The exact size
- Pixels
- 2,560 × 1,440
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9
- Megapixels
- 3.7
Only the centre 1546 × 423 is visible on every device. Keep logos and text inside it.
Crop or upscale first?
What to do with common source sizes so the channel banner stays sharp. Upscaling happens before the crop, so the crop has enough pixels to fill the box.
| Your image | What to do | Size before crop |
|---|---|---|
| 640 × 480 | Upscale 4×, then crop | 2,560 × 1,920 |
| 1,280 × 720 | Upscale 2×, then crop | 2,560 × 1,440 |
| 1,920 × 1,080 | Upscale 2×, then crop | 3,840 × 2,160 |
| 4,032 × 3,024 | Crop only | 4,032 × 3,024 |
How to make a YouTube channel banner
- Check your image size. If it is smaller than 2,560 × 1,440 on either side, upscale it first: anything from 1,280 × 720 up only needs the free 2×.
- Crop to 16:9 at exactly 2,560 × 1,440 with Make thumbnails, which centre-crops a whole batch in one pass.
- Download as JPG and upload to YouTube.
Need to enlarge first? Upscale 2× for free.
Other YouTube sizes
| Asset | Pixels | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube thumbnail | 1,280 × 720 | 16:9 |
Questions
What size is a YouTube channel banner?
2,560 × 1,440 pixels. Only the centre 1546 × 423 is visible on every device. Keep logos and text inside it.
What aspect ratio is that?
16:9. Crop to this shape before uploading so YouTube does not crop it for you.
What if my image is smaller than 2,560 × 1,440?
Upscale it first so both sides cover the box, then crop. 2× is free and runs on your device, and is enough for anything at least half the target size.
Which file format should I upload?
JPG at quality 85 to 90. It keeps uploads small, and most platforms recompress images anyway.
Does the crop keep the centre of my image?
Yes. Make thumbnails crops from the centre to the exact box, the same way across a whole batch. Use the crop tool if the subject is off-centre.