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

Information technology's basically a giant billboard for your brand at the summit of your YouTube contour.

Information technology's the beginning thing people come across when they visit your channel, and it links potential followers to your other social channels.

Hootsuite's YouTube channel art

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

And we've broken downward the process into viii easy steps. Read on to start creating your ain designer YouTube aqueduct art.

Bonus: Attract more views and subscribers in minutes with 1 of our 5 free customizable YouTube aqueduct art templates. Download them now.

The 5 elements of engaging YouTube channel art

one. Your logo, in the right place

Offset things get-go. Who are you? Make certain that's clear correct off the bat. New visitors to your page will want to know.

Place your logo in an obvious, visible spot against a color that makes it pop. As well, make sure information technology's within the "condom area" (more on that beneath).

Not sure where to put your logo? Our templates offer suggestions.

ii. Simple image with a clear focal point

Like any billboard ad, the simpler the message, the easier information technology will be received. Don't try to practice also much with your YouTube channel art.

Instead, utilise this modest infinite wisely to convey what you want viewers to focus on about your brand. Stick to ane image and a logo against a unproblematic groundwork.

Or perchance it's just your logo confronting a background that makes it clear what your brand is all near, as Epicurious does.

Epicurious YouTube channel art

If you lot're a actually well known brand with top YouTube talent, y'all could even skip the logo, and simply feature the stars of your channel. It seems to work for Bon Appetit.

Bon Appetit YouTube channel art

Whichever direction yous choose to go in, remember: the rest of your YouTube page already has a lot going on. If y'all desire people to take an activeness—subscribe, follow you lot on some other social channel, or watch one of your videos—don't let your imprint 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 one,440 px, most people will see an area much smaller than this.

Brand certain to include the most important data (like your logo) in the "safe surface area" of your YouTube banner, i.e., within an surface area of 1,546 x 423 px. Our templates marker out this expanse very clearly, so you don't have to worry about missing anything important.

iv. Consistent brand colors

This almost goes without saying, only make sure your YouTube banner is consistent with the way you present your brand elsewhere online. Otherwise, viewers volition get dislocated.

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

Pro tip: Make sure to update your channel art when you lot refresh your brand, or run a special entrada. WIRED magazine updates their YouTube channel art for every new effect 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 slap-up! Because chances are if someone has taken the time to visit your YouTube folio, they're also interested in the rest of your online presence.

It'll be of import to pattern your YouTube channel art with nothing of import in the right hand corner—except for a background color that helps your icons stand up out.

YouTube channel art dimensions

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

Brand sure to include all the most important visual elements in the "safe area" of your epitome (dimensions noted below).

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

Get the templates now!

Use the following YouTube channel fine art dimensions to ensure your image shows up correctly:

  • For all-time results on all devices: two,560 x 1440 px
  • Minimum dimension for upload: 2,048 x 1152 px
  • Minimum safe area for text and logos: ane,546 x 423 px
  • Maximum width: ii,560 x 423 px
  • File size: 6MB or smaller

If you're non sure nigh the width and acme of an image, don't worry. Yous can e'er starting time by customizing i of our YouTube channel art templates, which are pre-populated with the correct dimensions.

How to make YouTube channel art

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

Bonus: Attract more views and subscribers in minutes with i of our 5 gratuitous customizable YouTube channel art templates. Download them now.

1. Subsequently you've downloaded the YouTube channel art templates, y'all'll notice that the fonts and paradigm files are split. Double click on the font file of your selected theme to upload the font to your reckoner. Click install font.

downloading fonts for YouTube banner templates

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

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

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

five. To edit a color block or groundwork: double click the color block yous would like to edit. Alter the size or use the carte on the left-hand side to change the color.

editing colors in YouTube channel art

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

editing text on YouTube banner art templates

7. To save the template: Select the template you would like to use and become to Save>Export As>Artboard to Files. Brand sure to salve as a .jpg or .png.

saving YouTube channel art

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

How to upload or change YouTube channel art

  1. Sign in to YouTube on your desktop.
  2. Select My Aqueduct from the elevation-right card.
  3. Click Add channel art. (If y'all're merely editing existing channel 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 image from the YouTube photo library.
  5. From here, you tin preview how the art will appear on different devices. To make changes, click Adjust the crop.
  6. Click Select.

And that's all there is to information technology. Now you lot accept a beautiful, branded graphic prominently displayed on your channel. The next step is making sure your content is every bit compelling. Check out our complete guide to crafting a winning YouTube strategy for more on that.