How to Get a Banner on Pinterest

Your Pinterest banner is the digital billboard for your brand, but creating one that actually pulls people in can feel tricky. It is your prime real estate for making an unforgettable first impression. We'll walk you through not just the technical steps of how to get a banner on your Pinterest Business account, but also the strategies for designing one that supports your brand and gets visitors excited to see more.

What is a Pinterest Banner (and Why It's a Big Deal)

First things first, what are we talking about? The Pinterest banner - also called a profile cover or header - is the large, wide image or video that sits right at the top of your Pinterest profile. It’s only available for Business accounts, and it’s one of your most powerful branding tools on the platform.

Think of it this way: if your individual Pins are like magazine ads that draw people in, your profile banner is the storefront. It’s what greets visitors when they click through to learn more about you. A thoughtful, well-designed banner does more than just look pretty. It instantly communicates who you are, what you offer, and why someone should stick around.

Here’s why you shouldn't overlook it:

• It’s Your First Impression: Your banner is the first visual element people see when they land on your profile. A beautiful, high-quality banner makes your brand feel professional and established. A generic or empty one does the opposite.
• It Establishes Your Brand Vibe: In a split second, you can show off your brand’s personality. Are you bright and playful? Minimalist and modern? Rustic and comforting? Your banner’s imagery, colors, and fonts set the tone immediately.
• It Highlights What’s Important: You can use this space to guide visitors’ attention. Feature your best-selling products, announce a new launch, promote a free guide, or showcase a seasonal collection. It tells people exactly what you want them to know right now.
• It’s Dynamic: With video support, banners can bring motion and life to what would otherwise be a static page, grabbing attention more effectively than a standard image.

Sizing and Specs: Getting Your Banner Technically Right

Before you get into the fun part of designing, you need to know the rules of the road. Getting the technical specifications correct stops you from uploading an image that ends up cropped in a weird way or a video that won’t play properly. Here are the latest guidelines from Pinterest.

For Image Banners:

• Aspect Ratio: 16:9 is the best aspect ratio for your banner.
• Minimum Dimensions: 800 pixels wide x 450 pixels tall.
• File Types: .JPG or .PNG.
• File Size: Maximum of 32 MB.

For Video Banners:

• Aspect Ratio: Must be a 16:9 horizontal video. Vertical videos won't work here.
• File Types: .MP4, .MOV, or .M4V.
• File Size: Maximum of 2 GB.
• Length: Between 4 seconds and 5 minutes. The video will auto-play on a loop without sound when people visit your profile.
• Encoding: Use H.264 or H.265.

The Most Important Rule: Design for Mobile!

This is the one thing most people mess up. Your beautiful, wide banner looks great on a desktop computer, but a significant portion of Pinterest users are browsing on their phones. On mobile, the app automatically crops the sides of your banner and centers it. On top of that, your round profile picture sits squarely on top of the bottom-middle part of the banner.

The Profile Banner Safe Zone

To avoid having your brand name or key visuals cut off, keep all your essential elements - like text, logos, or product images - within a "safe zone" in the center of your banner. Imagine a smaller rectangle inside your banner an equal distance from the top and sides. The very bottom center will be covered, so don't put anything important there. If your banner features a call-to-action like "Shop Now," make sure it isn't hidden behind your profile picture on a phone.

A good practice is to create your banner at the recommended dimensions and then preview it by zooming out to see how the central part looks on its own. If it still works, you’re good to go.

6 Inspiring Ideas for Your Pinterest Banner Design

An empty banner is a missed opportunity. Here are some effective strategies for turning that space into a visitor-magnet, complete with examples.

1. The Straightforward Product Showcase

What it is: A clean, attractive display of your hero products. This is a great choice for e-commerce brands, sellers on Etsy, or anyone with physical goods.

Example: A boutique skincare brand could have a beautifully arranged flat-lay of their best-selling serum, moisturizer, and clay mask on a clean marble background. Your banner immediately answers the question, "What do they sell?"

2. The Aspirational Lifestyle Shot

What it is: Instead of focusing on products, you sell the feeling or result. This works well for coaches, service providers, and travel or lifestyle bloggers.

Example: A fitness coach might use a dynamic video banner showing clips of clients smiling, hitting personal records, and enjoying an active lifestyle - not just static photos of dumbbells. It sells the confidence and energy people will gain.

3. The Call-to-Action (CTA) Driver

What it is: Your banner explicitly tells visitors what to do next. It often features text and simple graphics to direct attention toward a link in your bio or your latest content.

Example: A food blogger promoting their new cookbook could have a banner showing the book cover and text that says, "My New Cookbook is Here!" with a subtle arrow pointing down toward their profile and website link.

4. The Bold Brand Statement

What it is: Use the banner to display your tagline, mission, or a core value proposition in bold, on-brand typography. It’s less about a specific product and more about the big picture.

Example: A sustainable clothing brand might have a banner with a simple, elegant video of their fabrics and the text "Designed for a kinder planet" fading in and out. It appeals to a specific audience and what they care about.

5. The Meet the Maker Reveal

What it is: A behind-the-scenes look at you, your team, or your creative process. Putting a face to the brand builds an immediate and powerful connection.

Example: An artist or craftsperson could use a short time-lapse video in their banner showing their hands at work - painting, shaping pottery, or crafting jewelry. It highlights the skill and passion behind the products.

6. The Dynamic Event or Seasonal Feature

What it is: Treating your banner like a living space that you update regularly for holidays, major sales, seasons, or special announcements.

Example: A home decor shop could swap out their banner for fall with a cozy display of pumpkins, flannel blankets, and warm lighting. For the holidays, it becomes a winter wonderland. This shows that your profile is active and current.

How to Upload or Change Your Pinterest Banner: A Step-by-Step Guide

Okay, your amazing, mobile-friendly banner is designed and ready to go. Now for the easy part. Here’s how you actually get it on your profile.

On a Desktop Computer:

1. Log in to your Pinterest Business account.
2. Click on your profile picture in the top-right corner to go to your profile.
3. Hover your mouse over the banner area. A pencil icon will appear in the top-right corner of the banner space. Click it.
4. A box will pop up, prompting you to "Drag and drop or click to upload an image or video." Select the banner file you created on your computer.
5. Once uploaded, you can make minor adjustments, like positioning it. Pinterest gives you a simple tool to reposition the image up or down if needed.
6. Click Done to save your new banner. It's now live!

On the Pinterest Mobile App (iOS or Android):

1. Open the Pinterest app and make sure you’re logged into your account.
2. Tap your profile picture in the bottom-right corner of the screen to visit your profile.
3. Tap the three dots (...) in the top-right corner of your screen and select Edit profile from the menu.
4. On the “Edit profile” screen, you'll see your current banner at the top with a small pencil icon or a "Change" button on it. Tap it.
5. Choose "Upload from Photos" and select the banner image or video you have saved on your phone.
6. Adjust the positioning if necessary and tap Done. Your banner is now updated.

Final Thoughts

Creating an effective Pinterest banner is about so much more than filling an empty space, it's a strategic move to define your brand identity, welcome new followers, and guide them on their journey with you. By pairing the right technical specs with a design that truly represents your brand's unique story, you turn your profile from a simple content board into a compelling destination.

A great Pinterest banner is just one piece of your visual brand story. Keeping all your social content - from Pins and banners to Reels and TikToks - aligned can be a challenge. At Postbase, we designed a simple, visual calendar to help you see your entire content plan at a glance, making it seamless to schedule your creative assets and maintain a cohesive brand look across all platforms. It helps you turn that awesome banner idea into a part of a much bigger, more effective strategy.