Make your channel banner 2560 × 1440 pixels, the size YouTube recommends, especially for TV. The minimum is 2048 × 1152 pixels in a 16:9 shape, and the file must be 6 MB or less.
Keep text and logos inside the safe area: 1235 × 338 pixels in the center, measured at the minimum size.
YouTube banner dimensions
| Recommended size | 2560 × 1440 pixels |
|---|---|
| Minimum size | 2048 × 1152 pixels |
| Shape | 16:9 |
| Safe area for text and logos | 1235 × 338 pixels at the minimum size |
| Max file size | 6 MB |
Source: YouTube Help, “Manage your channel branding”.
What the safe area means
YouTube uses the same banner on computers, phones and TVs, but shows it differently on each. Large screens can fill with the whole image, while some views and devices crop it. The central 1235 × 338 pixels zone, measured at the minimum size of 2048 × 1152 pixels, is the part YouTube keeps for text and logos.
If you design at the recommended 2560 × 1440 pixels, the safe zone grows in proportion: it keeps the same place and the same share of the image. The checker above draws it on your banner, whatever its size, so you can see at a glance whether your channel name or logo risks being cut.
How to design a banner that works on every screen
- Start from a 16:9 canvas at 2560 × 1440 pixels.
- Fill the whole canvas with background. A pattern, a photo or a color gradient that still looks fine when the edges are cropped.
- Put the essentials in the center strip: channel name, a short promise of what you publish, maybe your upload rhythm.
- Skip frames, borders and shadows. YouTube Help asks you not to add these embellishments, and they would be cropped on many screens anyway.
- Export a light JPG under 6 MB, then run it through the checker.
How to change your banner
Sign in to YouTube Studio, open Customization in the left menu, then Profile. Next to the banner image, click Change, pick your file, adjust the crop in the preview and click Done, then Publish.
If your image has the wrong size, the image resizer can export it at 2560 × 1440 pixels or 2048 × 1152 pixels.
FAQ
What size is a YouTube banner in pixels?
2560 × 1440 pixels is recommended. Anything smaller than 2048 × 1152 pixels is refused.
Why is my banner cropped on my phone?
YouTube crops the banner on some views and devices. Keep text and logos inside the 1235 × 338 pixels safe area and they stay visible.
Is 1024 × 576 a valid banner size?
No. It has the right 16:9 shape, but it is smaller than the 2048 × 1152 pixels minimum. Start again from a larger image.
Can I use a GIF as a banner?
YouTube Help does not list animated banners. Use a still JPG or PNG under 6 MB.