YouTube banner size and resizer
2560 x 1440 px recommended, 2048 x 1152 px minimum, 16:9, 6 MB or smaller. Keep text and logos inside the central 1235 x 338 px safe area. Upload an image below to crop it, check the safe area and download it at the right size.
Your image is processed in your browser and never uploaded anywhere. The overlay shows the area YouTube keeps visible on every device; it is not included in the downloaded banner.
YouTube channel art sizes at a glance
| Asset | Size | File rules |
|---|---|---|
| Banner (recommended) | 2560 x 1440 px, 16:9 | 6 MB or smaller |
| Banner (minimum) | 2048 x 1152 px, 16:9 | 6 MB or smaller |
| Banner safe area | 1235 x 338 px at 2048 x 1152 (about 1544 x 423 at 2560 x 1440) | Text and logos only |
| Profile picture | Shown at 98 x 98 px | JPG, GIF, BMP or PNG, 15 MB or less, no animated GIFs |
| Video watermark | At least 150 x 150 px, square | Less than 1 MB |
Source: YouTube Help, Manage your channel branding, checked 31 October 2026. The 2560 x 1440 safe area is scaled from YouTube's 2048 x 1152 figure.
Recommended or minimum: the detail most guides get wrong
Many guides call 2048 x 1152 the recommended YouTube banner size. YouTube lists it as the minimum upload size. Its recommendation is 2560 x 1440, especially for TV, where the full image is visible on a large screen. If your source image allows it, export at 2560 x 1440; the safe area scales up in proportion.
Why your banner gets cropped
You upload one 16:9 image, but each device shows a different slice of it. TVs can show the whole image; desktops and phones show a wide strip across the middle. Only the central safe area is visible everywhere, so put your channel name, tagline and any logo there, and treat the rest as background that can safely disappear. YouTube also asks you not to add shadows, borders or frames, since the edges are cropped unpredictably.
How to make a banner that works on every device
- Start from an image at least 2560 x 1440, or download the blank safe-area template above and design on top of it.
- Place text and logos inside the safe area only, with some breathing room from its edges.
- Upload your design to the resizer, turn the safe-area overlay on, and nudge the position until nothing important sits outside it.
- Download the banner and upload it in YouTube Studio under Customization, then check the preview for desktop, mobile and TV.
Channel art sets expectations, and thumbnails do the same job on every video. If you want them designed and consistent with your brand, see our thumbnail design service, and for the videos themselves, our YouTube editing service. Curious what the channel could earn? Try the YouTube money calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a YouTube banner?
YouTube recommends 2560 x 1440 pixels, especially for TV, with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The minimum it accepts is 2048 x 1152 pixels. Keep the file at 6 MB or smaller.
What is the YouTube banner safe area?
At the minimum size of 2048 x 1152, YouTube says the safe area for text and logos is 1235 x 338 pixels in the centre of the image. Scaled to the recommended 2560 x 1440, that is about 1544 x 423 pixels. Anything outside it can be cropped on some devices.
What is the YouTube banner size for mobile?
There is no separate mobile banner. You upload one image, and phones show a cropped strip from the middle. That is why YouTube asks you to keep text and logos inside the central safe area.
Can I use a 1920 x 1080 image as a YouTube banner?
Not directly: 1920 x 1080 is smaller than YouTube's 2048 x 1152 minimum. Scale it up to at least 2048 x 1152, or better 2560 x 1440, before uploading. The resizer on this page does that, though a larger original will look sharper.
What is the maximum file size for a YouTube banner?
6 MB. The resizer exports a JPG and lowers the quality slightly if needed to stay under that limit.
What size is a YouTube profile picture?
YouTube displays the profile picture at 98 x 98 pixels. Upload a JPG, GIF, BMP or PNG file (no animated GIFs) of 15 MB or less. A square image works best because it is shown as a circle.
What size is a YouTube video watermark?
At least 150 x 150 pixels, square, and less than 1 MB. You can show it for the whole video, the last 15 seconds, or from a custom start time.