- Rachel Bistricer
- May 7
- 7 min read
Banners are essential tools for communication—they grab attention, convey a message and can set the tone for any event, marketing strategy or social media content. Whether you're a graphic design novice or an event organizer looking to create something impactful, learning how to make a banner is a fundamental design skill.
This article will walk you through everything you need to know about creating a banner, from defining your purpose to exporting your final design. We’ll also explore the differences between digital and printed banners, provide step-by-step instructions and share tips on dimensions, types and examples of banner designs.
How to make a banner in 9 steps
01. Define your purpose and location
Start by identifying the banner’s purpose. Are you advertising a sale, promoting an event or creating informative content? Each goal requires a slightly different approach. For instance, an event banner might focus on dates and locations, while a promotional banner may need bold text emphasizing a discount.
Next, consider the location. A banner displayed on a website header has very different size and resolution requirements compared to one hung at a local farmer’s market. Physical banners need to account for distance—they should be large and easily legible even from several feet away. Digital banners, on the other hand, must load quickly and fit specific aspect ratios to avoid distortion.
Explore our creative banner design ideas today to see how you can effectively grab attention and convey your message.
02. Select a design platform
Choosing the right design platform is essential for creating a professional and eye-catching banner. A platform like Wixel provides all the tools and flexibility you need to bring your ideas to life. When picking a platform, look for ease of use, customizable templates and high-quality export options to ensure your banner looks polished and meets your needs.
Wixel ticks all these boxes, offering a user-friendly interface perfect for both beginners and seasoned designers. With plenty of customization features, Wixel lets you focus on designing a banner that truly connects with your audience—without the headache of complicated software.
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03. Choose a banner size
Size matters when it comes to banners. The dimensions you choose should fit the platform where the banner will be displayed while maintaining visual balance.
For physical banners, the size will often depend on the space available. Standard options might include 6x2 feet for table banners or 10x3 feet for larger displays. Make sure to keep any important design elements away from the edges to avoid trimming during production.
For digital banners, sizes vary depending on placement. For example:
Website header banners are often around 1920 x 500 pixels.
Instagram stories and posts require dimensions of 1080 x 1920 pixels.
Facebook ad banners work best at 1200 x 628 pixels.
04. Pick a relevant or branded color scheme
Color can instantly draw attention and convey a mood. Using principles of color theory, stick to a color scheme that aligns with either your branding or the theme of the message you’re communicating to make your banner effective.
For example, a vibrant palette featuring red and yellow is excellent for creating urgency—perfect for a promotion or sale. Meanwhile, soft pastels can give a calm and approachable look for an event such as a book club gathering.
When designing for a business, lean toward branded colors to maintain consistency. If your logo includes navy blue and white, incorporate these shades into your banner to ensure cohesiveness across all marketing materials. Consider the color meanings, too—navy blue conveys trust and professionalism, while white represents simplicity and clarity, reinforcing your brand's message.
Use no more than 3-4 colors in your design to keep the look clean and professional. Platforms like Wixel offer a color palette generator that you can apply directly to your banner with ease.
05. Use fonts to create an information hierarchy
Typography plays a critical role in how your message is perceived. The right fonts establish hierarchy and lead the audience through the information you’re presenting. Remember, less is more. Stick to no more than two font families and make sure your text aligns visually with the overall design.
Headline font: Choose a bold sans-serif font for your main message. This should be large enough to grab attention, even from a distance.
Subheadline font: Opt for a slightly smaller, complementary font to provide additional details.
Body text: Use a simple, easy-to-read font for supporting information, such as dates, times or directions.
Explore the power of fonts—discover what is typography and elevate your banner designs.
06. Select high-quality images
Images are often the first thing people notice, so choose high-quality visuals that are clear and relevant to your banner’s purpose. Images should be at least 300 dpi.
If you’re promoting an upcoming event, use images like photographs of past events or iconic visuals related to the theme. For marketing banners, opt for product photos or lifestyle imagery that connects with your audience’s interests.
Stock image libraries are an excellent option if you don’t have custom photos. Whatever image you choose, ensure it’s high-resolution to avoid pixelation, especially for print banners. Use a photo editor to customize the image, adding elements like text, photo filters or your brand logo to make it unique.
