Think of the times when you visited your favorite bookstore. Was there ever an instance when a book cover grabbed your attention enough to make you buy it? If you think of your social media accounts is a book, then your YouTube banner is its book cover. This is why you need to know the right YouTube banner size so you can maximize its potential.
YouTube banners are the equivalent of your Facebook cover image and website homepage. It stretches horizontally across your channel page. This is the first thing visitors see when they visit your page, and it’s your ultimate chance to show off your brand personality. Arguably, this is one of the most integral parts of your channel, so it must represent your brand image accurately.
Creating the perfect YouTube banner involves many important factors. In addition to the perfect YouTube banner size, there are many other vital tips to make sure you make the right impression on your audience. We will look at some helpful ideas to make your YouTube channel stand out.
Who Uses a Youtube Banner?
YouTube is a powerful video sharing platform that can be used by all creatives – talented voice-over artists, great photographers, brilliant video editors, and even makeup gurus. All YouTubers need to prioritize the look of their channel to convince more people to subscribe to them.
Youtube Banner Size
It is important to use a photo that meets YouTube’s basic requirements for banner size. Here is a short rundown of the minimum, maximum, and ideal YouTube banner size.
Maximum size
The maximum YouTube banner size is not limited by dimensions, but rather a 6MB file size limitation. This is quite generous and can accommodate even high-resolution images. Since most cameras have file sizes larger than that, you need to reduce their size before you can upload it. You can do this by increasing its compression or reducing its resolution.
Minimum size
In practice, it is recommended to have a photo that follows precise dimensions. It is still possible to get amazing results from other sizes, but it needs to be covered by YouTube’s basic requirements like the minimum resolution of 2048 by 1152 pixels. You can still upload a low-resolution image, but if you upload a size smaller than YouTube’s standards, you will get an error message.
Ideal size
Now, you are ready to dig into the more specific points of YouTube banner size. Why are there so many sizes in the first place? This is because your YouTube banner displays on many devices, which includes laptops, TV screens, mobile phones, and desktop computers. The recommended YouTube banner size is 1560 x 1440, and the ideal file size is 4MB or smaller.
Your goal should be to make sure your banner looks good whether it’s viewed in the largest screen size of 2,560-pixel width or small screen size of 423 pixels, including all sizes in between.
What looks impressive on a desktop may not look good on a phone screen. The video platform has a wide range of sizes you need to consider. Following this will ensure your YouTube banner size is optimally displayed on every possible screen size. Keep in mind that in the US alone, more than 100 million people watch YouTube on their television.
It is quite tricky to get your dimension right on all screen sizes, but there is a secret that will help all viewers appreciate it, and that is by knowing what your safe area is. This refers to the minimum area you need to cover to make sure the banner is displayed correctly.
Before you upload your banner, make sure all its essential elements like your name or logo is covered by the safe area of 1546 x 423 pixels. If not, it may look awkward when viewed by viewers.
Elements of a Good YouTube Banner
A strong banner is very beneficial to YouTubers. But do you know what makes an awesome banner? We’ve compiled some tips you need to keep in mind below.
Responsive
YouTube channel banners take on various dimensions based on what device the audience is using. The recommended resolution for the YouTube banner size listed above may seem like a lot, but think of how your banner will appear on a giant TV screen. With more people viewing YouTube this way, you want to make sure your banner is large enough to accommodate larger screens.
Balanced design
Noting the safe area of YouTube banners is very important. Treat your banner as your biggest branding opportunity. When people visit your channel, they should know more about your brand through your banner. This is why it’s important to insert your name, logo, and some supporting text, as well as channel art. It is also recommended to place the most important elements on the center of your banner to prevent confusion if YouTube accidentally cuts off details in other devices.
If you’re unsure how to take up the entire YouTube banner size, you can hire a designer to build your image from the middle out. This means putting your most vital assets in the center and building the banner from there. As to what to put in your banner, YouTube suggests using a high-resolution image or artwork. Having a pixelated banner will only let people think your video channel doesn’t upload quality videos.
Consistent design
You should always keep your YouTube banner on-brand. While it doesn’t have to show your tagline, logo, and all social media links, it needs to align with your visual branding, and that includes your font, brand colors, and keywords. The banner should also signal what your channel uploads or what your company does. For instance, if you run a swimwear brand and you want to announce your summer collection, your YouTube banner can be a high-resolution photo of a model in your new swimsuit prints, frolicking on the beach, with an accompanying text such as “ready for summer.” This will allow you to showcase your new collection even if customers don’t watch your product video. You may also hire a writer to take care of your text. Just make sure the text is included in the safe area.
Use it for advertising
Many YouTubers use their banner to showcase their brand, but you can also think outside the box and earn from it by converting it to an advertisement space for products and services. If you have a new product you want to promote, or you have a brand partnership you want your followers to know about, showcasing it in your banner is a great way to feature it on your YouTube channel.
If you choose this route, make sure the banner is kept updated. For instance, you don’t want to have a black Friday sale YouTube banner in the summer. This will only make customers think you are inactive. You can also use your banner to promote the latest video series you want viewers to check out or if you have other content outside YouTube, such as a podcast.
How to Add the Correct YouTube Banner Size
It’s very easy to add a banner to whatever channel. This can be done by visiting your channel and clicking the “change layout” button. The window will display your existing channel with an “add channel art” button in the middle of the banner section. This button will let you upload a unique banner or change your old one.
YouTube Banners We Love
There are more than 37 million channels on YouTube. We’ve compiled YouTube banners that stood out to us to inspire you.
Mango Street
Mango street is one of the most popular photography channels on YouTube, and its makers give amazing advice for beginner and intermediate camera users. They included their tagline “photography + filmmaking tutorials that don’t waste your time” in their banner. The background of their banner is also a high-resolution photo of the duo since it is a slightly personality-driven channel.
Refinery29
Refinery29 has one of the simplest yet most effective banners on YouTube. In their banner, they showcased what their videos are, as well as the hosts of their videos through text filled with images. Refinery29 understands that one of the reasons their audience continues watching their videos is because of the hosts, so they put the brand name center, with images of the host filling it.
Bon Appetit
Simple and on point are the best ways to describe Bon Appetit’s YouTube banner, which is a black text of the brand name behind a plain yellow background. This YouTube channel simply proves that sometimes, less is more. Bon Appetit used their classic font in the banner to help with brand recall.
Julia Trotti
Julia Trotti is one of the most followed photographers on YouTube with over 400,000 subscribers. Her banner follows the regular YouTube banner size. While it may look simple, it showcases her work, which is known to be very feminine. She used a portrait of a woman with a bold text of her channel name, and it does a good job of capturing the attention of viewers right away.
David Dobrik
David Dobrik is one of the highest-paid YouTubers, and his status would not be possible if he did not have an appealing banner. He is one of the most talked-about YouTubers in the world, so it makes sense to include his face in his YouTube banner. He also included his upload schedule on his banner, as well as his social media links.
Follow YouTube Banner Size to Improve Your Channel
It is obvious that YouTube is the most popular distribution channel for videos. It can be used by vloggers, celebrities, business owners, and marketers. Before you publish great content, you need to design your channel well, and this includes following the recommended YouTube banner size. After you create an appealing banner, people will be more drawn to your channel. If you need help, contact Bunny Studio today!
