I\u2018m always inspired by the creativity that goes into YouTube banners. But if you\u2019re anything like me, you\u2019ve probably wondered how you can create one for your own channel.<\/p>\n
Well, you\u2019re in luck \u2014 I’m here to uncover some of the best-kept secrets about YouTube banners.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n In this article, you\u2019ll learn what makes the best YouTube banners so eye-catching, and how you can create your own gorgeous channel art.<\/p>\n To answer those questions, I\u2019ve included some excellent resources for YouTube banner templates (spoiler alert: they\u2019re free), as well as 10 creative channel banners that inspire us as content creators.<\/p>\n Table of Contents:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n What makes a good YouTube banner?<\/a> <\/p>\n 10 of My Favorite YouTube Channel Art Examples<\/a> Some YouTube banners are eye-catching, readable, and convey the brand of the YouTube channel. Others choose to include a logo and channel name.<\/p>\n And, in a few cases, a great YouTube banner might include high-quality photos and graphics to create visual interest.<\/p>\n But the truth of the matter is that everyone\u2019s banner looks different and its design identity is ultimately dependent on its creator\u2019s niche.<\/p>\n However, if you\u2019ve been anxious about what to do, where to look to make your own YouTube banner, and how to make yours one of the best of the best, I\u2019m here to share some good news: It doesn\u2019t take a whole lot, just a few staples.<\/p>\n Check out this quick checklist of banner must-haves if you\u2019re stuck on where to start:<\/p>\n Your social media handles Still, no matter how good your YouTube banner looks, the last thing you want is for yours to look the same as someone else\u2019s.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why the guidelines I mentioned for great banner art are pretty simple. You can build the foundation of your design using those best practices, but your unique creativity is what will set your banner apart from the crowd.<\/p>\n At the end of the day, your banner is like an abbreviated version of an onboarding process to your channel and who you are, so you\u2019ve got to make every glance count.<\/p>\n To see some design tips in action, take a look at some fun and creative YouTube channel art examples below<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Simple, chic, and feminine. Jillian Harris\u2018 YouTube channel art conveys exactly what her brand represents. Simple channel art works if you\u2019ve got a core following already.<\/p>\n If you didn\u2019t know this, Jillian is quite popular on other social networks, and she\u2018s successfully migrating her audience to YouTube.<\/p>\n The majority of people watching her videos are already familiar with who she is and the content she creates. If they\u2019re not, there’s a welcome video right below the banner where she introduces herself to the new crowd.<\/p>\n What I like about this YT banner: <\/strong>Jillian\u2019s banner photo keeps things simple and includes only two pieces of information: her name and the date she established her brand. With a banner like this, the typeface stands out and becomes the design.<\/p>\n Shopify understands that building an online business isn\u2018t easy.<\/p>\n So, the company offers new and experienced entrepreneurs a library of video content to help them scale to the next level. Learn With Shopify\u2019s banner is straightforward and draws attention to the channel’s goal.<\/p>\n You might think that the YouTube banner dimensions don’t provide enough room to create a dynamic design, but Shopify shows some interesting possibilities in its channel art.<\/p>\n What I like about this YT banner: <\/strong>The name of the channel is prominent so the viewers know they’re in the right place for all things Shopify. Plus, the green gradient gives this banner depth and creates visual interest.<\/p>\n Maybe I\u2018m a little biased, but our YouTube channel has a pretty cool banner!<\/p>\n What we haven\u2019t seen in the first two channel art examples are actual faces. HubSpot\u2018s banner features full-color images of the creators who present the video content on the channel.<\/p>\n Our signature brand art (aka the colorful blobs you see) are thoughtfully placed behind the creators\u2019 photos so they pop on the banner.<\/p>\n What I like about this YT banner:<\/strong> Another fun feature of HubSpot\u2019s channel art is the icon on the far right that points to our free digital marketing certification. If your brand offers more types of content, this is a great way to drive traffic to those other marketing offers.<\/p>\n Alphonso Dunn is a talented and well-respected artist who\u2018s authored several art books. He\u2019s transitioned his passion for educating students to the YouTube screen where he teaches aspiring artists how to hone their craft.<\/p>\n What I like about this YT banner:<\/strong> His banner includes samples of his art, his name, logo, and latest books with a link to purchase them. The composition of this banner fits everything in without overcrowding the space which allows the viewer to focus on the rest of his home page. He also includes a tagline that summarizes what sort of content he offers audiences: Art tutorials.