let’s make your grid look like it belongs to a legit brand — without spending hours on it.
Why Use Canva to Create Reels Covers?
Canva is a game-changer for small business owners, especially if you don’t have a designer on speed dial.
Here’s why it works so well for Reels covers:
→ It’s free (or very affordable if you upgrade)
→ It has brand kits so you can save your colors, fonts, and logos
→ It lets you duplicate, tweak, and batch content easily
→ It has a mobile app so you can create covers on the go
And the best part? You don’t have to start from a blank page.
Step-by-Step: How to Make a Reels Cover in Canva
Here’s the simplest way to create a cover that’s clean, clickable, and totally on-brand:
1. Choose the Right Size
Use a 1080x1920 px (9:16) vertical canvas — that’s the same size as Instagram Reels. Most Canva templates already use this.
2. Add a Background That Fits Your Brand
You can use:
→ A solid color from your brand palette
→ A branded pattern or gradient
→ A blurred version of a still from your Reel
→ Or just one of the Canva template backgrounds!
Avoid super busy backgrounds — you want your text to stand out clearly.
3. Add a Title (Short + Clear)
Think: 3–5 words max. Your cover is basically a headline. Make it something someone could skim and go, “Oh, I want to watch that.”
Examples:
→ “Instagram Bio Tips”
→ “Before & After”
→ “Why Nobody’s Buying”
Use your brand fonts and keep the text centered (so it won’t get cut off in the grid preview).
4. Optional: Add Logo or Handle
Especially helpful if your Reels get shared. Keep it small and in a corner if you use it.
5. Save + Download
Export as a PNG or JPG. Then, when uploading your Reel, hit “Edit Cover” and select your custom image.
What Makes a Good Reels Cover?
It’s not just about being pretty — it’s about clarity and consistency. Your Reels cover should:
🔥 Match your brand colors and fonts
🔥 Be readable at a glance (even small!)
🔥 Spark curiosity or clearly say what the Reel is about
🔥 Avoid too much clutter — leave space to breathe
Think of it as a mini billboard. It’s there to help people choose your content.
Want 20 Reels Cover Templates (For Free)? 🎉
We re giving away one of our most loved Canva template packs of Reels Covers for Instagram.
It includes 20 designs of Reels Covers, that can also be used for Instagram Lives Covers and a demo reel video showing you how to customize the covers for your own brand colors and aesthetics.
By feeling this form you will be added to Your Social Team’s email list. We respect your privacy.
I made you a free pack of 20 Canva Reels cover templates — totally customizable, super easy to use, and perfect for creators, coaches, and content pros.
They’re designed to:
→ Help you create consistent, branded covers in minutes
→ Make your Reels grid look polished AF
→ Save you from ever opening Canva with zero ideas again
👉 Grab the Free Canva Reels Covers Pack
Just open the link, add your colors and text, and boom — your content looks 10x more professional with way less effort.
Can I Edit Reels Covers After Posting?
Yes — and this is a great tip for busy creators.
Instagram lets you edit the cover of a Reel after it’s live, as long as you don’t delete and re-upload it. Just tap the three dots → Edit → Cover → Upload your new image.
So if you’ve got old Reels on your feed that deserve a little facelift? You can go back and update those covers anytime.
TL;DR — Creating Reels Covers in Canva is Fast, Easy, and Worth It
Here’s the quick recap:
🔹 Use a 1080x1920 Canva design to create Reels covers
🔹 Keep the layout clean, branded, and readable
🔹 Covers don’t affect your reach — they improve how your profile looks
🔹 You can batch create them or add them later
🔹 Grab 20 free templates and start today
No need to start from scratch or second-guess your layouts. I’ve put together a free pack of 20 Reels cover templates that are:
🔥 Easy to customize in your brand colors
🔥 Perfectly sized for Reels and grid cropping
🔥 Clean, modern, and designed for engagement
Whether you're a coach, creative, content creator, or social media manager — these templates will help your Reels look intentional and on-brand without overthinking it.
👉 Click here to download the free templates
(Seriously, they're totally free. No gimmicks.)
5. Think of Your Grid Like a Storefront
Your Reels cover isn’t just a graphic — it’s part of how your whole profile looks and feels.
Ask yourself:
→ Would I stop scrolling if I landed on this grid?
→ Can someone tell what I do just by skimming my covers?
→ Does my content look like it belongs to the same brand?
This is especially important if you're building a service-based business, selling digital products, or trying to grow a loyal audience.
First impressions still matter — even if your Reel is packed with gold inside, the cover is what gets people to actually watch it.
Want 20 Reels Cover Templates (For Free)? 🎉
I made you a free pack of 20 Canva Reels cover templates — totally customizable, super easy to use, and perfect for creators, coaches, and content pros.
They’re designed to:
→ Help you create consistent, branded covers in minutes
→ Make your Reels grid look polished AF
→ Save you from ever opening Canva with zero ideas again
TL;DR — Here’s What Makes a Good Reels Cover:
✅ Short, clear, clickable title
✅ Branded fonts + colors
✅ Text centered for the square grid view
✅ Designed in batches, not from scratch
✅ Aligned with your profile’s overall vibe
Want to make your next 20 Reels covers in under 15 minutes?
👉 Download your free Canva Reels Cover Templates now
Keep showing up — even imperfectly. Because a branded Reel that took you 5 minutes is still 100x better than one that never gets posted. 🤩
Manu Muraro is the founder of Your Social Team, which helps small entrepreneurs grow their business through content marketing, especially email and Instagram.
In 2021 Manu launched Your Template Club, one of the first Canva Template for Instagram subscriptions in the world to provide social media managers and small business owners with content templates designed for engagement.
Manu has also more recebtly started the first Instagram Reels Award Show, The Reelies Awards and an email marketing membership, Your Inbox Team.
Born and raised in Brazil, Manu moved to the U.S. in 2000 right out of college to work for Cartoon Network, where she made an award winning career in creative and strategy.