YouTube Banner Maker
Make a channel banner that fits every screen. Download it at 2560 x 1440, free, with no watermark.
Style
Background
Font, size and color
Where the words sit
Check the phone box after you move them: every screen shows what is inside it.
How it looks on each screen
A TV shows the whole banner, as drawn above. Wider computer screens show a little more.
The YouTube banner size is 2560 x 1440 pixels. Keep words and logos in the middle 1546 x 423, the safe area every screen shows. The file must be 6 MB or smaller.
How to Create the Perfect YouTube Channel Banner
Your banner is the wide picture across the top of your channel page. It tells a visitor what your channel is about before they press play.
One picture has to work on a phone, a computer and a TV. So it is big, and each screen shows a different part of it.
YouTube Banner Size ()
| What | YouTube's number |
|---|---|
| Best size | 2560 x 1440 pixels |
| Smallest size | 2048 x 1152 pixels |
| Shape | 16:9, like a TV |
| Safe area for words | 1546 x 423 in the middle1235 x 338 at the smallest size |
| File size | 6 MB or smaller |
Understanding YouTube Banner Dimensions
A TV shows the whole picture. A computer shows a wide strip through the middle. A phone shows the narrowest part, the middle box.
That middle box is the safe area: 1546 x 423 pixels at full size. Put your name and words there and every screen shows them.
Words cut off on your phone? They were outside the middle box. The box drawn on the banner here shows where they fit.
YouTube also asks for no shadows, borders or frames around the picture itself. Need other sizes? The Image Size Guide has every YouTube picture.
What to Include on Your YouTube Banner
- Your channel name: the biggest words, in a bold font that is easy to read
- What you make: a few words, like “Weekly tech reviews”
- When you post: “New videos every Wednesday” gives people a reason to subscribe
Still choosing a name? Try the Channel Name Generator.
Banner Design Best Practices
- Keep it simple: one or two lines of words and a clean background
- Make words stand out: light words on dark, or dark words on light
- Match your thumbnails: the same colors and fonts make your channel look put together
- Start from the phone: check the phone preview first, since it shows the least
- Refresh it: a new series or a new posting day is a good reason for a new banner
How to Upload Your Banner to YouTube
-
Open YouTube Studio
Sign in at studio.youtube.com on a computer.
-
Open Customization, then Profile
Both are in the menu on the left.
-
Press Change under Banner
Pick the file you downloaded here. It is already the right size, so the crop should fit as it is.
-
Press Done, then Publish
Your new banner is saved.
Sizes and steps checked in November 2026 against YouTube Help on managing your channel branding.
Frequently asked questions
What creators ask most about YouTube banners.
What is the correct YouTube banner size?
YouTube recommends 2560 x 1440 pixels, and the smallest it accepts is 2048 x 1152. Keep words and logos inside the middle 1546 x 423, the safe area every screen shows.
What is the YouTube banner safe area?
It is the middle box every screen shows, phones included. YouTube gives it as 1235 x 338 pixels at the smallest size, which is about 1546 x 423 at 2560 x 1440.
Why does my YouTube banner look different on my phone?
Each screen shows a different part of the same picture. A TV shows all of it, a computer shows a wide strip, and a phone shows only the middle box. Words outside that box get cut off.
How big can the banner file be?
YouTube takes banner files of 6 MB or smaller. A banner made from colors stays far under that. A big photo background can go over, so this maker warns you when it does.
How do I upload a YouTube channel banner?
Open YouTube Studio on a computer. Go to Customization, then Profile, and press Change under Banner. Pick your file, check the crop, press Done, then Publish.
What should I put on my YouTube banner?
Your channel name, a few words on what you make, and when you post. Keep all three in the safe area and use light words on dark, or dark words on light.
Can I make a YouTube banner for free without signing up?
Yes. It is free, with no signup and no watermark. Everything happens in your browser, and you download the banner at the full 2560 x 1440 size.
Can I use my own picture as the background?
Yes. Choose Photo under Background and pick a picture from your device. You can fill the banner, fit the whole picture, or stretch it, then add your words on top.
Does the banner maker work on a phone?
Yes. You can make, check and download your banner on a phone. To put it on YouTube, YouTube Studio on a computer is the easiest way.
Can I make a YouTube banner with AI?
This free maker is hands-on: you pick the colors, words and layout. CollabPals members also get three finished banners made from their own channel, free, and paid members can have AI paint the picture.
More Free Tools
Image Size Guide
Every YouTube picture size, from thumbnails to your profile picture.
Thumbnail Previewer
See your thumbnail on YouTube's pages before you post.
Channel Name Generator
Name ideas for your channel, with a handle check.
End Screen Previewer
Plan the end of your video, then save it as a picture.
Thumbnail Downloader
Save any video's thumbnail in every size.
Thumbnail Templates
Thumbnail layouts by niche, with colors that work.
Title Generator
Titles that make people want to click, for your next video.
Bio Generator
A channel description that says what you make.
Subscribe Link Generator
A link that asks viewers to subscribe in one tap.
Tag Generator
Tags from real YouTube searches, ready to copy.
Money Calculator
What your views could earn, by niche and country.
Engagement Rate Calculator
How your likes and comments compare in your niche.
Grow together
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