OFFICIAL SPECS · CHECKED SEPTEMBER 16, 2026
YouTube banner size.
The recommended YouTube banner size is 2560 × 1440 px, especially for TV. The minimum upload is 2048 × 1152 px at 16:9; at that minimum size, the text-and-logo safe area is 1235 × 338 px. The file must be 6 MB or smaller. YouTube Help, checked .
Preview your banner ↓YouTube channel banner size by layout
Checked September 16, 2026. Official specifications and our calculated preview model are explicitly separated. This compares layouts on the check date; it is not a historical change log.
| Device / layout | Visible region | Safe area | Cropping behavior | Official source | Checked on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum upload canvas | 2048 x 1152 px; 16:9. This is an upload canvas, not a device viewport. | 1235 x 338 px at this minimum canvas size. | Device-specific crop coordinates are not stated by YouTube. | YouTube Help | 2026-09-16 |
| Recommended canvas (especially for TV) | 2560 x 1440 px. Exact TV-visible region: not stated by YouTube. | At this canvas size: not stated by YouTube. Our scaled model: 1543.75 x 422.5 px. | TV simulation shows the whole canvas; not a measured YouTube display. | YouTube Help | 2026-09-16 |
| Desktop simulation | Actual device-visible pixels: not stated by YouTube. Our model at 2560 x 1440: 2560 x 422.5 px. | Official reference: 1235 x 338 px at 2048 x 1152. Model: 1543.75 x 422.5 px. | Our centered horizontal crop keeps the full width and the scaled safe-area height. | YouTube Help | 2026-09-16 |
| Mobile simulation | Actual device-visible pixels: not stated by YouTube. Our model at 2560 x 1440: 1543.75 x 422.5 px. | Official reference: 1235 x 338 px at 2048 x 1152. Model: 1543.75 x 422.5 px. | Our centered crop shows only the scaled safe-area rectangle. Verify in YouTube Studio. | YouTube Help | 2026-09-16 |
The official banner tips page separately recommends “at least 2560x1440 px” for best display on all devices. The branding page specifies 2048 × 1152 as the minimum upload and 2560 × 1440 as the recommendation. Both wordings are retained.
Work out the dimensions
To resize for YouTube banner use, choose the intended canvas first. The following values are arithmetic derived from the official dimensions above; they are not new platform requirements.
Check 16:9 without rounding
Test width × 9 = height × 16.
2560 × 9 = 23,040
1440 × 16 = 23,040
Equal products mean the image is exactly 16:9.
Calculate height from width
height = width × 9 ÷ 16
2560 × 9 ÷ 16 = 1440 px
2048 × 9 ÷ 16 = 1152 px
Scale the safe-area model
Use the official minimum canvas as the reference. Scale factor: 2560 ÷ 2048 = 1.25.
1235 × 1.25 = 1543.75 px
338 × 1.25 = 422.5 px
These are calculated model dimensions. YouTube does not state these values on the cited page. We retain fractional coordinates to avoid silently inventing a rounded specification.
Place a centered frame
For our model, left = (canvas width − safe width) ÷ 2 and top = (canvas height − safe height) ÷ 2.
(2560 − 1543.75) ÷ 2 = 508.125 px
(1440 − 422.5) ÷ 2 = 508.75 px
For a preview displayed at 320 px wide (an example input), scale coordinates by 320 ÷ 2560 = 0.125. The frame becomes 192.96875 × 52.8125 px. Its left/top offsets become 63.515625 / 63.59375 px.
Upload with a final check
- Choose your canvas size, add an image and inspect all three simulations with the frame visible.
- Download the PNG and check its actual byte size. If it exceeds the conservative limit, use the resizer below to export a smaller JPG.
- In YouTube Studio, open Customization → Profile, change the banner, inspect the platform’s preview and crop, then publish. Official upload instructions.
YouTube notes that Official Artist Channels use separate TV and YouTube Music banner settings. Review the linked official instructions if that applies to your channel.