<\/p>\n Justin Brown is the creator of Primal Video on YouTube \u2014 a channel dedicated to teaching entrepreneurs how to amplify their businesses with video content.<\/p>\n If this is your first time seeing Justin Brown\u2018s YouTube home page, you\u2019ll know exactly what to expect from his content after seeing the banner.<\/p>\n What I like about this YT banner:<\/strong> Justin\u2019s banner clearly demonstrates that there\u2019s dimension built into the image by stacking the blue and black blocks of color. However, it breaks that up with a color-graded photo in the middle. Its font sizing and colorful backgrounds create a cohesive feel while keeping the design clean and organized.<\/p>\n Bright Side provides more than 40 million people with the answers to questions that they never asked, but absolutely have to know.<\/p>\n If you take inspiration from Bright Side\u2018s banner, choose a vibrant color as your background and think carefully about your typeface.<\/p>\n If you choose to go the Bright Side route (aka those two design elements will be the only aspects of your banner), you\u2019ll want to spend time finding the right balance that represents your brand and draws the viewer in.<\/p>\n What I like about this YT banner:<\/strong> Its YouTube channel art is bright, punchy, and bold \u2014 a perfect backdrop for inspirational, creative, and wonderful video content.<\/p>\n Whether you’re looking for easy-to-follow recipes, food science education, or cooking comparisons<\/a>, Epicurious is the channel to watch. The spotlight of this brand\u2018s content is always the food, and that goes for its banner, too.<\/p>\n To incorporate this banner style into your channel art, choose a subject that\u2019s small enough to be recognized close up.<\/p>\n What I like about this YT banner:<\/strong> The use of a high-resolution, detailed photo of a common food \u2014 broccoli \u2014 creates a relevant and intriguing background for the brand name. This banner also has its website URL and social handles in the corner, which never hurts (especially when anyone could be browsing through your channel).<\/p>\n TripAdvisor is a resource used by millions of travelers to discover and rate lodgings, restaurants, and much more information about endless destinations.<\/p>\n That\u2019s represented in the YouTube banner by portraying what the site is all about \u2014 travel. This is a great YouTube banner to take inspiration from if you\u2018re just getting started. Simply choose a high-res photo that speaks to your personality and brand, and you\u2019re done.<\/p>\n What I like about this YT banner:<\/strong> The banner features beautiful photography of different locations which puts the viewer\u2019s focus solely on the type of high-quality content that TripAdvisor is committed to sharing: All-things-travel videos.<\/p>\n Showcasing the people that make your brand amazing is a great way to form a connection with your viewers. That\u2019s one thing that Refinery29<\/a> does well by frequently featuring its writers, editors, and content producers in its videos.<\/p>\n As it turns out, they\u2019ve all become quite popular personalities \u2014 which is why the brand put them front-and-center in its banner art.<\/p>\n Creating a banner of this nature is two-fold.<\/p>\n First, find a way to incorporate your company\u2019s talent into video content in a way that\u2019s engaging and appealing to your target audience.<\/p>\n Then, once you\u2019ve produced enough of that media consistently \u2014 and if it\u2019s gaining the right kind of attention \u2014 you can use those personalities to promote your channels.<\/p>\n What I like about this YT banner: <\/strong>Refinery29 calls attention to its content (and the people who make it) right away by featuring screen captures of the channel\u2019s most well-known talent within the letters of the brand\u2019s name. It also includes a CTA (\u201cSee more at Refinery29\u201d) to remind visitors that if they think their YouTube content is good, they should check out the great content on its actual website.<\/p>\n Physicists and high school science students alike come to The Action Lab\u2018s YouTube channel for DIY experiments performed by Dr. James J. Orgill.<\/p>\n On this channel, you\u2019ll see everyday objects through a new lens thanks to his demonstrations.<\/p>\n What I like about this YT banner: <\/strong>Similar to HubSpot’s channel art, his photo stands out with a simple background, an image of Dr. James himself, and a core color \u2014 yellow \u2014 to help audiences associate that though his content is primarily concerned experimentation, there\u2019s also some caution that he takes, too.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n A YouTube channel banner will take on different dimensions depending on what platform is being used to view it. For example, a banner will have different dimensions when viewed on a TV, desktop, or mobile device.<\/p>\n The YouTube banner dimensions are:<\/p>\n Recommended \u201cTV\u201d:<\/strong> 2560 x 1440 px <\/p>\n Minimum for upload:<\/strong> 2048 x 1152 px <\/p>\n Minimum \u201cViewable On All Devices\u201d:<\/strong> 1546 x 423 px <\/p>\n Maximum \u201cViewable On Desktop\u201d:<\/strong> 2560 x 423 px <\/p>\n File size:<\/strong> 6MB or smaller <\/p>\n The recommended resolution seems pretty large for a single file, but think about how YouTube banners would appear on a 30″ smart TV or higher.