Email banner (recommended)
Recommended1100×220 5:1
Substack help recommends ~1100×220 with a transparent background when possible; taller banners can work.
Use in toolSubstack · Image size
Substack Email Banner Size
Substack recommends about 1100×220 for email banners (can be taller). Keep marks in the center band, then download a clear file in your browser.
Browser crop · stays on your device
Crop your Substack email banner
1100 × 220
Add a photo to crop
Upload a wide graphic—or try the sample—then keep the mark in the center band before you download.
Size specs
This is the horizontal email header strip—not the welcome cover square and not the social preview card.
Publish
Export this for Substack upload.
| Asset | Pixels | Ratio | Notes | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Email banner (recommended) Recommended | 1100×220 | 5:1 | Substack help recommends ~1100×220 with a transparent background when possible; taller banners can work. | Use in tool |
Email banners are short strips above the newsletter
Substack help recommends about 1100×220 for email banners, preferably with transparency. The strip can be taller, but the practical habit is a short horizontal brand bar—not a poster.
Email clients clip and scale aggressively. Fine serifs and edge-only logos disappear. Keep one clear mark or short wordmark in the center band.
This is not the publication logo (square) and not the social preview (~14:10). Reuse brand colors if you want—export a dedicated 5:1 strip for mail.
Dark-mode inboxes and light themes both exist. Transparent PNGs with strong contrast survive better than a photo that only works on white.
Good vs weak crop
Same short banner strip—quiet lower-left for the avatar, subject in the open mid/right band.
Reads in the inbox
- True ~1100×220 strip
- Center mark with contrast
- Transparent PNG when useful
Edge-only or wrong square
- Logo square stretched wide
- Type only on the far left or right
- Busy photo that fails in dark mode
Before you upload
Tick these off against your crop preview—nothing is saved.
Related surfaces compared
Similar-looking slots often use different ratios—do not reuse one export for all of them.
Email banner
1100 × 220
This page. Newsletter header strip.
Logo
512 × 512
Square identity—separate file.
Social preview
1456 × 1048
Share card—different ratio.
| Surface | Typical size | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Email banner | 1100 × 220 | This page. Newsletter header strip. |
| Logo | 512 × 512 | Square identity—separate file. |
| Social preview | 1456 × 1048 | Share card—different ratio. |
Design for email clients, not Figma full-bleed
Inboxes shrink width and may strip transparency poorly. Test a real send. Prefer flat color fields and bold marks over photographic banners that turn muddy after compression.
- Keep file weight modest for mobile networks.
- Avoid tiny legal lines on the image—put them in the email body.
- Taller banners are allowed, but re-check clipping on phones.
Email banner vs logo vs cover
The logo is the square stamp. The cover is the welcome square. The email banner is the horizontal mail header. Three exports keep each surface intentional.
- Logo size — 512 × 512
- Cover size — welcome square
File requirements
PNG with transparency is ideal for flat banners. JPG works for photographic strips. Prefer sRGB.
- Recommended banner
- 1100 × 220 px (~5:1)
- Formats
- PNG (preferred) or JPG
- Background
- Transparent when possible
- Flexibility
- Taller banners can work—preview in mail
Common mistakes
- Stretching the social preview into a 5:1 strip.
- Putting the only logo on the extreme edge.
- Using a soft screenshot of the Substack site.
- Skipping a test send before a big launch.
How to use the crop tool
Upload a wide graphic, choose Email banner (1100×220), drag until the mark clears the center band, then download. Cropping stays in the browser.
- Prefer PNG for flat brand bars.
- Always send a test email after you publish.
After you download
From this download to a live upload in a few minutes.
- 1
Download the 1100×220 PNG (preferred) from the tool.
- 2
In Substack email / website branding settings, update the email banner.
- 3
Send a test email to yourself on phone and desktop.
- 4
If the mark clips, re-crop with a quieter center composition.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Substack email banner?
About 1100×220 (~5:1) is the practical recommended size. Substack notes banners can be taller—preview in real email clients.
Should it be transparent?
When possible, yes—especially for flat logos on a colored mail background. Use PNG.
Is this the same as the publication cover?
No. Covers are welcome-page squares. Email banners are short horizontal strips for newsletters.
Can I crop email banners here?
Yes. The in-browser crop stays on your device until you download and upload to Substack yourself.