YouTube · free & no signup
YouTube Channel Banner Size: 2560 × 1440
Upload the full 2560×1440 canvas so it looks right on TVs — while keeping your name inside the 1235×338 area everyone can see.
Drag the image to reposition it · scroll or pinch to zoom
Batch mode
Every image will be resized to and downloaded as one ZIP. Change the size below before you start.
Works with images up to roughly 50 MP (about 8000 × 6000 px) depending on your device's memory. WebP export is unavailable in a few older Safari versions — the option is disabled automatically when that is the case.
How it works
Three steps, no account, no watermark.
Add your image
Drag a file onto the box, click to browse, or paste straight from your clipboard with Ctrl + V. Nothing is uploaded anywhere.
Frame it
The crop box is already locked to 2560 × 1440. Drag the image to move it and scroll or pinch to zoom until it looks right.
Download
Pick PNG, JPG or WebP. The file is compressed automatically to stay under YouTube's limit — or grab every YouTube size at once as a ZIP.
About the youtube channel banner size
A YouTube channel banner is the only image on the platform that has to work on four completely different screens at once. YouTube takes one 2560 × 1440 upload and crops it differently for TV, desktop, tablet and phone. That is why so many channel banners have half a logo or a slogan sliced down the middle.
The rule that solves it: upload the full 2560 × 1440 canvas, but treat the central 1235 × 338 rectangle as the only part that is guaranteed to be visible. Everything outside that strip is decorative — texture, gradient, a repeating pattern — and everything you need people to read goes inside it. Keep the file under 6 MB and YouTube will accept it first try.
Every YouTube image size
The complete list — click any row to load that size into the tool, or use the ZIP button to export all of them at once. Official means the platform publishes that figure itself; Recommended means it is the widely used standard where the platform publishes none.
| Image | Size (px) | Max file | Source | What to know | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Video thumbnail | 1280 × 720 | 2 MB | Official | 16:9. Shown as small as 246×138 in the sidebar, so keep faces and text large. | |
| Channel banner | 2560 × 1440 | 6 MB | Official | Only the central 1235×338 safe area is visible on every device — keep text there. | |
| Profile picture | 800 × 800 | 4 MB | Official | Cropped to a circle. Leave breathing room around the edges. | |
| Video watermark | 150 × 150 | 1 MB | Official | A transparent PNG on one flat shape reads best over video. | |
| Shorts cover | 1080 × 1920 | 2 MB | Recommended | 9:16. On your channel's Shorts shelf only the centre square of it is shown. |
Tips for YouTube
What actually makes the difference once the size is right.
Text lives in the middle 1235 × 338
That is the mobile-safe rectangle at the centre of the banner. Your channel name, tagline and upload schedule belong inside it; nothing else is guaranteed to survive the crop.
Let the edges be atmosphere
The outer area only shows on wide desktop and TV. Use a gradient, a blurred continuation or a pattern there rather than important content.
Watch the bottom-right corner
Your social links and the subscribe button sit over the lower-right region on desktop. Leave it visually quiet.
Avoid thin fonts
The banner gets scaled down hard on phones. Anything under a medium weight turns to mush — go bold and large.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a YouTube channel banner in 2026?
Upload 2560 × 1440 pixels at under 6 MB. YouTube's minimum is 2048 × 1152, but 2560 × 1440 is the size that stays sharp on TV displays.
What is the YouTube banner safe area?
1235 × 338 pixels in the centre of the image. That rectangle is visible on every device, so all text and logos should sit inside it.
Why is my banner cropped on mobile?
Because YouTube shows only the central strip on phones. It is not a bug — design for the safe area and the crop stops mattering.
Can I use a photo as a channel banner?
Yes, but position the subject in the centre and keep it away from busy detail, otherwise your channel name becomes unreadable against it.
What file size does YouTube allow for banners?
6 MB maximum. This tool compresses your banner automatically and shows the final size before you download it.
Do I need a different image for mobile?
No. One 2560 × 1440 upload is used everywhere; YouTube handles the crops. That is exactly why the safe area matters.
More size tools
Same tool, every other platform — all free and all local to your browser.