<\/p>\n With a growing number of options to view YouTube videos in this way, you’ll want to make sure your channel art is large enough to display with quality on larger screens.<\/p>\n Here’s a helpful visual representation of those dimensions:<\/p>\n\n Take note of the \u201cViewable On All Devices\u201d I alluded to in the first section.<\/p>\n Your banner is essentially the biggest branding opportunity when people land on your channel. You\u2018ll want to make sure your logo and supporting text is clearly represented in the channel art.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why it’s a good idea to place your company name and logo in that center space.<\/p>\n If you’re not sure how to fill the entire frame with visual content, video production company MiniMatters<\/a> suggests \u201cbuild[ing] the image from the middle out,\u201d putting the most important assets in the center, and expanding the design from there.<\/p>\n Finally, follow these best practices to create a professional YouTube banner:<\/p>\n Use a high-resolution image. <\/strong>A pixelated or blurry banner doesn\u2018t exactly signal that there\u2019s a high-quality video to follow. <\/p>\n Keep your banner on-brand. <\/strong>While your channel art doesn’t have to be a carbon copy of your logo or tagline, it should incorporate visual elements that you want associated with your brand, like certain colors, fonts, or keywords. <\/p>\n Update your banner regularly. <\/strong>For example, if you run a bakery and you\u2018re gearing up for summer, an eye-catching banner might be a high-res photo of a brightly-colored work surface covered with flour and a rolling pin, along with accompanying text like, “April showers bring May flours,” but remember to update the banner once the season is over so viewers know you\u2019re consistent. <\/p>\n Need some design help to get started on your own YouTube banner?<\/p>\n If Canva<\/a> is already a graphic designer\u2019s best friend, it could be yours, too (especially if you\u2019re in a hurry to create your channel ASAP). Don\u2019t be afraid to try out and customize Canva\u2019s templates for YouTube banners.<\/a><\/p>\n Not only are there an array of designs to choose from but they\u2019re already within the necessary dimensions, so you can skip the hard stuff and get right to making the banner of your dreams.<\/p>\n And, if you\u2019re more on the skilled side of digital art, apps like ProCreate<\/a> offer the flexibility to hand-draw your banner assets.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n By now, you might be thinking, \u201cHow the heck am I supposed to actually upload my banner \u2026 is it hard and difficult and scary?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Before you settle into panic, I can tell you that the banner upload process is, 1000% percent, not hard and difficult, nor scary, especially when you have resources like HubSpot\u2019s Free (yes, free) YouTube Business kit<\/a>.<\/p>\n Check it out below:<\/p>\n But if you\u2019re more of a visual learner (like me), you can use my upload process to help guide you through your own:<\/p>\n Then, you’ll see the option to upload a file for your YouTube banner photo.<\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n That’s it! Easy enough, right?<\/p>\n
\n YouTube Banner Size<\/a>
\n How to Make a YouTube Banner<\/a> <\/p>\nWhat makes a good YouTube banner?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n Your name and\/or the name of your brand
\n A channel tagline
\n Graphics that represent your overall brand identity <\/p>\nYouTube Channel Art Examples<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n1.<\/strong> Jillian Harris<\/a><\/strong>
\n<\/h3>\n\n\n2.<\/strong> Learn With Shopify<\/a><\/strong>
\n<\/h3>\n\n\n3.<\/strong> HubSpot Marketing<\/a><\/strong>
\n<\/h3>\n\n\n4.<\/strong> Alphonso Dunn<\/a><\/strong>
\n<\/h3>\n\n\n5.<\/strong> Justin Brown, Primal Video<\/a><\/strong>
\n<\/h3>\n\n\n6.<\/strong> Bright Side<\/a><\/strong>
\n<\/h3>\n\n\n7.<\/strong> Epicurious<\/a><\/strong>
\n<\/h3>\n\n\n8.<\/strong> TripAdvisor<\/a><\/strong>
\n<\/h3>\n\n\n9.<\/strong> Refinery29<\/a><\/strong>
\n<\/h3>\n\n\n10.<\/strong> The Action Lab<\/a><\/strong>
\n<\/h3>\n\nYouTube Banner Size<\/strong><\/h2>\n
YouTube Banner Template<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How To Make a YouTube Banner <\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nStep 1:<\/strong> Log in to your YouTube account and click on your profile photo<\/strong>. Then select Your channel<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n
\nStep 2:<\/strong> Click the blue Customize Channel<\/strong> button. A new tab will open and you’ll see a Channel customization screen.<\/h3>\n\n
\nStep 3:<\/strong> Click Branding<\/strong> in the top menu.<\/h3>\n\n
\nStep 4:<\/strong> Under the banner image<\/strong> section, select Upload<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n
\nStep 5:<\/strong> Review the image preview to ensure that your banner image is displayed properly.<\/h3>\n\n
\nStep 6:<\/strong> Click Publish<\/strong> and review your YouTube channel’s new banner image.<\/h3>\n\n