YouTube Banner Size: 2560×1440 [Updated September 2026]

Dimensions & Resolution

Recommended Upload SizeRecommended

2560 × 1440px

Official recommended size, especially for TV displays

Minimum Upload Size

2048 × 1152px

Smallest size YouTube accepts, 16:9 aspect ratio required

YouTube Banner Size for All Devices (Desktop, Mobile, Tablet, TV)

Device	Visible Banner Area	What Shows
Mobile	About 1544 x 423 px	Smallest crop, the safe area on a 2560 x 1440 upload
Tablet	1855 x 423 px	Slightly wider strip than mobile
Desktop	2560 x 423 px	Full-width strip across the top of the channel page
TV	2560 x 1440 px	The complete uploaded image

YouTube uses one uploaded banner for every device, but each device shows a different slice of it. YouTube gives the safe area for text and logos as 1235x338 pixels at the 2048x1152 minimum upload size, which is about 1544x423 pixels on a 2560x1440 upload. Only that central area appears on every screen, so all text and logos must stay inside it. Anything outside the safe area can be cut off, especially on phones.

Important Notes

YouTube channel banners (formerly called channel art) use one uploaded image across every device, but each screen shows a different slice of it. Upload at 2560x1440 pixels, the official recommended size, and never below the 2048x1152 pixel minimum. Keep all text and logos inside the central safe area from the device table above, because that region is the only part guaranteed to appear everywhere.

Optimization Tips

✓Always upload at 2560x1440px - the full recommended size
✓Keep all text and logos within the center safe area: 1235x338px at the 2048x1152 minimum, about 1544x423px at 2560x1440
✓Use YouTube Studio's preview to check how your banner looks on different devices
✓Design from the center outward - mobile crops most aggressively
✓Keep file size under 6MB - use JPG at 85% quality for photos
✓Consider how your profile picture overlaps the banner on desktop
✓PNG for clean graphics with text, JPG for photographic backgrounds
✓Leave the bottom-center area clear where channel links appear on desktop

Sources & Verification

Last verified: 2026-09-25

Official Documentation:📄 support.google.com →

Verified against the official YouTube Help Center banner image guidelines: 2560x1440px recommended upload (especially for TV), 2048x1152px minimum at 16:9, 6MB max file size. YouTube states the safe area as 1235x338px at the minimum upload size, which scales to about 1544x423px at the recommended 2560x1440px upload.

Profile Picture Overlap

Position:Bottom-left on desktop, centered below on mobile

Profile picture may overlap bottom-left corner on desktop layout

Channel Links

Position:Bottom-right on desktop

Channel links overlay the banner in the bottom-right on desktop. Keep this area clean.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best YouTube banner size?

Upload at 2560x1440 pixels for the best quality across all devices; the minimum is 2048x1152 at 16:9. YouTube gives the safe area for text and logos as 1235x338 pixels at that minimum size (about 1544x423 pixels on a 2560x1440 upload), centered in the image, and that area displays on every device including mobile phones.

What is the YouTube banner size for mobile?

On mobile, YouTube shows only the central safe area of your banner: 1235x338 pixels at the 2048x1152 minimum upload size, or about 1544x423 pixels on a 2560x1440 upload. Upload the full 2560x1440 pixel image and keep text and logos inside that safe area so nothing important gets cut off on phones.

Why does my YouTube banner look cropped on mobile?

YouTube displays different portions of your banner on different devices. Mobile shows the smallest area (the center safe area, about 1544x423px on a 2560x1440 upload), while desktop shows 2560x423px and TV shows the full 2560x1440px. Design with the center safe area in mind.

What is the YouTube banner safe area?

YouTube gives the safe area for text and logos as 1235x338 pixels at the 2048x1152 minimum upload size, centered in the image. On a full 2560x1440px banner that is about 1544x423 pixels. This is the region visible on all devices including mobile phones. Place all critical content - text, logos, calls-to-action - within this area.

What file format is best for YouTube banners?

Use JPG for photographic banners (keeps file size under 6MB limit easily) and PNG for graphics with text or logos that need crisp edges. Both formats are well-supported.

How often should I update my YouTube banner?

Update your banner whenever you rebrand, launch new content series, or want to promote seasonal campaigns. Many successful channels update their banners monthly to keep their channel page fresh.

Recent Updates

2026-09-25

The safe area now uses YouTube's own figure, 1235x338px at the 2048x1152px minimum upload size (about 1544x423px on a 2560x1440 upload).

2026-07-20

Re-verified every spec against the official YouTube Help Center guidelines and added the banner size for all devices section, including the official 2048x1152 minimum upload size.

2026-03-10

Initial publication. Verified all specifications against YouTube Help Center and multiple sources.

YouTube Channel Banner Specifications

Quick Specs