16:9 channel art · safe-area layout · upscale to 2560×1440
YouTube banner generator — channel art that fits every screen
Describe your channel, its name and its colours, and get 16:9 channel art with the name and tagline in the centre strip that shows on phones, desktops and TVs — then upscale it past YouTube's minimum size.
- 16:9 channel art
- Name inside the safe area
- Text-accurate models
- No watermark
Updated by the Kenerate AI team
On this page
Quick answer
How do you make a YouTube banner with AI?
A YouTube banner generator makes the wide header image at the top of your channel. YouTube asks for a 16:9 image of at least 2048 × 1152 px (most creators use 2560 × 1440), under 6 MB, and only the centre 1235 × 338 px is sure to show on every device. On Kenerate AI you describe the banner in Image Studio, pick Widescreen 16:9, and GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst draws it with your channel name spelled out; upscale it if it comes back smaller than 2560 px.
Key facts
- Shape
- 16:9 (Widescreen in Image Studio)
- YouTube minimum
- 2048 × 1152 px, 6 MB or smaller
- Common upload size
- 2560 × 1440 px
- Always visible
- Centre 1235 × 338 px (at 2048 × 1152)
- Best for the channel name
- GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst · GPT Image 2 · Recraft V4.1
- Bigger file
- Image Upscaler to 4K
- Free-plan model
- Qwen Image 3.0 (has 16:9)
- Watermark
- None
Sizes
What size is a YouTube banner, and what shows on each screen?
One image is used everywhere; each device crops it differently. Numbers from YouTube Help, checked 20 Oct 2026.
| What | Size | What it means for your design |
|---|---|---|
| Upload minimum | 2048 × 1152 px, 16:9 | Anything smaller is rejected. Generate at 16:9 and upscale if needed. |
| Common upload size | 2560 × 1440 px, 16:9 | The same shape at 1.25×; extra pixels keep it sharp on TVs. |
| Safe area (always visible) | 1235 × 338 px at the minimum size — about 1544 × 423 px at 2560 × 1440 | Put the channel name, tagline and logo here, centred. |
| TV | The full 16:9 image | The whole picture shows, so the background has to look good edge to edge. |
| Computer and phone | A wide strip across the middle | Top and bottom are cropped; keep nothing important there. |
| File size | 6 MB or smaller | Save as JPG if a 4K PNG is too heavy. |
| Profile picture (separate) | Shown at 98 × 98 px, up to 15 MB | Make it with the AI profile picture generator; no animated GIFs. |
Prompts
YouTube banner prompts to copy
Pick Widescreen 16:9 in Image Studio first. Each prompt opens Image Studio with the text filled in — swap in your own channel name.
- Name
- Your channel name in quotes
- Line
- One short tagline
- Theme
- Colours and background art
- Layout
- All text in the centre
Gaming channel
YouTube channel banner, 16:9. The channel name "PIXEL RAIDERS" in bold glowing letters in the exact centre, with the line "New streams every Friday" underneath. Neon purple and teal synthwave grid landscape on both sides, dark sky, all text inside the middle third, no other words.
Cooking channel
YouTube channel banner, 16:9. Warm overhead photo of a rustic wooden kitchen table with fresh herbs, bread and a cast-iron pan spread along the left and right edges. In the centre on clean cream space, the name "Sunday Pan" in an elegant serif and the line "Simple food, slow weekends". No other text.
Tech reviews
YouTube channel banner, 16:9. Minimal dark graphite background with soft blue light streaks. Centred white sans-serif title "BYTE BENCH" and a small line "Honest gadget reviews". A floating phone, headphones and a keyboard drawn subtly at the far left and right edges. Nothing important near the top or bottom.
Travel vlog
YouTube channel banner, 16:9. A wide sunrise panorama over misty mountains and a lake. In the centre, the name "Lena Wanders" in a hand-written white script with a thin line "Slow travel, real places" below. Keep the text small enough to sit in the middle strip. No other words.
