As one of the most flocked video streaming platforms and a leader in its own right, Twitch is the best place to be if you’re looking to grow your following.

However, its popularity has a minor downside to it. Every other creator knows how popular and lucrative Twitch can be, and the competition can be extremely fierce.

So how do you stand out on Twitch? The standard response you may have gotten is to be yourself and create engaging content for your target audience. This is partly true, but it leaves out a vital component of the equation – getting the TA interested in the first place.

No offense, but great content can only take you so far. You may get lucky with a couple of recommendations here and there, but that’s it. To be a serious contender and net in those views, you must have an optimized and unique banner that sparks users’ interest and compels them to watch your stream.

Read on for a comprehensive take on what it takes to have an ideal Twitch banner size and how you can do it yourself.

What is a Twitch Banner and Why It Matters?

A Twitch banner is a graphic that appears at the top of your channel page. It’s a vital branding tool that can be used as a call to action for viewers to follow you and visit your channel.

Twitch banners are the first thing viewers see on your channel, and they’re an opportunity to make a lasting impression. One of the most vital things you can do as a streamer is to ensure that your banner stands out from the crowd.

If you want people to remember your channel and return, an optimized and visually appealing banner is one of the best ways to do it.

They’re also a great way to show off your personality—and give viewers a preview of what to expect on your channel.

There are two types of Twitch banners: Profile and video player banners.

A profile player banner is the equivalent of a profile picture on other social media platforms like TikTok or Instagram. Here, viewers can find key information about your channel, like a brand logo, streaming schedules, or even links to your other social media pages.

A Twitch video player banner or an offline banner is similar to cover pages on other social media platforms. This is where you go all ballistic with advertisements or promoting your channel.

A profile player banner is the equivalent of a profile picture on other social media platforms like TikTok or Instagram. Here, viewers can find key information about your channel, like a brand logo, streaming schedules, or even links to your other social media pages.

A Twitch video player banner or an offline banner is similar to cover pages on other social media platforms. This is where you go all ballistic with advertisements or promoting your channel.

The Best Twitch Banner Size

The ideal size for a Twitch video player banner is 1920 by 1080 pixels. The corresponding ratio should be 16:9 ratio, which means that it should be no more than ¾ of the screen on both sides.

Here’s a collated list of recommended Twitch banner and element sizes:

Item	Recommended Dimensions	Recommended Aspect Ratio
Video player/ Offline banner	1920 × 1080 px	16:9
Profile banner	1200 × 480 px	5:2
Panel	320 × 160 px	2:1
Avatar	1600 × 1600 px	1:1
Video thumbnail	1280 × 720 px	16:9

How to Make a Twitch Video Player Banner with Wave.Video

So much goes into creating an ideal Twitch video player banner. The color palette has to align with your brand, it also has to be visually appealing, and you have to worry about the banner size.

What if you could create the perfect Twitch banner without the unnecessary strain?

Here’s how to quickly and easily craft the best Twitch video player banner with Wave.Video:

1. Choose a 16:9 Template

First load Wave.Video on your browser. Sign in to your Wave.Video account or sign up for a free one.

Ideally, you should be redirected to the “My Projects” tab. However, if this isn’t the case, simply click the “My Projects” button on the homepage to navigate to it, as shown below.

Select the “Create” button, then click on “Blank Video.”

Choose the blank 16:9 template.

2. Design It to Your Liking

After you’ve selected the blank template, this is what you should see on your device.

Start by uploading a clip for your Twitch banner. Alternatively, you can choose a background template from Wave.Video vast library of free and paid stock footage. Remember, the background should align with your brand.

Add text or stickers to your banner. With the text, you might want to stick to one font style.

Feel free to add more elements that may make your banner stand out. Editing options are endless on Wave.Video.

3. Download It

Take your time to review your Twitch banner. If you missed any step or uploaded the video clip directly, you can resize your banner to 16:9 using the tool on your left.

