Upload Size2560 × 1440 px
Safe Area (all devices)1546 × 423 px
Max File Size6 MB
FormatJPG, PNG, BMP, GIF
Min Width (TV)2048 px
Why Banner Cropping Is Tricky
The full 2560×1440 canvas is only ever fully visible on large desktop monitors. Mobile and TV crop the sides and top/bottom respectively, which is why YouTube defines a much smaller "safe area" guaranteed visible on every device.
Crop Behavior by Device
| Device | Visible Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop (large) | 2560 × 423 px (center strip) | Widest visible crop |
| Tablet | 1855 × 423 px | Moderate side crop |
| Mobile | 1546 × 423 px | Heaviest side crop — this is the safe zone |
| TV | 2560 × 1440 px (full) | Shows full image, sometimes zoomed |
Designing Within the Safe Area
Place your channel name, logo, and any critical text within the central 1546×423px region of your 2560×1440 canvas. Everything outside this zone should be decorative background only — treat it as bleed that may or may not be visible.
Banner Design Checklist
- Upload at full 2560×1440 for maximum sharpness on TV displays
- Keep text, logos, and faces inside the 1546×423 safe area
- Avoid small text anywhere — mobile crops aggressively
- Test your banner preview directly in YouTube Studio before publishing
- File size limit is 6MB — more generous than thumbnails
Looking for thumbnail specs instead? See our YouTube Thumbnail Size guide.