More prompts (3)
Study / education
YouTube channel banner, 16:9, flat illustration. A tidy desk scene with books, a lamp and a plant on the left, a chalkboard with simple maths doodles on the right. In the centre on a soft yellow panel, "Ms. Rivera Explains" in a friendly rounded font. No other text.
Music channel
YouTube channel banner, 16:9. Abstract sound waves in coral, orange and deep blue flowing across the full width. In the centre, the artist name "NOVA LOOM" in wide spaced capitals and "Lo-fi beats to focus" in small letters. No logos, no other words.
Background only
Background art for a YouTube channel banner, 16:9: a soft gradient from deep navy to violet with faint stars and gentle light rays, calm and clean, a plain empty band across the centre for text to be added later. No text at all.
How to
How to use the YouTube banner generator
- Time needed
- Steps
- 4 steps
Step 1
Open Image Studio
Press “Make my banner”. Image Studio opens on GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst. Pick Widescreen 16:9 (or the Wallpaper preset, 16:9 · 2K). Sign in free for starter credits.
Step 2
Describe the banner
Channel name in quotes, one short line, your colours and a background theme, plus “all text in the centre”.
Step 3
Pick the best one
Regenerate until the name is spelled right and sits in the middle. Use your logo or an old banner as a reference to keep your brand look.
Step 4
Upscale and upload
If it's under 2560 × 1440, run the Image Upscaler at 4K, save under 6 MB, then upload in YouTube Studio > Customization > Branding.
See it in the app
Open Image Studio and type what you want to see — subject, style, lighting and mood.
Watch the tour · 1:23
Prompts, styles, references, edit, Arena & chat
Chapters
Tips
Banners that survive every crop
YouTube shows the whole image on TV and only a wide middle strip on phones and computers.
Put the channel name and tagline in the middle third — say “all text in the centre” in the prompt.
Write the exact words in quotes: “the channel name "PIXEL RAIDERS"”. Models spell quoted text more reliably.
Keep it to the name plus one short line. Upload days, links and social handles belong in your channel description.
Fill the sides with background art that can be cut off without losing anything — scenery, patterns, props.
Check the size after download. If it's under 2560 px wide, run it through the Image Upscaler at 4K.
Use your own name and art. Don't put other creators' logos, game logos or brand marks on your banner.
Models
Models for YouTube banners
What each model is good at. Open any one straight in the generator.
OpenAI
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
- Reference images
- Up to 16
- Output
- 1K to 4K
Open GPT Image 2.5 SunburstBest for
Default here · fine detail and spelled-out channel names
OpenAI
GPT Image 2
- Reference images
- Up to 16
- Output
- 1K to 4K
Open GPT Image 2Best for
Accurate text and realistic scenes
Recraft
Recraft V4.1
Open Recraft V4.1Best for
Design-led layouts and sharp typography · 16:9 · text only
Google
Nano Banana 2.1
- Reference images
- Up to 14
- Output
- Up to 4K
Open Nano Banana 2.1Best for
Keeps your logo and characters the same from references
ByteDance
Seedream 5.0 Pro
- Reference images
- Up to 10
- Output
- Up to 2K
Open Seedream 5.0 ProBest for
Rich illustrated or photo backgrounds
- Free plan
Alibaba
Qwen Image 3.0
- Reference images
- Up to 3
- Output
- 1K or 2K
Open Qwen Image 3.0Best for
Free plan · simple banners and backgrounds
FAQ
YouTube Banner Generator questions
9 questions
In depth
YouTube Banner Generator, explained
What works, what to avoid, and how to pick a model.
On this page
Text in the image or text added later?
Both work. Letting the model render the name gives lettering that blends with the art. Making a text-free background and typing the name in Edit Studio's Text tool gives you exact fonts and spelling every time. If your name is long or unusual, the second route is safer.