YouTube banner maker
Get every YouTube banner size right the first time, without design software.
Table of contents
YouTube banner maker
Pick a background, add your text and export a 2560 x 1440 YouTube banner with the safe area drawn on the canvas. Everything runs in your browser.
How to make a YouTube banner
- Pick a background
Upload a photo or choose a solid color or gradient. - Add your text
Write a headline and a short line about what you do or post. - Check the safe area
Keep text and faces inside the marked zone so no device crops them. - Download
Export at exactly 2560 x 1440 and upload it to YouTube.
The size, and the safe zone that actually matters
YouTube recommends 2560 x 1440 at 16:9 and refuses anything under 2048 x 1152; the file has to be 6 MB or less. Only the center strip is safe on every phone, computer and TV: about 1546 x 423 on a 2560 x 1440 file (YouTube's help page prints the same strip as 1235 x 338 on a 2048 x 1152 file).
YouTube image sizes in 2026
Thumbnails: JPG, PNG or GIF, up to 2 MB, 16:9, at least 640 px wide. Channel banners: 2560 x 1440 recommended, nothing under 2048 x 1152, 6 MB or less; only the center strip (about 1546 x 423 on a 2560 x 1440 file) is safe on every device.
| Use | Size (px) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Video thumbnail | 1280 x 720 | 16:9 |
| Channel banner | 2560 x 1440 | 16:9 |
| Banner safe area | 1546 x 423 | 3.65:1 |
What the tool is doing
It reads the pixel size of your file in the browser, draws it on a canvas, crops it to the shape you pick and re-encodes it at the exact export size. There is no upload request, and metadata such as EXIF location is not carried over.
Keep exploring
- YouTube Image Resizer
- YouTube Banner Size Checker
- YouTube Thumbnail Previewer
- YouTube Thumbnail Resizer
- All free YouTube tools
- YouTube growth
Your profile looks right. Now grow the audience.
A clean banner earns the first look. Real likes, comments and subscribers decide how many people see it next.
Get real subscribers on YouTube
Frequently asked questions
What size is a YouTube banner?
2560 x 1440 pixels.
Where should text go?
Inside the safe area marked on the canvas, away from the edges and the profile photo.
Do I need design software?
No. Pick a background, add text and download from the browser.
What does a well-made banner give?
It grows the account, but you need the right tool.
What is the YouTube banner safe area?
About 1546 x 423 in the center of a 2560 x 1440 banner.
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
1280 x 720 (16:9), JPG, PNG or GIF, up to 2 MB.
How long can a YouTube channel description be?
1,000 characters.