Your YouTube homepage is the storefront of your brand and your YouTube channel banner sits right at the top. It’s the first thing visitors see when they land on your channel, setting the tone for what they can expect. A well-designed YouTube banner builds trust, boosts brand recognition, and helps grow your subscribers. They can serve multiple functions, like promoting your latest video series, showcasing a product launch, highlighting your upload schedule, or simply reinforcing your branding.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to create a YouTube banner that’s effective, on-brand, and purposeful.

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What is a YouTube Channel Banner?

A YouTube channel banner, sometimes called your channel art, is the large horizontal graphic that appears at the top of your YouTube channel page. Think of it as your visual header, a bit like the hero image on your website.

It helps communicate:

your brand personality
your video niche
your posting schedule
calls-to-action

Your banner appears differently depending on the device (TV, desktop, mobile), so designing with flexibility and accessibility in mind is important.

YouTube channel banner size

Getting the size right is the first step. As of 2025, YouTube recommends these specifications:

Recommended dimensions: 2560 x 1440 pixels
Minimum dimensions: 2048 x 1152 pixels
Safe area (where text and logos won’t be cut off): 1546 x 423 pixels, centered
Maximum file size: 6MB

The safe area is important. If you put your channel name or logo outside this area, it might be cropped on certain devices - to avoid this, always preview your banner on mobile and TV before publishing.

Best practices for designing a YouTube banner

A great banner should do more than just look good. These are the best practices we implement with our own clients:

Keep branding consistent: use your brand logo, colours, and fonts
Prioritise readability: think large, bold text
Simplify: too many elements create confusion, so keep it simple
Optimise for mobile: place key info in the safe area
Use high contrast: ensure text pops against background images and colours
Think about banner function: consider if your banner should promote, inform, or simply brand your channel

Tools to design a YouTube channel banner

You don’t have to be a Photoshop wizard to make a stand-out YouTube channel banner. Here are popular tools that work:

Canva (Free & paid plans): user-friendly, great templates
Photoshop (Paid): advanced control and customisation
Figma (Free & paid): flexible, especially for collaborating

YouTube channel banner examples

A great YouTube channel banner doesn’t always have a single purpose, it can serve different functions depending on your goals. Here are some of our favourite examples of stand-out channel banners that are used for different reasons:

Brand reinforcement:

Some banners are designed purely to reinforce brand identity, using consistent colours, fonts, and logos so viewers immediately recognise the channel. Forbes and Letterboxd both take this clean and minimal approach. There’s no need for extra explanation — the branding is strong, clear, and confidently simple.

Advertisement-focused:

Banners can also act like mini billboards, promoting product launches, new content, or upcoming events. Prime Video often uses its banner to spotlight new shows, with a central layout that works across all devices. The design makes it instantly clear what’s being promoted, when it’s available, and where to watch it.

Community building:

Some banners aim to foster community by highlighting milestones or events. Chicken Shop Date recently updated its banner and icon to celebrate its 10th anniversary - a cohesive design update that shows the channel is active, evolving, and connected to its audience.

Conclusion

A good YouTube channel banner is a simple, powerful way to build trust and brand consistency. But remember, your banner can also be used to promote launches, announce new episodes, highlight your publishing schedule, or build community engagement. Don’t be afraid to test different approaches to see what resonates best with your viewers.

Next Step: Learn how to make a great YouTube thumbnail or write an engaging video title.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What size should a YouTube banner be in 2025?

2560 x 1440 pixels is the recommended dimension, with a safe area of 1546 x 423 pixels.

How do I make a banner for YouTube?

Use a design tool like Canva or Photoshop, follow the safe area guidelines, and align your design with your brand.

Do I need a banner for my YouTube channel?

Yes! A banner helps viewers recognise your brand and boosts channel trust.

Can I change my YouTube banner for promotions?

Absolutely. Your banner can be updated whenever you want to highlight a product launch, an upcoming episode, or a special event.

YouTube channel banner guide: sizes, design tips, and examples