Learn how to edit photos like a pro with simple tips to enhance your banner visuals.
07. Define your banner message
What’s the key takeaway you want someone to remember after seeing your banner? Your message should be short, sharp and easy to understand in just a few seconds.
For a physical banner, prioritize essential details like event names, dates and locations or the name of a promotion (e.g., “50% OFF This Week Only”). For digital banners, consider phrases that drive immediate action, like “Shop Our New Collection” or “Sign Up Today.”
Make your message the focal point of your banner by placing it prominently and pairing it with bold, readable fonts. For digital banners, you can embed clickable links directly into the design. Physical banners should include legible URLs or QR codes for easy access.
08. Include clear call-to-action
Whether you’re promoting a sale or inviting people to an event, your banner must include a clear call-to-action (CTA). This is the step you want your audience to take after seeing your banner. A strong CTA should be visible and easy to follow.
For example, if you’re advertising an event, use phrases like “Join Us” or “RSVP Now” as clickable buttons on digital banners. For physical banners, consider adding arrows pointing towards important information like dates or locations. Your CTA should be clear and straightforward, leaving no room for confusion about what action to take next.
09. Download and export your banner
Once you’re satisfied with the design, download it in the correct format. For digital banners, JPEG and PNG files work well. For printed banners, opt for print-ready formats like PDF with a high resolution (300 dpi) and include crop marks.
Digital vs printed banners
The first step in making a banner is determining whether it will be digital or printed. Each format has unique considerations that can affect your design process.
Digital banners
Digital banners are designed for screens. They’re often used on websites, social media platforms or as part of digital ads. With digital designs, resolution and file size are key. A banner that’s too low in resolution will appear pixelated, while one that’s too large might slow down website load times. Tools that offer precise pixel-based dimensions are highly recommended for creating digital banners.
Consider factors like responsiveness. A banner designed for a desktop website might need to be resized or redesigned for a mobile view to maintain its impact.
Printed banners
Printed banners are created for physical displays, such as at events, on storefronts or for outdoor advertising. The focus here is on print resolution—images need to be at least 300 dpi to ensure they look sharp when printed. Additionally, materials matter. Vinyl banners, for instance, are great for outdoor use because they’re durable and weather-resistant.
Colors behave differently in print than on screens. While digital banners use RGB color settings, printed banners require CMYK to ensure the colors come out correctly during the printing process.
Knowing your banner’s format will guide critical decisions about its size, resolution and design elements.
Banner dimensions
Understanding standard dimensions makes creating your banner much simpler. Here are some popular sizes:
Web banners
Leaderboard: 728 x 90 pixels
Half Page: 300 x 600 pixels
Medium Rectangle: 300 x 250 pixels
Large Rectangle: 336 x 280 pixels
Skyscraper: 160 x 600 pixels
Social media banners
Facebook Cover: 820 x 312 pixels (desktop), 640 x 360 pixels (mobile)
LinkedIn Banner: 1128 x 191 pixels (personal profile), 1128 x 376 pixels (company page)
Twitter Header: 1500 x 500 pixels
YouTube Channel Art: 2560 x 1440 pixels (safe area: 1546 x 423 pixels)
Instagram Story Ad: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Print banners
Standard Roll-Up Banner: 33 x 80 inches
Large Outdoor Banner: 6 x 3 feet or larger, depending on the use case
Additional design projects to explore:
How to make a book cover that captures readers at first glance
How to make a flyer that captures attention and delivers your message
How to make a gift card for any occasion
How to make an infographic that captivates and informs your audience
How to make invitations that set the tone for your big event
How to make labels that are functional and beautiful
How to make a mood board that inspires your best creative work
How to make a poster for impactful displays
How to make a slideshow that keeps viewers focused
How to make a YouTube banner that captures your channel's personality
How to make YouTube thumbnail that boost clicks and viewer engagement
How to make a banner FAQ
How do I know which banner style I need?
Start by considering your banner’s purpose, location and audience. Websites favor animated or clickable digital banners, while physical events typically require a print design.