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YouTube Channel Banner Size: 2560×1440 and the Safe Area

The YouTube banner is the most confusing image on the platform because it's cropped differently on TVs, desktops, and phones. Get the dimensions and the safe area right and it looks intentional everywhere.

The correct channel banner size

  • Upload size: 2560 × 1440 pixels (16:9)
  • Safe area (always visible): 1546 × 423 pixels, centered
  • Maximum file size: 6 MB

YouTube displays the full 2560×1440 on a TV, a wide strip on desktop, and a narrow center band on mobile. Only the centered 1546 × 423 safe area is guaranteed to show on every device.

How to size your banner

  1. Open the image resizer.
  2. Drop in your artwork.
  3. Resize to 2560 × 1440.
  4. Download — it's processed in your browser, never uploaded.

Design with your logo, channel name, and any text inside the centered safe area. If your art is a different shape, crop it to 16:9 first so it isn't distorted.

Stay under 6 MB

A 2560×1440 PNG can be large. If yours is over 6 MB, run it through the image compressor — for a banner, exporting as JPG at 85% quality keeps it sharp and small.

Tips

  • Test on mobile. Preview your channel on a phone to confirm nothing important is cut off.
  • Keep it simple. Busy banners look cluttered once cropped; a clean center graphic reads best across devices.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a YouTube channel banner?
Upload at 2560 × 1440 pixels (16:9). YouTube crops it differently per device, so keep your logo and text inside the 1546 × 423 'safe area' in the center — that region is visible on TV, desktop, and mobile.
What is the YouTube banner safe area?
The 1546 × 423 px region in the center of the 2560×1440 banner. Anything outside it may be cropped on smaller screens, so put your channel name, tagline, and logo inside it.
What's the file size limit for channel art?
6 MB. If your banner exceeds it, compress the image after resizing to bring it under the limit without a visible quality drop.

Free tool

Image Resizer

Batch-resize photos to the exact dimensions a platform asks for.

Try Image Resizer— free →