YouTube Banner Size
YouTube channel art is uploaded at 2560 × 1440 px (16:9), but almost none of that is visible at once. YouTube crops the image differently per device: TV shows the full 2560 × 1440, desktop shows 2560 × 423, tablet shows 1855 × 423, and mobile shows only the central 1546 × 423 px. That 1546 × 423 window is the safe area — every logo, channel name, and upload schedule must sit inside it.
Specifications
| Pixels | 2560 × 1440 px |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 |
| Supported formats | JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP |
| Max file size | 6 MB |
| Safe zone | Central 1546 × 423 px — the only region guaranteed visible on every device |
Design Tips
- →Build the layout on the 1546 × 423 px safe area first, then extend the background outward to fill 2560 × 1440. Anything outside the safe area is decorative — it will be cropped away for most of your audience.
- →A solid dark or black background is the most reliable choice precisely because of the multi-device crop: a flat field extends to the edges without any visible seam, so the desktop and TV crops never reveal an awkward cut. It is also why so many channels run black banners.
- →Keep the file under 6 MB. At 2560 × 1440 a photographic banner can exceed that quickly — export as JPG at 85% quality, or use PNG only when the banner is flat colour and type.
- →Do not put contact details or social handles near the bottom-right of the safe area. YouTube overlays the channel's social links in that corner on desktop, and they will sit on top of your artwork.
How to Make a YouTube Banner in Playyy
Three steps, no design software. Set the size once — from the size options or straight in your prompt — and every design comes out at 2,560 × 1,440 px.
- 1
Open Playyy
Playyy runs in your browser, so there's nothing to download. Sign in and you'll land on the Home page.
- 2
Type your prompt and set the YouTube Banner size
Describe what you want in the input box on the Home page, then set the size whichever way is quicker. Pick YouTube Banner from the size options right underneath — every platform's sizes are in that list, so you don't have to look this one up. Or just say it in your prompt, like "YouTube Banner at 2,560 × 1,440 px", and Playyy matches it. Either way the design comes out at 16:9.
- 3
Create your YouTube Banner design and download it
Playyy generates the design at the full 2,560 × 1,440 px, so it's ready to upload as it is. Accepted formats: JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP. Keep the file under 6 MB.
Create YouTube Banner designs with Playyy
Type a prompt, pick YouTube Banner from the size options underneath it, and export at 2560 × 1440 px — no design software needed.
Start designing free →Frequently Asked Questions
What size is a YouTube banner?+
Upload at 2560 × 1440 px (16:9), maximum 6 MB. The critical number is the safe area: only the central 1546 × 423 px is visible on all devices including mobile. Desktop shows 2560 × 423 px, tablet shows 1855 × 423 px, and TV shows the full 2560 × 1440 px.
What is the YouTube banner safe area?+
1546 × 423 px, centred in the 2560 × 1440 canvas. This is the region that survives every device crop. Place your channel name, logo, and any text inside it. The area outside is only ever seen in full on television apps.
Why do YouTube banners use a black background?+
Because YouTube crops the banner differently on every device. A black or solid-colour background extends cleanly to all four edges, so the wider desktop and TV crops never expose a hard edge or misaligned image. It is a practical response to the crop system rather than a style trend — any flat background colour works the same way.
What size is a YouTube banner for all devices?+
There is no single size that fills every device. Upload one 2560 × 1440 px image and YouTube derives all crops from it. Design the meaningful content within the 1546 × 423 px mobile-safe window and treat the rest as background bleed for desktop and TV.
What is the YouTube channel banner size on mobile?+
Mobile displays 1546 × 423 px — the smallest of the four crops. This is why the safe area matters: a banner that looks balanced on desktop at 2560 × 423 can have its logo cropped entirely on a phone if the logo sits outside the central window.