Comparing YouTube Channel Banner Sizes: 2560 x 1440 px vs. 2048 x 1152 px - Which is Best?

Written By Irfan Hayat

There are two popular YouTube banner sizes: 2048 x 1152 pixels and 2560 x 1440 pixels. Both are officially recommended by YouTube. I have compared the both sizes.

YouTube banner size: 2048 x 1152 pixels

Please consider the below mentioned pros and cons of creating a YouTube banner image in 2048 width and 1152 height.

YouTube Channel Banner Difference Between 2560 x 1440 px vs 2048 x 1152 px Which is Best Size?

In YouTube Studio, under the ‘Branding’ tab, YouTube recommends, “For the best results on all devices, use an image that’s at least 2048 x 1152 pixel”.

Is it advisable to design a YouTube banner image with dimensions of 2048 x 1152 pixels?

When a user views your YouTube channel on a 1920 x 1080 px PC monitor, the banner image will appear optimally. On larger screens like 1440p, the browser will slightly stretch the banner image to fit the container, resulting in a barely noticeable blur. Conversely, on smaller desktop screens such as 1600 x 900 px or on mobile devices, the 2048 x 1152 pixel image will be scaled down without any impact on image quality.

Please note that, according to Statcounter, 1920 x 1080 pixels is the most used display screen in USA. Therefore, a YouTube banner in 2048 x 1152 pixel size will display best on most devices in the world.

Therefore, you can create a YouTube banner image in 2048 x 1152 without any worry.

YouTube banner size: 2560 x 1440 pixels

There are following benefits of designing a YT channel banner in 2560x1440 pixel resolution.

  • On its help page, YouTube recommends 2560 x 1440 px as the minimum dimension for uploading the banner image.

  • When you upload a banner image in lower size, for example 1280 x 720 px, YouTube cautions, “For the best results, use an image that's at least 2560 x 1440 pixels”.

  • In YouTube Studio, it is recommended to use “at least 2048 x 1152 pixel” image for the banner. In other words, the “at least” means that preferably you should upload a banner higher than the 2048x1152 pixel size.

  • A larger image has no bad effect on your channel, because a YouTube banner is programmed to load later than the video content on your channel. You can yourself experiment it by opening homepage of another YouTube channel.

In my own opinion, 2560 x 1440 pixel is the best and optimal YouTube banner size. The banner image will maintain its highest quality on most user screens.

In fact the banner image of a YouTube channel is a widescreen image, thus both 2048 x 1152 pixel image, and 2560 x 1440 pixel image, have the same 16:9 aspect ratio.

Upload banner image for your Youtube channel in aspect ratio of 16:9 with any appropriate resolution. The maximum image file size must not be more than 6 MB.

Although you can upload YouTube banner in PNG format, but I prefer to create a YT banner image in JPG format at 80% compression - it keeps the file size in check while maintaining the high quality of the banner image.

👉️ Discover our Suggested Design Tools to craft a personalized YouTube banner that reflects your own unique style.

What are the consequences of using a low-resolution banner size (1024x576 pixels) for a YouTube channel?

When you search the same query in search engine, it gives you the answer that “YouTube won’t allow you to use an image that’s smaller than 2048 x 1152 pixels as a banner”.

In fact, this is wrong information. YouTube allows you to upload a banner image in smaller sizes. However, a YouTube channel banner in 1024x576 pixels will display blurry.

Although YouTube recommends two sizes for the YT banner image, which are 2048 x 1152 pixels and 2560 x 1440 pixels.

Outcome of My Test

However, I have tested by uploading YouTube banner image in lower sizes. I uploaded one banner image in 1280 x 720 pixels and another image in 1024 x 576 pixels.

So, what was the outcome?

  • When I uploaded a low-quality banner image (1024x576 px), YouTube recommended uploading a banner image in at least 2560 x 1440 pixels.

  • Secondly, the low-resolution YT banner image fits well in the container – it does not crop out.

  • The only impact observed was the poor display quality of the YouTube banner image, as it appeared slightly blurred.

Therefore, you can upload a YouTube banner in lower sizes (for example 1024x576 px), but keep in mind that it should have the same 16:9 aspect ratio. For better display quality, I recommend not uploading a low-quality image for YouTube banner.

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Irfan Hayat

As the Founder and CEO of DOZRO and various other ventures, I bring a wealth of diverse life experiences to the forefront. At heart, I am a passionate tech enthusiast. Feel free to explore our range of Pro Services, such as website and graphics design, SEO, and video editing, with confidence.

https://www.dozro.com/irfan-hayat
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