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Free tool

YouTube Banner Size Checker.

The YouTube banner size is 2560 × 1440 (minimum 2048 × 1152, up to 6 MB), with a centre safe area of 1235 × 338. Upload your banner or thumbnail to see how it crops on every device.

or drag it here. Your image stays on your device; nothing is uploaded to us.
Upload a banner to see how it is cropped. The coloured boxes show what each device shows.
Desktop
Tablet
Mobile + safe area

YouTube banner and thumbnail sizes at a glance

ImageSizeFile limit
Channel banner2560 × 1440 recommended, 2048 × 1152 minimum (16:9)6 MB
Banner safe area1235 × 338 at 2048 × 1152 (≈1546 × 423 at 2560 × 1440)–
Video thumbnail1280 × 720 common, 640 px wide minimum (16:9)2 MB phone, 50 MB computer
Profile pictureSquare, shown at 98 × 9815 MB

Sizes from YouTube Help: channel branding and YouTube Help: video thumbnails. The desktop, tablet and mobile boxes in the checker are the widely used YouTube template areas; YouTube itself only lists the safe area.

How to make a banner that never gets cut off

  1. Start from a 2560 × 1440 canvas. Download the free template above and use it as a guide layer.
  2. Put your channel name, logo and upload schedule inside the green safe area.
  3. Fill the rest with background only. TVs show it; phones and laptops cut it off.
  4. Don't add borders or frames. YouTube crops the edges differently on each device.
  5. Save as JPG under 6 MB, upload it here to check, then upload it to YouTube Studio → Customization → Branding.

Thumbnails that still read when small

Most people see your thumbnail at under 250 pixels wide. Use the thumbnail tab to preview yours at real sizes: if the words disappear in the smallest box, cut them down to 3 or fewer. Keep faces and text out of the bottom-right corner, where the video length sits. Want to study top thumbnails in your niche? Save them with the YouTube thumbnail downloader.

Setting up a new channel? Pick a name with the fancy text generator for your bio, and see what your views could earn with the YouTube money calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What is the YouTube banner size in 2026?

YouTube asks for at least 2048 × 1152 pixels in a 16:9 shape, and recommends 2560 × 1440 so it looks sharp on TVs. The file must be 6 MB or smaller.

What is the YouTube banner safe area?

Keep your text and logo inside the centre 1235 × 338 pixels of a 2048 × 1152 banner (about 1546 × 423 on a 2560 × 1440 banner). That middle strip is visible on every device; the rest can be cut off.

Why does my banner look cut off on my phone?

Phones and computers only show a thin strip across the middle of the banner. TVs show the whole image. Upload your banner above to see exactly what each device shows, then move important parts into the safe area.

What size should a YouTube thumbnail be?

Use a 16:9 image at least 640 pixels wide, as JPG or PNG. 1280 × 720 is the common size; YouTube now recommends up to 3840 × 2160. The file limit is 2 MB from the phone app and 50 MB from a computer.

Is my image uploaded anywhere?

No. The checker reads your image in your own browser. Nothing is sent to our server.

What size is the YouTube profile picture?

YouTube shows it at 98 × 98 pixels, so use a square image (800 × 800 works well). JPG, GIF (not animated), BMP or PNG, up to 15 MB.

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