YouTube Banner Size: 2560 × 1440 Pixels

Updated September 2026 · By Joseph Pugliese, founder of Linklay

Last verified: September 7, 2026

The recommended YouTube channel banner size is 2560 × 1440 pixels. YouTube also publishes a minimum upload size and a smaller safe area for text and logos, so the full canvas and the important-content area are not the same thing.

Quick answer

Use a 2560 × 1440 px image for a YouTube channel banner. YouTube lists 2048 × 1152 px at 16:9 as the minimum upload size, with a 1235 × 338 px safe area for text and logos at that minimum size, and a maximum file size of 6 MB.

At a glance

SpecValue
Recommended dimensions2560 × 1440 px
Minimum upload dimensions2048 × 1152 px
Aspect ratio16:9
Safe area at minimum size1235 × 338 px
Maximum file size6 MB

What should you use?

YouTube banners are responsive. The same image is shown across TVs, desktop browsers, tablets and phones, but each surface can crop the artwork differently. That is why designing only around the outer 2560 × 1440 canvas can lead to text or logos disappearing on smaller screens. Treat the center safe area as the place for anything that must always remain visible.

How YouTube handles this

For a clean channel header, keep the channel name, upload schedule and important branding near the center. Background photography or texture can extend to the edges because edge content is the first thing likely to be cropped. Avoid adding borders or device-specific framing to the file because YouTube handles the crop itself.

Practical guidance

If you already have a smaller 2048 × 1152 banner, it can meet YouTube’s minimum. For a new design, use 2560 × 1440 so the source file has enough resolution for larger displays. Preview the banner in YouTube Studio before publishing because the crop changes by device.

Sources and verification

Verified against YouTube Help on September 7, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best YouTube banner size?

2560 × 1440 pixels is YouTube’s recommended channel banner dimension.

What is the minimum YouTube banner size?

2048 × 1152 pixels at a 16:9 aspect ratio.

What is the YouTube banner safe area?

At the minimum upload size, YouTube lists 1235 × 338 pixels as the safe area for text and logos.

How large can a YouTube banner file be?

YouTube says the banner image should be 6 MB or smaller.

Sources

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