Your YouTube channel art is one of the most important parts of your YouTube channel—aside from your actual video content, of grade.

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

Information technology'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

Simply y'all don't need to be a professional designer to make your YouTube channel art wait professional. Nosotros've included five customizable templates in this article that anyone—designer or not—can apply to create their ain YouTube banner.

And nosotros've broken downwardly the process into eight piece of cake steps. Read on to start creating your ain designer YouTube channel art.

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

The 5 elements of engaging YouTube channel art

ane. Your logo, in the right identify

First things start. Who are you? Make sure that's clear right off the bat. New visitors to your page will want to know.

Place your logo in an obvious, visible spot confronting a color that makes information technology pop. Also, brand certain it's within the "condom area" (more on that below).

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

two. Simple image with a clear focal indicate

Like any billboard ad, the simpler the message, the easier information technology volition exist received. Don't try to do too much with your YouTube aqueduct fine art.

Instead, use this pocket-size infinite wisely to convey what you want viewers to focus on about your brand. Stick to one image and a logo against a simple background.

Or maybe it's just your logo confronting a groundwork that makes it clear what your make is all about, equally Epicurious does.

Epicurious YouTube channel art

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

Bon Appetit YouTube channel art

Whichever direction yous choose to become in, remember: the rest of your YouTube page already has a lot going on. If you lot desire people to take an action—subscribe, follow yous on another social channel, or watch 1 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 1,440 px, most people will see an area much smaller than this.

Make sure to include the most important data (like your logo) in the "condom area" of your YouTube banner, i.e., within an area of i,546 ten 423 px. Our templates mark out this surface area very clearly, so you don't have to worry about missing anything important.

four. Consistent brand colors

This almost goes without saying, but make sure your YouTube banner is consistent with the way you nowadays your brand elsewhere online. Otherwise, viewers will get 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 push if they know they've got the "correct" version of you on YouTube.

Pro tip: Brand sure to update your channel fine art when yous refresh your make, or run a special campaign. WIRED magazine updates their YouTube channel art for every new issue they put out.

WIRED YouTube banner

v. Social media and website links

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

It'll be important to pattern your YouTube channel art with zip important in the right hand corner—except for a groundwork color that helps your icons stand out.

YouTube channel art dimensions

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

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

Bonus: Concenter more views and subscribers in minutes with i of our 5 complimentary customizable YouTube channel art templates. Download them at present.

Get the templates at present!

Utilise the following YouTube channel art dimensions to ensure your image shows upwards correctly:

  • For all-time results on all devices: 2,560 x 1440 px
  • Minimum dimension for upload: two,048 x 1152 px
  • Minimum condom area 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 about the width and height of an prototype, don't worry. You can always start past customizing one of our YouTube channel art templates, which are pre-populated with the correct dimensions.

How to brand YouTube channel art

Starting with a professionally designed template makes information technology easier to create your own YouTube channel art. Here's how to customize our templates for your brand. Y'all will need Adobe Photoshop to get started.

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

i. After you've downloaded the YouTube channel art templates, yous'll notice that the fonts and image files are divide. Double click on the font file of your selected theme to upload the font to your computer. Click install font.

downloading fonts for YouTube banner templates

2. Double click the image file to open information technology in Photoshop.

3. Select the YouTube channel fine art template that y'all'd similar to work with first.

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

v. To edit a color block or background: double click the colour block you would like to edit. Change the size or utilise the menu on the left-manus side to modify the color.

editing colors in YouTube channel art

6. To edit a photo or image: double click the photo you would similar to edit and click insert new image. Resize image as necessary.

editing text on YouTube banner art templates

7. To salvage the template: Select the template you would like to apply and go to Save>Export Every bit>Artboard to Files. Make sure to salve as a .jpg or .png.

saving YouTube channel art

8. Upload your YouTube channel fine art by post-obit the steps below.

How to upload or modify YouTube channel fine art

  1. Sign in to YouTube on your desktop.
  2. Select My Channel from the meridian-right carte.
  3. Click Add aqueduct fine art. (If you're just editing existing aqueduct art, hover your cursor over the existing banner and click Edit).
  4. Upload an image or photo from your computer or click the Gallery tab to choose an paradigm from the YouTube photo library.
  5. From here, you can preview how the art will appear on different devices. To make changes, click Adjust the crop.
  6. Click Select.

And that'due south all there is to information technology. At present you have a beautiful, branded graphic prominently displayed on your channel. The next step is making certain your content is every bit compelling. Check out our complete guide to crafting a winning YouTube strategy for more on that.