Discord Server Icon Size Guide 2026 — Dimensions, Safe Zone & Tips
Your Discord server icon appears in the sidebar at 32×32px — a tiny circle that members glance at dozens of times a day. Getting the size, safe zone, and design right means your icon stays sharp and recognizable at every display size, from sidebar thumbnails to the full-size server page.
Discord Server Icon — Spec Summary
Recommended size
512 × 512 px
Minimum size
128 × 128 px
Display shape
Circle (cropped)
Accepted formats
JPG, PNG, GIF
Max file size
10 MB
Animated (GIF)
Nitro boost required
Why 512×512px?
Discord displays server icons at multiple sizes depending on context. The sidebar shows them at 32×32px (or 48×48px on high-density screens). The server discovery page shows them at 96×96px. Server settings and invite links show them at 128×128px or larger.
Uploading at 512×512px ensures your icon is sharp at every size, including on 2× Retina and 3× mobile displays. Uploading at the minimum 128×128px looks acceptable on standard screens but blurry on high-density displays — which includes most modern smartphones.
| Context | Display size | HiDPI display |
|---|---|---|
| Server sidebar | 32 × 32 px | 64 × 64 px |
| Active server (hover) | 48 × 48 px | 96 × 96 px |
| Server invite link | 96 × 96 px | 192 × 192 px |
| Server discovery | 96 × 96 px | 192 × 192 px |
| Server settings page | 128 × 128 px | 256 × 256 px |
The Circle Crop Safe Zone
Discord crops all server icons to a circle. Content in the four corners of your square image will be clipped and invisible. This is the most common mistake when designing server icons — placing a logo or text near the corners.
Safe zone for a 512×512px icon:
- Safe circle diameter: ~480px (centered at 256×256px)
- Margin from each edge: ~16px minimum before clipping begins
- Rule: Keep all important content (logo, face, symbol) within the inscribed circle
- What gets clipped: The four corner triangles — roughly 16×16px of corner area at 512px
When in doubt, design your icon as if the canvas is already a circle — place the logo or subject in the center with equal padding on all sides. A bold simple symbol centered in the circle reads clearly at every display size.
File Format Guide
Best choice for logos, text-based icons, and graphics with transparent backgrounds. PNG preserves sharp edges and flat colors perfectly. Use PNG with transparency when you want the icon background to adapt to Discord's dark or light theme.
Works for photo-based server icons (a team photo, a character face, a landscape). JPG does not support transparency — the background will be filled with white or black. Use JPG when the icon has no transparent areas and file size matters.
Animated server icons require at least 2 Nitro boosts on the server (Server Boost Level 1). Keep animation loops short (2–4 seconds) and the file under 256 KB for smooth loading on mobile connections. Non-boosted servers cannot use animated icons.
Design Tips for Small Sizes
At 32×32px in the sidebar, most design details become invisible. The only thing that matters at that size is a strong silhouette and high contrast.
- Use a single bold symbol. One letter, one icon, one character face. Multiple elements become indistinguishable at 32px.
- High contrast is essential. Light icon on dark background or dark icon on light background. Low-contrast designs disappear in Discord's dark sidebar.
- Avoid fine text. Text smaller than roughly 60px on a 512px canvas is unreadable at sidebar size. If you want the server name visible, use 1–3 bold letters only.
- Bright, saturated colors stand out. Discord's default UI is dark grey — saturated colors (electric blue, red, orange, green) contrast better than muted or pastel tones.
- Test at small sizes. After designing, zoom out and view the icon at 32×32px. If the main shape is still clear, the design works.
How to Upload a Discord Server Icon
You must be the server owner or have the Manage Server permission.
On Desktop
- Click your server name at the top-left of the channel list
- Select Server Settings
- In the Overview tab, click the server icon circle
- Choose your file (JPG, PNG, or GIF)
- Crop the preview if needed, then click Apply
- Click Save Changes
On Mobile
- Tap the server name at the top of the channel list
- Tap Settings (gear icon)
- Tap Overview
- Tap the server icon to upload a new one
- Select from your photo library
- Tap Save
Frequently Asked Questions
What size is a Discord server icon?
Discord recommends uploading a server icon at 512×512px. The minimum accepted size is 128×128px, but icons display at 32×32px in the server list sidebar — uploading at 512×512px ensures sharpness on all screen densities including Retina and 4K displays.
What is the Discord server icon safe zone?
Because Discord crops server icons to a circle, keep all important content within the inscribed circle of the square canvas. For a 512×512px icon, the safe circle has a diameter of approximately 480px centered at 256×256px. Content in the four corners will be clipped.
What file formats does Discord accept for server icons?
Discord accepts JPG, PNG, and GIF for server icons. PNG is the best choice for logos and graphics with transparency. GIF icons are animated but require Discord Nitro boosting (Level 1 or higher).
How do I make a Discord server icon with a transparent background?
Create your icon as a PNG file with a transparent background. Discord will display the transparent areas using the server icon background color from the theme. Do not use JPG for transparent backgrounds — JPG does not support transparency.
Can Discord server icons be animated?
Yes, but only for servers with Discord Nitro boosting (Server Boost Level 1 or above, requiring 2+ boosts). Upload an animated GIF at 512×512px. Keep the animation loop short (2–4 seconds) and the file under 256 KB.
What is the maximum file size for a Discord server icon?
Discord accepts server icons up to 10 MB. In practice, keep your PNG under 500 KB and animated GIF under 256 KB for fast loading. A 512×512px PNG logo is typically 10–80 KB.
How do I change a Discord server icon?
On desktop: click the server name → Server Settings → Overview → click the icon area → upload your image. On mobile: tap the server name → Settings → Overview → tap the icon. Only server owners and administrators with Manage Server permission can change the icon.
What makes a good Discord server icon design?
A good Discord server icon is recognizable at 32×32px in the sidebar. Use a single bold symbol, logo, or character face. High contrast between the icon and its background is critical. Avoid fine text and multiple small elements — they become unreadable at sidebar size.
Written by Alex Kim
Alex Kim is an indie developer and content creator who built ClickThumb after years of fighting clunky design tools to make thumbnails every week. He writes about thumbnail design, YouTube CTR, and the exact image sizes every platform expects — based on what actually moves the needle for creators, not design theory. More about Alex →