YouTube banner is an essential part of your brand’s marketing mix. Although the YouTube banner is a relatively new component in the expansive social media landscape, it can’t be ignored! That’s because – with 2.3 billion logged-in users every month – YouTube is the most popular video streaming platform.
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create some great YouTube banners, with full information regarding the right YouTube Banner Size + a great Youtube Banner template that you can download.
What is a YouTube Banner
A YouTube banner image is the equivalent of your website homepage or Facebook cover image. It stretches horizontally across the top of your YouTube channel page.
Here’s how it looks like:
Your YouTube banner design is the first thing that gets noticed when someone visits your channel. It’s, arguably, the most important part of your channel and must represent you or your brand accordingly.
What is The Perfect Size for a YouTube Banner
The perfect size for a YouTube banner is 2560 x 1440 pixels, with a maximum file size of 6MB. It’s important to keep in mind that the banner will be viewed on different devices with different screen sizes, so it’s recommended to design the banner with the safe area (1546 x 423 pixels) in mind to ensure that important elements are not cut off on smaller screens. Additionally, it’s a good idea to use high-quality images and graphics for optimal visual appeal.
Here are a few important points that you need to consider when it comes to YouTube Banner Size:
- YouTube’s Recommended Banner Size is 2,560 x 1,440 pixels
- Minimum image dimensions: 2,048 x 1,152 pixels
- Minimum image safe area for text and logos: 1,546 x 423 pixels
- Maximum image width: 2,560 x 423 pixels
- File size limit: 6MB
Feeling confused seeing so many different sizes mentioned above? That’s due to the fact that your banner will display on many different sized devices differently. For example, the banner will look differently on mobile than on a desktop or a TV screen. So, you would like your YouTube banner to look great, whether it’s on the largest screen or the smallest.
To put these numbers in perspective, here’s a visual guide:
There’s a huge range of banner sizes that you’ve got to plan for, in order to ensure that your YouTube banner displays optimally on all screen sizes. What looks great on a large screen may not look as appealing on a smartphone screen, or vice versa.
Here’s an example:
As you can see, there’s a wide variation in how the banner looks on different screen sizes. Therefore, it can get a little tricky to get it right on each screen size. That’s where the ‘safe area’ comes into the picture. The ‘safe area’ is the minimum area you need to ensure your banner displays correctly on all screens.
So, you should make sure that all the essential information on your YouTube banner is completely within the safe area (1,546 x 423 pixels).
What is The YouTube Banner Size for Mobile?
The recommended size for the YouTube banner on mobile devices is 1546 x 423 pixels. This is the safe area of the banner that will be visible on all devices, including mobile devices with smaller screens. While the overall banner size is still 2560 x 1440 pixels, it’s important to design the banner with the safe area in mind to ensure that important elements like text or logos are not cut off on smaller screens.
It’s also worth noting that YouTube may crop the sides of the banner image on mobile devices, so it’s important to ensure that any crucial elements are within the safe area. Additionally, it’s a good idea to use high-quality images and graphics that are optimized for mobile viewing for the best user experience.
Don’t miss the article: How to Upload a Short Video to Youtube from iPhone.
How Do I Make My YouTube Banner Fit?
To make your YouTube banner fit, you’ll need to adjust its size and dimensions so that it matches the recommended size for a YouTube banner, which is 2560 x 1440 pixels.
If your current banner is not the correct size, you can resize it using photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, or Canva. Simply open the image in the software, and then use the “resize” or “canvas size” tool to adjust the dimensions to 2560 x 1440 pixels.
You do not need a Canva Pro subscription to create a YouTube banner that fits the recommended size of 2560 x 1440 pixels. Canva offers a free version that includes many useful design tools and templates, including a YouTube banner template that is already optimized for the correct size.
To use the Canva YouTube banner template, simply sign up for a free Canva account, search for “YouTube banner” in the templates section, and select the one you like. Then, you can customize it with your own images, text, and branding elements using Canva’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor.
Once you have finished designing your YouTube banner, you can download it as a PNG or JPG file and upload it to your YouTube channel. Then, you can use YouTube’s channel art editor to adjust the position and cropping of the banner to ensure that it fits properly on the page.
