Channel cover (practical)
Recommended1080×360 3:1
Practical 3:1 Channel header habit. Not a Status still and not the circular Channel icon.
Use in toolWhatsApp · Image size
WhatsApp Channel Cover Size
WhatsApp Channel covers are a short wide strip—export 1080×360 (3:1), keep the title in the center band, then download in your browser.
Browser crop · stays on your device
Crop your WhatsApp Channel cover
1080 × 360
Add a photo to crop
Upload a wide brand graphic—or try the sample—then keep the channel name in the center band before you download.
Size specs
Primary export here is 1080×360 (3:1). Some creators also ship a 1280×720 (16:9) community alternate—preview on device either way. Do not stretch a Status (9:16) or a 640×640 profile into this slot.
Publish
Export this for WhatsApp upload.
| Asset | Pixels | Ratio | Notes | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Channel cover (practical) Recommended | 1080×360 | 3:1 | Practical 3:1 Channel header habit. Not a Status still and not the circular Channel icon. | Use in tool |
Channel covers brand the feed—Status and avatars are different jobs
WhatsApp Channels put a wide cover above updates so followers recognize the publisher before they read a single broadcast. A practical community habit is 1080×360 (3:1): short enough to read as a header, wide enough for a wordmark and one short line.
Status stills are full-phone 9:16 frames with progress and reply chrome. Stretching a Status export into a Channel cover flattens faces and leaves empty bars. Profile pictures and Channel icons are circles—they identify chats, not the Channel stage.
Some teams also keep a 1280×720 (16:9) alternate when their art started as a YouTube thumbnail or community card. That is an optional habit, not a second primary in this tool—if you use it, re-check the live Channel preview so LinkedIn-style crop surprises do not clip the title.
Keep type large and the far edges calm. Channel lists and phones can tighten the rim. Soft screenshots of the WhatsApp UI look unfinished next to a purpose-built strip with clear contrast.
Good vs weak crop
Same short banner strip—quiet lower-left for the avatar, subject in the open mid/right band.
Clear 3:1 Channel strip
- True 1080×360 export
- Title in the center band
- Separate from Status 9:16
Status or circle forced wide
- 9:16 Status stretched flat
- Only a tiny circle logo on the rim
- Micro type after compression
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.
Channel cover
1080 × 360
This page. Wide Channel header (3:1).
Optional community alternate
1280 × 720
16:9 habit some teams reuse—preview live; not the in-tool primary.
Status
1080 × 1920
9:16 full-screen still—separate guide.
Channel / group icon
640 × 640
Circle mark—separate upload.
| Surface | Typical size | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Channel cover | 1080 × 360 | This page. Wide Channel header (3:1). |
| Optional community alternate | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 habit some teams reuse—preview live; not the in-tool primary. |
| Status | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 full-screen still—separate guide. |
| Channel / group icon | 640 × 640 | Circle mark—separate upload. |
Channel cover vs Status (9:16)
Status fills the phone under progress dots and reply UI. Channel covers are short headers above a feed of updates. Reusing one master for both almost always fails one of the two crops.
- WhatsApp Status size — 1080 × 1920 (9:16)
- Channel cover: 1080×360 (3:1) primary here.
- Optional 1280×720 only when you preview the live Channel.
Cover vs Channel icon vs profile
The cover brands the Channel page. The Channel icon (and personal profile) are circular marks in lists. Export two files with two safe zones.
- Channel icon size — 640 × 640 circle
- Profile picture size — 640 × 640 personal circle
File requirements
JPG suits photo backgrounds; PNG suits flat brand art. Prefer sRGB. Start sharp—WhatsApp compression punishes soft upscales.
- Primary Channel cover
- 1080 × 360 px (3:1)
- Optional alternate
- 1280 × 720 px (community habit)
- Not this slot
- Status 9:16, 640×640 icons
- Formats
- JPG or PNG (sRGB)
Common mistakes
- Uploading a Status still as the Channel cover.
- Parking the only logo on the far left or right edge.
- Shipping a soft phone screenshot stretched to 1080×360.
- Treating the circular Channel icon as the only brand asset.
How to use the crop tool
Upload a wide graphic, choose Channel cover (1080×360), keep the title inside the center band, then download. Cropping stays in your browser.
- Prefer the 3:1 primary unless you knowingly ship a 16:9 alternate outside this tool.
- Judge the result at phone width, not only full screen.
- Re-check the live Channel after upload.
After you download
From this download to a live upload in a few minutes.
- 1
Download the 1080×360 JPG or PNG from the tool.
- 2
In WhatsApp, open Channel admin / edit Channel and update the cover photo.
- 3
Confirm the strip on phone and desktop Channel views.
- 4
If the title clips, re-crop with more center margin and replace the file.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a WhatsApp Channel cover in 2026?
A practical primary size is 1080×360 (3:1). Some teams also use 1280×720 as a community alternate—always preview the live Channel.
Is the Channel cover the same as WhatsApp Status?
No. Status is 1080×1920 (9:16). Channel covers are short wide headers—do not stretch one into the other.
Should I upload 1280×720 instead of 1080×360?
1080×360 is the primary habit on this page. Use 1280×720 only if your art is already 16:9 and the live Channel preview still looks intentional.
Is this the Channel icon?
No. Channel icons are 640×640 circles. The cover is a wide strip above Channel updates.
Can I crop WhatsApp Channel covers in the browser?
Yes. This guide includes an in-browser crop—files stay on your device until you download and upload to WhatsApp yourself.