How to Resize an Image for a YouTube Banner (The Right Way)
Your YouTube channel banner is the first thing visitors see when they land on your channel page — but getting the dimensions right is notoriously confusing. Display it on a TV and it looks huge. View it on mobile and you see only a tiny strip. Resize it wrong and your logo or text gets cropped out. Here's exactly how to do it correctly.
YouTube Banner Dimensions: The Complete Size Guide
YouTube displays your channel banner at different dimensions depending on the device:
- •TV: 2560×1440px (full image shown)
- •Desktop: 2560×423px (center crop)
- •Tablet: 1855×423px
- •Mobile: 1546×423px
- •Minimum recommended: 2048×1152px
- •Maximum file size: 6MB
- •Accepted formats: JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP
The Critical "Safe Zone" Concept
Because YouTube crops your banner differently on each device, you must keep all important content (logos, text, faces, CTAs) within the "safe zone":
- •Safe Zone size: 1546×423px — centered in the full 2560×1440px canvas
- •Anything outside the safe zone may be hidden on mobile or tablet
- •This is the #1 mistake creators make: designing edge-to-edge, then discovering their logo is cut off on phones
Step-by-Step: Resize Your Image for a YouTube Banner
- •Upload your image — any format up to 20MB
- •Select "YouTube Banner" preset — automatically sets 2560×1440px canvas
- •Position your content — use the safe zone overlay to check placement
- •Crop and resize — the tool maintains your aspect ratio within the safe zone
- •Export as JPG or PNG — under 6MB for YouTube upload
Design Tips for High-Converting YouTube Banners
- •Keep text minimal: One channel name, one tagline max — banners are seen for less than 3 seconds
- •Use high contrast: Bright text on dark backgrounds (or vice versa) works at all sizes
- •Include a posting schedule: "New videos every Tuesday" increases subscriptions
- •Match your thumbnail style: Consistency builds brand recognition
- •Test on mobile first: 70% of YouTube views happen on mobile — if it doesn't work small, it doesn't work
Other Platform Banner Sizes for Reference
While you're resizing, you may need banners for other platforms too:
- •YouTube: 2560×1440px
- •Twitter/X: 1500×500px
- •LinkedIn Company: 1128×191px
- •Facebook Page Cover: 820×312px
- •Twitch: 1920×480px
- •Discord: 960×540px
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ideal YouTube banner size?
YouTube recommends 2560×1440px at 72 PPI with a maximum file size of 6MB. Keep key content within the 1546×423px safe zone to ensure it displays correctly on all devices.
Can I upload a PNG for my YouTube banner?
Yes. PNG is preferred over JPG for banners with text, logos, or flat color areas because PNG compression is lossless and avoids the blurring artifacts JPEG introduces at edges.
Why does my YouTube banner look blurry?
This usually means your source image resolution is too low. YouTube stretches images to fill the banner area — a 800×300px banner will look pixelated on desktop. Always start with at least 2048×1152px.
How do I add a social media link to my YouTube banner?
Social links appear as icons overlaid on the bottom-right of your banner in YouTube Studio → Customization → Basic Info → Links. They're not part of the banner image itself.
Does YouTube resize my banner automatically?
YouTube will display your banner at the correct dimensions for each device, but it does NOT add padding or safe zones — it crops from center. This is why designing with the safe zone in mind is critical.
Resize Your YouTube Banner for Free
Open the YouTube Banner Resizer →