Once everything checks out, hit the publish button at the top right corner and select the video option.

Choose the highest resolution setting available on your plan, then click “Render with watermark.” The button is “Render” on paid plans.

Give it some time, then download the banner.

You’ll notice the video has a small watermark at the bottom right corner and that the resolution is capped at 720p on the free plan. These should do just fine, but if the watermark bothers you, you can always upgrade to the creator plan for watermark-free content, among other wonderful perks.

4. Upload It to Your Twitch Profile

Open the banner on your device and check for any errors you might have missed. Log on to your Twitch profile and upload your new banner.

Look up your Twitch channel on another device to confirm everything looks good.

Share your Twitch channel’s link on other social media platforms and watch as viewers stream in.

Twitch Banner Best Practices

See, that was easy. But is it? It may seem difficult to get it right on your first try, but a couple of takes should help you build confidence and the necessary momentum.
Here are some of the best-designed Twitch banners you can use to get an idea of what an ideal Twitch banner looks like:
1. Fps_Shaka

At first glance, this design is simple and elegant. There’s little to show what the channel is about, but it’s smart since the creator streams three different games, and if they placed the details on the banner, it would overwhelm viewers.
This design is unique, and for any gamer, it’s enough to draw sufficient interest to watch videos on the channel.

2. AcadArenaPH

One glance at this banner gives you an idea of what the channel is about. Clean and crisp, yet packed with all the necessary information and links viewers may need.

3. iiTzTimmy

You can tell what the content is on the channel right off the bat. The design is visually appealing and provides all the information viewers may be interested in.

Tips for Creating the Best Twitch Banner

Unless you’re willing to pay a professional to design the best Twitch banner, you’ll have to do the work, and the sheer number of things you need to optimize can easily overwhelm you.
Use these tips for best results:

Include relevant colors, photos, and icons

The goal is to attract viewers, but you shouldn’t turn to underhanded clickbait tactics. You want to depict exactly what is in your channel. The colors and icons you use should represent your brand and, in a way, flow seamlessly with the content you create.

Here are some photo ideas you can use on your banner:

• Use a picture from your stream. This can be either from before or after broadcasting, but the idea here is to provide a brief preview of your content. Ensure you put your best foot forward here.
• Use your picture or an image that represents what you do. As you choose, consider what you think is unique, appealing to your viewers, and reflects your personality and style. For instance, if you’re streaming Battlefield or Overwatch, you may use snapshots from main events or battle scenes.

Make your text concise

In design circles, the phrase “less is more” reigns supreme. Regardless of the platform it’s designed for; a conservative design wins since it doesn’t overwhelm people.

Brevity is key here. Twitch is a video streaming platform, and the least viewers expect is to face massive blocks of text. But you need a bit of text to state what your channel is about and also for a bit of self-promotion.

Therefore, state your key message in as few words as possible, and try not to cram all of it in one place.

Stick to the same style

One thing about most viewed Twitch streams is they all have brand consistency. Ideally, your viewers should be able to identify your channel irrespective of whether they’re logging in from the usual devices.

Style consistency also conveys to viewers that you’re dedicated to your work. Unconsciously viewers will consider you competent, and thus they’ll most likely watch your streams.

Whether it’s the color scheme or text typography, once you’ve settled on one, use it in all your designs and in-channel content.

Final Thoughts

Twitch is one of the ideal platforms to start a video streaming brand and, with enough effort, acquire a decent following. However, stiff competition on the platform means you must try harder to be noticed or attract viewers to your channel.

The first thing users notice about a channel is its Twitch banner. Get a few things right, like using optimum Twitch banner size or designing a unique-visually attractive banner, and you’ll be ahead of other creators.

Remember, it’s not only about having the most engaging or relevant content on your Twitch channel. The most important thing is getting viewers interested first, and you can only achieve this by having a well-designed Twitch banner.