YouTube Banner Size: Dimensions, Safe Area and How to Upload

The YouTube banner size YouTube recommends is 2560 x 1440 pixels, at a 16:9 aspect ratio. The minimum it accepts is 2048 x 1152 pixels, the file must be 6 MB or smaller, and anything you need people to read should sit inside a 1235 x 338 pixel safe area in the middle.

That is the whole spec. The rest of this page covers why the safe area matters, how to upload the banner on a computer or phone, and how to design one that still reads when YouTube crops it.

YouTube's official banner specs at a glance

These numbers come from YouTube Help's channel branding page, and they are the same on the computer, Android and iPhone versions of it.

YouTube's separate banner tips page goes a step further and says to upload "at least 2560x1440 px" for the best display on all devices. So treat 2560 x 1440 as the size to design at, and 2048 x 1152 as the floor you should never go under.

YouTube's help pages do not list accepted file formats for banners. They list formats only for profile pictures (JPG, GIF, BMP or PNG, no animated GIFs, up to 15 MB). A standard JPG or PNG under 6 MB is the safe choice.

Why the safe area matters: TV, desktop and mobile

You upload one banner, and YouTube uses it on computer, mobile and TV. It does not look the same on each. In YouTube's words, the full image is shown on larger screens such as TV, while on some views and devices it gets cropped.

In practice that means:

• TV shows the whole 16:9 image, edge to edge.
• Other views and devices can show a cropped version, so parts of your image can disappear.
• The 1235 x 338 px safe area is the part YouTube keeps in view everywhere. If your channel name, tagline or logo sits outside it, some viewers will see half a word.

If you run an Official Artist Channel, the banner you upload in Studio shows only on computer and mobile. TV and YouTube Music use a separate banner, which you set under Profile.

Upload or change your banner in YouTube Studio

On a computer, the banner lives under Customization in YouTube Studio.

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
2. In the left menu, select Customization, then the Profile tab.
3. Under Banner image, click CHANGE and select your image.
4. Adjust the crop in the preview. This is your chance to check what survives on each device.
5. Click DONE.
6. Click PUBLISH.

Your new banner goes live only after you click Publish, so do not close the tab after Done.

Change your banner from your phone

You can also swap the banner from the YouTube app or the YouTube Studio app.

In the YouTube app (iPhone and Android):

1. Tap your profile picture.
2. Tap Your channel.
3. Tap EDIT, then tap the banner image on the right.
4. Take a new photo or choose one from your library.
5. Tap Save.

In the YouTube Studio app:

1. Tap your profile picture.
2. Tap Edit profile, then tap your banner image.
3. Take a new photo or choose one from your library.
4. Tap Save.

Phone uploads are fine for a quick refresh, but build the file itself on a larger screen if you can. It is much easier to check the safe area when you can see the full 2560 x 1440 canvas.

How to make a YouTube banner that reads everywhere

YouTube says you can make a banner in any photo editing software and names Canva as a popular option. Whichever you use, start a canvas at 2560 x 1440 px and draw a guide rectangle for the safe area. YouTube defines the safe area as 1235 x 338 px at the minimum size, centered in the image, so keep everything important in that middle band with room to spare.

Some advice that holds up across devices:

• Put text and logos in the safe area, and only there. Treat everything outside it as background that may vanish.
• Use high contrast. The banner shows small on phones, so light text on a busy photo gets lost. A solid or softly blurred backdrop behind your text helps.
• Keep it to one message. A channel name and a short line about what you post reads better than a paragraph.
• Match your profile picture and your look elsewhere. YouTube's own tips recommend keeping your banner and profile picture consistent with your branding off YouTube.
• Add your upload schedule if you have one. YouTube suggests this so viewers know when to come back, and it gives an example channel that shows its streaming schedule and social links in its banner.
• Skip borders, frames and drop shadows. YouTube asks you not to include them.
• Refresh it when your channel changes. A new series, a new name or a new focus is a good reason to update.

Before you publish, preview the crop in Studio and look at the result on your own phone and computer. If any letter touches the edge of the visible strip, move it in.

Make the banner point somewhere

A banner can tell people where else to find you, but the text in it is not clickable. The clickable links on your channel page are the ones you add in the Links section of your channel profile, and you can showcase up to 14 of them. Our guide on how to add links to your YouTube channel walks through it, and if you want a clean address to print in the banner or share, see how to find and customize your YouTube channel URL.

Where Olaa fits

If your banner says "links below" and you have more places to send people than YouTube's link list comfortably holds, a single link in bio page can be the one link you lead with. Olaa gives you one short link, olaa.im/yourname, that opens a page with everything you want people to find. The free plan includes unlimited links, YouTube, Spotify and other players that play right on the page, social icons and a QR code. Setup takes a few minutes and needs no code. You can see what is included on the features page, or create your page and put the link in your YouTube profile.

FAQ

What is the best YouTube banner size in 2026?

YouTube recommends 2560 x 1440 pixels at a 16:9 aspect ratio, especially for TV. The minimum it accepts is 2048 x 1152 pixels. Design at 2560 x 1440 so the banner stays sharp on large screens.

What is the YouTube banner safe area?

At the minimum size of 2048 x 1152 pixels, the safe area is 1235 x 338 pixels in the center of the image. YouTube says to keep text and logos inside it, because the rest of the image can be cropped on some views and devices.

Why does my YouTube banner look cropped on my phone?

YouTube uses one banner on TV, computer and mobile, and only larger screens show the full image. On some views and devices the image is cropped, which is why anything outside the safe area can be cut off. Move text and logos into the center and preview the crop in Studio before publishing.

What is the maximum file size for a YouTube banner?

The banner file must be 6 MB or smaller. If your export is too large, save it as a compressed JPG or reduce the quality slightly while keeping the 2560 x 1440 dimensions.

Can I change my YouTube banner on my phone?

Yes. In the YouTube app, tap your profile picture, then Your channel, then EDIT, and tap the banner image. In the YouTube Studio app, tap your profile picture, then Edit profile, then the banner. Choose a photo and tap Save.

Does a banner help my channel get verified?

A banner is one of the things YouTube requires before you can apply for the verified badge, along with a profile picture, a description and at least one public video. It is not enough on its own, since the badge also requires 100,000 subscribers and passing YouTube's review. Our guide on how to verify your YouTube account explains the badge and the separate feature verification.