Your YouTube channel art is one of the virtually of import parts of your YouTube aqueduct—aside from your actual video content, of course.

It'south basically a giant billboard for your make at the pinnacle of your YouTube profile.

It's the first thing people see when they visit your channel, and it links potential followers to your other social channels.

Hootsuite's YouTube channel art

But you don't need to be a professional person designer to make your YouTube aqueduct art look professional person. We've included five customizable templates in this commodity that anyone—designer or not—can apply to create their own YouTube banner.

And we've cleaved down the procedure into 8 easy steps. Read on to start creating your ain designer YouTube channel art.

Bonus: Attract more views and subscribers in minutes with one of our five free customizable YouTube channel art templates. Download them now.

The 5 elements of engaging YouTube channel art

i. Your logo, in the right place

First things kickoff. Who are you? Make sure that's clear correct off the bat. New visitors to your page volition desire to know.

Place your logo in an obvious, visible spot against a colour that makes information technology pop. Too, make sure information technology's inside the "safe area" (more on that below).

Non certain where to put your logo? Our templates offering suggestions.

2. Unproblematic image with a clear focal point

Like whatever billboard ad, the simpler the message, the easier it will be received. Don't try to exercise likewise much with your YouTube channel art.

Instead, use this small space wisely to convey what you want viewers to focus on about your brand. Stick to ane prototype and a logo against a unproblematic groundwork.

Or perchance it'south simply your logo against a groundwork that makes it clear what your brand is all about, every bit Epicurious does.

Epicurious YouTube channel art

If you're a really well known brand with superlative YouTube talent, you could fifty-fifty skip the logo, and simply characteristic the stars of your channel. Information technology seems to work for Bon Appetit.

Bon Appetit YouTube channel art

Whichever management you choose to go in, think: the rest of your YouTube page already has a lot going on. If you want people to accept an action—subscribe, follow you on another social channel, or spotter ane of your videos—don't let your banner overwhelm them.

Adobe YouTube home page

3. Optimization for both desktop and mobile

Seventy percent of YouTube views come from mobile. That means although your YouTube banner is technically 2,560 x 1,440 px, virtually people volition see an expanse much smaller than this.

Make sure to include the most important information (like your logo) in the "safe area" of your YouTube imprint, i.due east., within an area of i,546 x 423 px. Our templates marker out this area very conspicuously, so you don't have to worry virtually missing anything important.

4. Consistent make colors

This virtually goes without saying, but brand sure your YouTube banner is consistent with the mode you present your brand elsewhere online. Otherwise, viewers volition go confused.

This rule stands even if your YouTube presence is more laid back or wackier than your other social channels. You lot don't want to disorient viewers who are more likely to click that follow button if they know they've got the "correct" version of you on YouTube.

Pro tip: Make sure to update your channel fine art when you refresh your make, or run a special entrada. WIRED magazine updates their YouTube channel art for every new outcome they put out.

WIRED YouTube banner

5. Social media and website links

Your YouTube banner includes the pick to link to your other social platforms and website. This is great! Considering chances are if someone has taken the time to visit your YouTube page, they're also interested in the rest of your online presence.

It'll be of import to design your YouTube channel art with nada of import in the right hand corner—except for a groundwork color that helps your icons stand up out.

YouTube channel fine art dimensions

Your YouTube channel fine art will appear on desktop, mobile, and even Idiot box displays. This means larger images may get cropped.

Make sure to include all the most important visual elements in the "safe expanse" of your image (dimensions noted below).

Bonus: Concenter more views and subscribers in minutes with one of our v gratis customizable YouTube channel art templates. Download them at present.

Get the templates now!

Apply the following YouTube aqueduct art dimensions to ensure your epitome shows up correctly:

  • For best results on all devices: two,560 x 1440 px
  • Minimum dimension for upload: 2,048 x 1152 px
  • Minimum safe expanse for text and logos: i,546 x 423 px
  • Maximum width: 2,560 10 423 px
  • File size: 6MB or smaller

If you're not sure well-nigh the width and height of an epitome, don't worry. You tin e'er start by customizing 1 of our YouTube channel fine art templates, which are pre-populated with the correct dimensions.

How to make YouTube aqueduct fine art

Starting with a professionally designed template makes it easier to create your ain YouTube channel art. Here'due south how to customize our templates for your brand. You volition need Adobe Photoshop to get started.

Bonus: Concenter more than views and subscribers in minutes with one of our 5 gratis customizable YouTube channel fine art templates. Download them now.

i. After yous've downloaded the YouTube aqueduct fine art templates, you lot'll observe that the fonts and epitome files are split. Double click on the font file of your selected theme to upload the font to your figurer. Click install font.

downloading fonts for YouTube banner templates

2. Double click the paradigm file to open up it in Photoshop.

3. Select the YouTube channel art template that you'd like to piece of work with first.

4. To edit text: double click the text you would similar to edit. You can change fonts and colors in the menu on the left-hand side.Editing colors on YouTube channel art templates

5. To edit a color block or groundwork: double click the color cake you would like to edit. Alter the size or use the card on the left-hand side to alter the color.

editing colors in YouTube channel art

half-dozen. To edit a photo or image: double click the photo you would like to edit and click insert new image. Resize image as necessary.

editing text on YouTube banner art templates

seven. To relieve the template: Select the template yous would similar to use and get to Save>Export Every bit>Artboard to Files. Brand sure to save equally a .jpg or .png.

saving YouTube channel art

8. Upload your YouTube channel art by following the steps below.

How to upload or modify YouTube aqueduct art

  1. Sign in to YouTube on your desktop.
  2. Select My Channel from the top-right carte du jour.
  3. Click Add channel art. (If you're just editing existing aqueduct art, hover your cursor over the existing banner and click Edit).
  4. Upload an epitome or photo from your computer or click the Gallery tab to cull an prototype from the YouTube photo library.
  5. From here, you tin can preview how the fine art will announced on different devices. To brand changes, click Arrange the crop.
  6. Click Select.

And that'southward all there is to it. At present you accept a cute, branded graphic prominently displayed on your channel. The side by side step is making certain your content is equally compelling. Check out our consummate guide to crafting a winning YouTube strategy for more on that.