Your channel banner is the billboard at the top of your YouTube channel. It has to look right on everything from a 4K TV to a mobile phone, and that is only possible if you design around the safe area. The official size is 2560×1440 pixels, but the part that every device actually shows is a narrower rectangle in the middle: 1546×423 pixels.
Channel banner dimensions
- Full banner: 2560×1440 pixels
- Desktop display: 2560×423 pixels across the full width
- Text-and-logo safe area: 1546×423 pixels centered horizontally
- Mobile display: 1546×423 pixels, matching the safe area
- Tablet display: 1855×423 pixels
- TV display: full 2560×1440
- Max file size: 6 MB
Why the safe area matters
YouTube crops the banner differently depending on the screen. On a phone, only the middle 1546 pixels are visible. On a desktop, the top and bottom are cropped to a narrow strip. On TV, the full image expands. If your logo, tagline or social links sit outside the safe area, they will disappear on the device most of your viewers use. That is why all critical information should stay inside the 1546×423 safe zone.
Design checklist for channel art
- Keep text and logos inside 1546×423. Nothing important should touch the far edges.
- Use a high-resolution background. The full 2560×1440 canvas is visible on TV, so make the background image crisp.
- Match your thumbnail style. Consistent fonts and colours make the channel look professional.
- Add one call to action. Upload schedule, value proposition or subscribe reminder. Do not clutter it with links.
- Export under 6 MB. YouTube rejects larger files.
Verify your banner before uploading
Use our free channel banner size guide to check your image against the official safe area and export specs. While you are improving your channel, make sure your thumbnails match the same brand by testing them in the thumbnail checker and downloading the right size with the YouTube thumbnail downloader.