The Ultimate YouTube Banner Size Guide

YouTube channel art (also called a banner or header image) is one of the first things visitors see when they land on your channel. Getting the dimensions right is crucial because YouTube displays your banner differently on TVs, desktops, tablets, and phones.

Recommended Upload Size

YouTube recommends uploading an image that is 2560 × 1440 pixels. This is the full size that will show on TVs. However, most of your viewers won't see the full image.

Safe Areas by Device

Device	Visible Area	Notes
TV	2560 × 1440	Full image, background display
Desktop	2560 × 423	Center horizontal strip
Tablet	1855 × 423	Center crop of desktop view
Mobile	1546 × 423	Tightest crop, safe zone for text

The "Safe Zone" Rule

Always place your most important content — channel name, tagline, upload schedule — within the 1546 × 423 pixel center area. This is the only area guaranteed to be visible on all devices, including mobile phones.

File Requirements

Maximum file size: 6 MB
Recommended dimensions: 2560 × 1440 pixels
Minimum dimensions: 2048 × 1152 pixels
Accepted formats: JPG, PNG, BMP, non-animated GIF
Aspect ratio: 16:9

Tips for a Perfect Banner

Design at 2560×1440 but keep key elements in the center 1546×423 safe area
Use high-contrast text for readability across all screen sizes
Include your upload schedule to encourage subscriptions
Add social media handles for cross-platform discovery
Use a consistent color scheme that matches your thumbnails and branding
Test your banner using YouTube's preview tool before uploading

How to Download YouTube Banners

Want to see what other successful creators use for their banners? Use banner.yt to download any YouTube channel's banner in full resolution. Just enter the channel ID and get the banner in WebP, JPEG, PNG, or AVIF format.