Start with a 3000 x 3000-pixel square master for your podcast show cover. Export a solid-background JPG or PNG, then check the destination's current upload rules. A square show cover, a YouTube episode thumbnail and a channel banner serve different placements and should not be treated as interchangeable files.
This guide separates documented requirements from practical design checks. It does not promise more downloads or a particular click-through-rate improvement from changing your artwork.
Podcast cover art dimensions by destination
Apple Podcasts show cover
Apple's Show Cover specifications list 3000 x 3000 pixels. For show artwork submitted through RSS, Apple accepts square images from 1400 x 1400 to 3000 x 3000 pixels and prefers the largest size. The supported export types are PNG and JPG. Show covers must have a solid background without transparency or an alpha channel.
Make the title prominent and readable at small sizes, and use Apple's own template when checking its art safe area. The guide lines in the Podcastools editor are design aids, not a guarantee of Apple's placement or submission approval.
Spotify podcast artwork
If Spotify hosts your podcast, its podcast cover-art help explains how to change show artwork in Spotify for Creators. If your show is hosted elsewhere, update the artwork through that host. The same help page explains that episode artwork may appear differently across listening platforms.
Keep your square master and check the requirements shown by your podcast host's uploader. Do not substitute a specification for music releases in Spotify for Artists for a podcast hosting requirement.
YouTube podcast playlist and episode thumbnails
YouTube recommends a 1280 x 1280-pixel square thumbnail for a podcast playlist in its podcast setup instructions. That playlist image represents the show. An individual video episode uses a separate thumbnail: YouTube's custom-thumbnail guidance recommends 16:9 for videos and 1:1 for podcast playlists. Consult that page for the current size and file limits for the device you upload from.
A channel banner is a third asset. Use the Podcast YouTube Banner Maker for a 2560 x 1440 PNG with center guides, and preview it in YouTube before publishing. Do not stretch your square cover to fill a wide banner or episode thumbnail.
Does podcast cover art have to be under 512 KB?
The current Apple Show Cover specification linked above does not state a universal 512 KB limit. A hosting service can impose its own byte limit, so follow the validator at the place where you upload your artwork. There is no reason to degrade a readable image solely to meet an unsupported limit in a generic guide.
If your host rejects a file for size, lower JPEG quality a little, export again and inspect the actual downloaded file size. Check the small title text and edges for compression artifacts before uploading. A smaller byte count is useful only while the image remains clear and meets the destination's pixel requirements.
Make a correctly sized cover in the free editor
The Podcast Cover Art Maker creates a 3000 x 3000 JPEG in your browser without an account. It includes four editable layouts, three font styles, optional photo positioning, color controls and a 100-pixel thumbnail preview. It does not generate AI illustrations or certify a platform submission.
- Enter the show title and an optional short subtitle.
- Choose Centered Title, Bold Title Top, Left Banner or Diagonal Stripe.
- Set colors manually, or load your own PNG, JPG or WebP and sample its colors.
- Check the full preview and the 100-pixel thumbnail; shorten text or adjust contrast if the title becomes hard to read.
- Download the 3000 x 3000 JPG, inspect the file and test it in your host's upload flow.
Photos can be up to 10 MB and 25 megapixels. Processing stays in the browser. The editor's margin guides appear in the preview and are omitted from the exported JPEG. Automatic colors are a starting point; check them against the actual photo and any layout banner before you publish.
For a concrete example, inspect the original Centered Title JPEG and Left Banner JPEG. Both are 3000 x 3000 outputs from the editor. The example settings and permission explain how these demonstration files were made.
Check readability before uploading
Use the thumbnail preview as a manual test, not a platform acceptance score. Look at the title on both light and dark backgrounds. If a photo competes with the lettering, move the crop, change the colors, choose a layout with a text banner or simplify the subtitle. A face, logo or illustration is optional; choose imagery that helps a listener recognize this particular show.
Use images and typefaces you have permission to publish. Keep an editable master and a copy of the final downloaded file so you can make later changes without repeatedly compressing an old JPEG. Artwork can help someone recognize the show, but it does not establish audience growth or revenue by itself.
Podcast artwork export checklist
- Confirm which asset you are uploading: show cover, podcast playlist image, episode thumbnail or banner.
- Check the required dimensions in the destination's current documentation or uploader.
- For Apple show artwork, use JPG or PNG with a solid background and no alpha channel.
- Inspect the actual exported dimensions, format and byte size.
- Read the title at thumbnail size and check the crop around important text.
- Verify image permissions and use an accurate show title.
- Preview the result in the destination after uploading.
Requirements were checked against the linked official Apple, Spotify and YouTube pages on October 18, 2026. The editor's features were checked separately in Podcastools.