YouTube Banner Size 2026: Perfect Channel Art Dimensions

The recommended YouTube banner size is 2560 x 1440 pixels with a minimum safe area of 1546 x 423 pixels centered in the image. This safe area ensures your text and important elements display correctly across TV, desktop, tablet, and mobile devices without cropping.

YouTube Banner Size Quick Reference

Understanding the Safe Area

YouTube displays your channel banner differently on each device. The "safe area" is the portion that's visible on all devices. Content outside this area may be cropped on smaller screens.

Device Display Comparison

Safe Area Visual Guide

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                     TV ONLY AREA                           │
│  ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐  │
│  │                  DESKTOP VISIBLE                      │  │
│  │  ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────┐    │  │
│  │  │              TABLET VISIBLE                   │    │  │
│  │  │  ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐  │    │  │
│  │  │  │    SAFE AREA (All Devices)            │  │    │  │
│  │  │  │         1546 x 423 pixels             │  │    │  │
│  │  │  └────────────────────────────────────────┘  │    │  │
│  │  └──────────────────────────────────────────────┘    │  │
│  └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘  │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                      2560 x 1440 pixels

Step-by-Step: Creating a YouTube Banner

Step 1: Set Up Your Canvas

Create a new document with these settings:

• Width: 2560 pixels
• Height: 1440 pixels
• Resolution: 72 DPI (for web)
• Color Mode: RGB

Step 2: Mark the Safe Area

Draw guides or a rectangle marking the safe area:

• Width: 1546 pixels (centered)
• Height: 423 pixels (centered)
• Left edge at: 507 pixels from left
• Top edge at: 508 pixels from top

Step 3: Add Background Elements

Fill the entire 2560x1440 canvas with your background:

• Pattern or texture that looks good cropped
• Gradient that works at any cropping
• Photo that tells a story at full size

Step 4: Place Critical Elements in Safe Area

Put your most important content in the 1546x423 center:

• Channel name
• Logo or branding
• Tagline or description
• Social media handles

Step 5: Add Extended Design

Fill the outer areas with:

• Decorative elements
• Extended background patterns
• Content that enhances but isn't essential

Step 6: Preview Across Devices

Before uploading, preview how your banner looks:

1. 1.Crop to 1546x423 (mobile)
2. 2.Crop to 1855x423 (tablet)
3. 3.View full width at 423px height (desktop)
4. 4.View entire 2560x1440 (TV)

Banner Content Best Practices

What to Include

What to Avoid

• ❌ Text near edges (will be cropped)
• ❌ Small fonts (unreadable on mobile)
• ❌ Critical info outside safe area
• ❌ Cluttered designs
• ❌ Low contrast text
• ❌ Copyright images without permission

Typography Guidelines

File Optimization

Staying Under 6MB

YouTube's maximum file size is 6MB. Here's how to optimize:

For PNG files:

1. 1.Reduce color depth if possible
2. 2.Use tools like TinyPNG for compression
3. 3.Consider JPG if no transparency needed

For JPG files:

1. 1.Save at quality 80-90%
2. 2.Remove metadata (EXIF data)
3. 3.Use progressive JPG for faster loading

Format Recommendations

Common Design Mistakes

Mistake 1: Ignoring the Safe Area

Mistake 2: Low Resolution Upload

Mistake 3: Forgetting About Profile Picture Overlap

Mistake 4: Using Copyrighted Images

Mistake 5: Too Much Text

YouTube Banner vs. Other Platform Sizes

YouTube requires the largest banner dimensions, so design for YouTube first, then adapt for other platforms.

Tools for Creating YouTube Banners

Free Design Tools

Using Canva for YouTube Banners

1. 1.Go to Canva.com
2. 2.Click "Create a design"
3. 3.Search for "YouTube Channel Art"
4. 4.Canva loads 2560x1440 canvas automatically
5. 5.Use templates or start from scratch
6. 6.Download as PNG or JPG

Template Resources

How to Upload Your YouTube Banner

Step-by-Step Upload Process

Preview Before Publishing

YouTube shows you previews for:

• Desktop
• TV
• Mobile

Check all three before publishing. If important elements are cut off, return to your design tool and adjust placement.

Key principles for successful channel art:

1. 1.Always use 2560x1440 canvas size
2. 2.Keep text and logos in the center 1546x423 safe area
3. 3.Preview on all device sizes before publishing
4. 4.Optimize file size to stay under 6MB
5. 5.Update periodically to keep your channel fresh

Use tools like Canva or Photopea to create professional banners without design experience. Start with templates and customize to match your brand.

Related Resources:

• 25 Free YouTube Banner Templates
• YouTube Thumbnail Size Guide
• Best Free YouTube Thumbnail Makers