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Placeholder Image Generator

Generate placeholder image URLs from placehold.co, Picsum and via.placeholder in any size and color. Copy the URL, img tag or markdown — ready for mockups and prototypes.

placehold.co Picsum Photos Custom size Custom colors Copy img tag Markdown link
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Placeholder service comparison

Service Image type Custom color Best for
placehold.co Solid color + text ✅ Yes Wireframes, color-coded regions, labeled blocks
Picsum Photos Random real photo ❌ No Prototypes needing photo realism
Picsum (seeded) Fixed real photo ❌ No Reproducible mockups — same image every load
via.placeholder Solid color + text ✅ Yes Simple numeric placeholder, similar to placehold.co
dummyimage.com Solid color + text ✅ Yes Alternative to placehold.co with more format options
loremflickr.com Keyword-matched photo ❌ No Prototypes needing topic-specific photos

Frequently asked questions

What is the best placeholder image service?

placehold.co: best for solid-color placeholders with custom text, colors and font. Picsum: best for realistic photo placeholders from Unsplash. via.placeholder: simple numeric placeholders similar to placehold.co. Rule: Picsum for photo realism, placehold.co for colored wireframe blocks.

How do I use placeholder images in HTML?

<img src="https://placehold.co/800x400" alt="Placeholder" width="800" height="400">. Always include width and height to prevent layout shift. For Picsum with a fixed seed: https://picsum.photos/seed/mypage/800/400 — returns the same image every time.

Can I use placeholder images in production?

No — placeholder services are for development and prototyping only. Production images must be your own assets on your CDN. Using third-party placeholders in production creates uptime dependencies, slow external requests, and potential legal issues with stock photos. Always replace before launch.

How do I create a placeholder with a specific color in placehold.co?

URL format: https://placehold.co/{width}x{height}/{bg-color}/{text-color}. Example: https://placehold.co/600x400/3b82f6/ffffff — blue background, white text. Add ?text=My+Label for custom text. Add ?font=Roboto to change the font. Colors are HEX without # or named colors.

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