Discord Server Icon and Banner: Design Guide
Your server icon and banner are the first visual impression potential members see. Here's how to get them right.
Server Icon
Requirements:
- Minimum 512×512 pixels (square)
- PNG, JPG, or GIF (animated GIF requires Nitro or Level 1 boost)
- Discord displays it as a circle — design accordingly
Design principles:
- Simple and readable at small sizes (it's displayed as tiny as 32×32)
- High contrast — avoid light text on light background
- Matches your server's theme and tone
- Avoid complex illustrations that won't read at small sizes
What works well:
- Bold text initials (e.g. "DS" for Discords)
- Simple logos or mascots
- Strong, single-colour icon design
Server Banner
Requirements:
- 960×540 pixels minimum (16:9)
- PNG, JPG, or GIF
- Requires Level 1 Boost (2 boosts)
Design tips:
- Include your server name
- Use your brand colours
- Keep it clean — it's shown at the top of your server
- Animated banners (GIF) get more attention — require Level 2+
Invite Splash
The image shown on your invite link landing page:
- Requires Level 1 Boost
- 1920×1080 pixels recommended
- Great opportunity to show your community's personality
Free Design Tools
- Canva — Templates for Discord assets, drag-and-drop
- Adobe Express — Free tier with strong templates
- Figma — Professional, free for basic use
- Photopea — Free Photoshop alternative in browser
Brand Consistency
Use consistent:
- Colour palette (2-3 colours max)
- Font family
- Visual style (minimalist, bold, illustrative, etc.)
This consistency builds recognition — members remember your server when they see your icon in other contexts.
A professional-looking server stands out on Discords.ai.
Related: How to Create a Discord Server · Discord Brand Identity Guide