The short version: Canva and Adobe Express have the best free LinkedIn banner templates in 2026, and Google Slides works if you want something plain. LinkedIn recommends 1584 x 396 pixels for a profile background, as a JPG or PNG under 8MB, and that's a different size from a company Page cover, so pick the right template before you start.
Your LinkedIn banner is the biggest piece of space on your profile, and most people leave it as the default blue pattern. That's a missed chance. A clear banner tells a visitor what you do and who you help before they've read a word of your headline, and it takes about the same time to make as a coffee break.
Three places to get free LinkedIn banner templates
In no particular order, each one best for a different job:
- Canva: best for the biggest range of ready-made LinkedIn banner styles.
- Adobe Express: best for quick banners with stock images and brand fonts.
- Google Slides: best for a simple text banner if you'd rather not sign up for anything new.
LinkedIn banner template sources side by side
| Source | Best for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Canva | Ready-made styles | Says its LinkedIn banner templates are free to personalise |
| Adobe Express | Stock images and fonts | Says its LinkedIn banner maker is free to use |
| Google Slides | Plain text banners | Set a custom slide size before you design |
Whichever you choose, check the template's size against LinkedIn's numbers below before you change a single word.
The sizes LinkedIn recommends
LinkedIn's help centre lists its cover image specifications for your personal profile: a JPG or PNG file, under 8MB, at 1584 x 396 pixels recommended. Once it's uploaded, you can crop the photo, add filters, adjust it, change its position and size or rotate it.
A company Page is different. LinkedIn's Page image guidelines list a Page cover image at 1512 x 256 pixels, with images as PNG or JPEG up to 3MB. It also warns that your cover image might be adjusted to fit the screen, which can trim it horizontally or vertically, so keep the important parts away from the edges.
The template mix-up that ruins banners
Here's where people go wrong. They search for a LinkedIn banner template, find one built for a company Page, and upload it to their personal profile, or the other way round. Because the shapes are so different, your text gets cropped, your photo looks stretched or the design floats in the middle of a big empty space.
Two more details from LinkedIn's help are worth knowing. If your cover looks blurry or pixelated, LinkedIn suggests choosing an image with a larger file size, and if that doesn't help, using a compression tool such as Trimage for Windows or ImageOptim for Mac before uploading. And if you go live on LinkedIn, it says your cover image changes temporarily during the stream and goes back afterwards.
On licences, Canva's content licence says Pro content can be used in a single design and can't be downloaded as a standalone item, while its free content falls under a separate free licence. For a banner you design once and upload to your own profile, the free templates are the simple choice.
What to put on your banner
Think of the banner as a billboard behind your photo. The best ones answer one question for a visitor: why should I keep reading? That might be the result you get for clients, a short line about who you work with, or the name of something you're known for, such as a podcast, a book or a newsletter.
Keep the design simple and use your brand colours so the banner matches your website and other social profiles. Large text works better than small text, because many people will see your profile on a phone. If you use a photo, choose one that shows you working or speaking rather than a stock image, so the banner feels like you.
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How to make a LinkedIn banner that works
- Decide whether it's for your personal profile or your company Page.
- Open a template at 1584 x 396 pixels for a profile, or 1512 x 256 pixels for a Page.
- Add one line about who you help and what you do, in large text.
- Keep text and logos away from the bottom left, where your profile photo sits.
- Export as a JPG under 8MB for your profile.
- Upload it, check it on your phone and on a laptop, then adjust the position.
Making the rest of your profile match
A banner works best when it backs up the rest of your profile. If you'd like to design it yourself, here's how to make a banner in Canva step by step. Then make sure your photo matches with my guide on how to change your profile picture on LinkedIn, and work through my tips for optimising your LinkedIn profile.
A few ideas for what to put on it: a short line about the result you get for clients, your website address, the name of your podcast or newsletter, or a photo of you speaking or working. Avoid a long list of services. One clear message beats five small ones every time.
My verdict: use a Canva or Adobe Express template set to 1584 x 396 for your profile, keep the message to one line, and check it on mobile before you call it done. It's the quickest profile upgrade you'll make this year.
Run a free banner design tool that belongs on this list? See how to get it featured.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a LinkedIn banner?
LinkedIn recommends 1584 x 396 pixels for a profile background, as a JPG or PNG under 8MB.
What size is a LinkedIn company Page cover?
LinkedIn lists a Page cover image at 1512 x 256 pixels, as a PNG or JPEG up to 3MB.
Where can I get a free LinkedIn banner?
Canva and Adobe Express both have free LinkedIn banner templates you can personalise, and Google Slides works for a simple text design.
Why does my LinkedIn banner look blurry?
LinkedIn suggests uploading an image with a larger file size, or using a compression tool such as Trimage or ImageOptim before uploading.
Does going live change my LinkedIn cover image?
Yes. LinkedIn says your cover image changes temporarily while you're live and goes back after the stream ends.