If you’re creating a new banner from scratch, you can use the same photo editing software to create a new canvas with the correct dimensions, then design your banner within that canvas.
Once your banner is the correct size, you’ll need to make sure that it fits properly on your YouTube channel page. To do this, you can use the crop and adjust tools provided by YouTube’s channel art editor.
To access the channel art editor, go to your YouTube channel, click on the “customize channel” button, and then select “edit channel art”. From there, you can upload your banner and use the cropping and positioning tools to ensure that it fits properly on the page.
It’s important to keep in mind that the YouTube banner may appear differently on different devices, so it’s a good idea to preview your banner on various devices to make sure that it looks good and that important elements are not cut off.
Some Great YouTube Banner Ideas
Now that you know a lot of things about the optimal YouTube banner size, you must be all set to create your own unique banner. But, before you do so, have a look at these cool YouTube banners:
GoPro
Known as the number one camera choice for outdoor sports enthusiasts, GoPro creates some wonderful YouTube banners. This GoPro banner reflects their latest offerings along with a spectacular GoPro shot.
If you enjoy making GoPro videos and would love to try live stream, read: GoPro Live Stream EASY Guide (Youtube, Facebook, Twitch).
Food Insider
Food Insider has designed a great banner that showcases a series of delicious items from their YouTube stories. It includes five mouthwatering shots. It reminds you to stay true to your brand’s main highlight, even on social networks.
Airbnb
We really like how Airbnb uses a simple image as their banner for Youtube that perfectly complements their content.
ProjectGO
We – at ProjectGO – have created an interesting pattern of images, along with the information that represents our line of work. It is consistent with the look of our branding elsewhere.
Lego
Just like their products, Lego creates some great YouTube content for kids. Their banner matches the kid-friendly nature of their content too.
Have in mind, that the article “How to Grow Your YouTube Channel” can be a valuable resource for anyone looking to increase their viewership and build a successful YouTube channel.
How to Upload YouTube Banner
Now that you know how some great YouTube banners look like, let’s go through the process of uploading your YouTube banner. Here are the steps to add a banner to your YouTube channel:
- Sign in to your YouTube account.
- Click on the thumbnail in the top right, then click ‘Your channel’.
- Click anywhere on the banner area, then upload (or drag) an image from your computer.
- A preview will appear that will display how your YouTube banner will look on different devices. Here, you can adjust the crop to change the way your image is displayed.
- Click “Select” when you’re satisfied with how your image looks.
YouTube Banner Template – Free Download
Here you can download a free template (Photoshop .psd) for creating the perfect Youtube Channel Art. Download it and create an awesome youtube banner for your channel!
Click here to download the Youtube Banner Template >>
And read this article to learn more and have more options for Youtube Banner Template (Free Download).
Ready To Upload Your Youtube Banner?
In conclusion, the perfect size for a YouTube banner is 2560 x 1440 pixels, with a maximum file size of 6MB. It’s important to design the banner with the safe area (1546 x 423 pixels) in mind to ensure that important elements are not cut off on smaller screens. Additionally, it’s recommended to use high-quality images and graphics for optimal visual appeal.
Creating a YouTube banner that fits these size requirements can help you optimize your channel’s branding and make a strong first impression on your audience. A custom banner that represents your brand and engages your audience can help you stand out on the platform and encourage viewers to engage with your content.
Remember to use a specific thumbnail size as well (1280 x 720 pixels, with a minimum width of 640 pixels) to ensure that your videos are also optimized for viewing on the platform. With these tips, you can optimize your YouTube presence and create a visually appealing and engaging channel that represents your brand and engages your audience.
It’s important as well to use a specific thumbnail size for YouTube to ensure that your videos look their best and are optimized for viewing on the platform. You might also be interested in The YouTube Thumbnail SIZE You Need + Template Download.
Thanks for reading!
I hope this post answered all the questions regarding Youtube Banner Size and guidelines 🙂
Sharing is Caring ❤️
If you found this article useful, please share it on social media with your family and friends!