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Windows Icon Size Guide (Win 7 ICO Format)

A Quick & Easy guide to Microsoft Windows Icon Size

There is sometimes a little confusion over the different sizes required to create a Windows 7 Application Icon file. This is in some way brought about by the flexibility of the ICO format and its ability to contain many image sizes and colour depths but is also not helped by Microsofts own quite poor documentation on Windows Icon Size, see here.

Standard Windows Icon Sizes shown in Axialis Icon Workshop

If you want to create an Windows 7 CompliantApplication Icon, to be used as a short-cut, a file type, or embedded in an executable file, it must contain the minimumfollowing icon sizes:

Standard Windows Icon Size for ICO format

256 x 256 pixels 32bit (24bit colour, 8bit transparency)
48 x 48pixels 32bit (24bit colour, 8bit transparency)
32 x 32pixels 32bit (24bit colour, 8bit transparency)
16 x 16pixels 32bit (24bit colour, 8bit transparency)

To allow for backwards compatibility with Windows operating systems of software with a limited colour palette, you can also include the above icon sizes in 8bit (256 colours, 1bit colour transparency) and if you really wish to cover all eventualities in your icon design, 4bit (16 colours, 1bit transparency). This last colour depth is very rarely of use and as a rule I dont tend to include it unless requested specifically by the client as it just uses up unnecessaryspace. In fact, more often than not, 32bit ICO files are fine for most projects but Irecommendyou test in the final application before making this decision.

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Additional Common Windows Icon Sizes

There are other additional Icon sizes supported by Windows Icons but they are rarely used. However, I will list them here for completion.

Extra Icon Sizes

128 x 128pixels
96 x 96pixels
180 x 180pixels
72 x 72pixels
64 x 64pixels
24 x 24pixels

The size most commonly used size on this list is 24 x 24 as it is a standard size for menus within Windows 7 and 3rd-party software. When creating ICO files specifically for menus, rather than app icons, 16 x 16, 24 x 24 & 32 x 32 are the three most common sizes used.

Testing your Windows 7 Icon

The easiest way to test the compatibility of your Windows 7 ICO files is in a standard Window.

Save your ICO files into a folder and then use the View drop down to select the view or size of icon you wish to see.

Standard Windows Icon Sizes shown in Axialis Icon Workshop

Windows 7 automatically scales the icons as you move between the sizes you have created. You can test this by moving the slider up and down.

The actual sizes displayed at each of the headings are as follows:

Extra Large Icons 256 x 256 pixels
Large Icons 96 x 96 pixels (Automatically rendered by Windows from 256 version)
Medium Icons 48 x 48 pixels
Small Icons 16 x 16 pixels
List 16 x 16 pixels
Details 16 x 16 pixels
Tiles 48 x 48 pixels
Content 32 x 32 pixels

Windows Icon Size Oddities

ICO files can also be used as overlays within Windows 7, a prime example is the small curved arrow used as a short-cut symbol on Shortcut icons. Windows overlays a transparent ICO file with a small offset graphic within the bottom left corner, on top of the standard Application ICO file. Annotations is another case applying to the bottom right hand side but I have never come across a request from a client to create icons of this description in the 15 or so yearsIhave been an icon designer, so it is not something I would lose any sleep over.

I hope you found this overview useful.

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Adam Parrish

Owner and creative director at Creative Freedom Ltd. Unbelievably cool icon design expert, husband, and father of two awesome girls. A proper decent chappy and thoroughly fab to work with. Ok, so I wrote my own bio

37 thoughts on Windows Icon Size Guide (Win 7 ICO Format)

Ovaltine says:
30th May 2013 at 12:37
And because Microsoft documentation on this is rather vague, like you so attentively noted, I found your post re this subject and had a read, low and behold something came alive.
I have some interest in the overlay portion for icons for an app, the problem is that some of these overlays are bound to the notification tray so end up creating icons with the overlay included because documentation is nonsense and trying to make it work is easier and faster including overlays.
I have of course had requests for this type of icon and its the customers job to implement the icons in the application which doesnt always go as planned.
Good read.
Reply
Dusty says:
18th July 2013 at 21:23
Clearest of many articles Ive read. Thank you.
In the Windows Explorer details view how is it that WinZip, for example, gets the full 16×16 treatment but Notepad and my file types get shrunk to 8×8 inside some gratuitous frame? I want my full 16×16 allocation.
Reply
Adam Parrish says:
19th July 2013 at 09:07
Hi Dusty,
Thanks for the reply. I must admit I have not seen the behaviour you mention in Windows 7 or 8.
I wonder if you may have some 3rd party software that is affecting how your icons are displayed?
Can you provide a link to a screenshot?
Adam
Reply
Bruno says:
26th August 2013 at 20:19
Estou com duvida sobre o tamanho do ícone da área de notificação do Windows.
Obs: Fiz alguns teste e todos apresentaram que a imagem da barra de tarefas e da área de notificação são do mesmo tamanho: 32×32. Nos testes crie um ícone com varios tamanhos de imagem (16×16 48×48, e outros tamanhos nesse intervalo), cada tamanho coloquei uma cor na imagem diferente.
Sendo que na teoria as imagem da barra de tarefas e da área de notificação são de tamanhos diferentes.
Voce sabe me dizer o porque disso?
Desde já agradeço!
Translated from Portuguese:
I have doubts about the size of the icon in the notification area of Windows.
Note: I did some testing and all showed that the image of the taskbar notification area and are the same size: 32 × 32. In tests create an icon with several image sizes (16 × 16 48 × 48, and other sizes in this range), each size put a different color in the image.
Since in theory the image of the taskbar notification area and are of different sizes.
You can tell me why that is?
I thank you!
Reply
Ahmed Mounir says:
1st October 2013 at 14:38
thanks Adam, very helpful article.
ive a question too:
i made an icon contains a 96×96 image, but windows shows a resized 256 (or 128) instead when i chose large icons view, have you ever experienced omething like this?
here is a screenshot:
https://plus.google.com/photos/110827855872696691083/albums/5901616909407620497/5929779829815032098?banner=pwa&authkey=CPC_q_fY-5qFxAE&pid=5929779829815032098&oid=110827855872696691083
https://plus.google.com/photos/110827855872696691083/albums/5901616909407620497/5929779348651856386?banner=pwa&authkey=CPC_q_fY-5qFxAE&pid=5929779348651856386&oid=110827855872696691083
you can see the difference
Reply
Adam Parrish says:
1st October 2013 at 14:55
Hi Ahmed,
I hope I understand your question correctly.
Windows only displays the 256 x 256 pixel version if you select the extra large icon size. I never include a 96 x 96 pixel version as it is an optional size and as you mention Windows scales the 256 x 256 down as required. Including a 96 x 96 size just adds to the file size and unless you have a specific requirement for this size within some application, it shouldnt be necessary.
Cheers,
Adam
Reply
Adam Parrish says:
1st October 2013 at 14:57
Hi Bruno,
I am sorry I missed your reply.
Could you please provide a screen capture to explain what you mean?
Thank you.
Adam
Reply
Ahmed Mounir says:
2nd October 2013 at 09:40
aha! thanks for the fat reply
Reply
xpclient says:
24th December 2013 at 18:46
Well heres another one more oddity in the way Windows handles overlays. Overlay icons for 256×256 size must not be in the lower left corner of the icon, and must not be already smaller to perfectly overlay the bigger sized icon. 256×256 overlay icons must fill up the complete available icon, and also must not be resized. Vista/7/8 do that for you for 256×256 icons. In other words Vista/7/8 take any 256×256 icon and resize it to 92×92, move it to the lower left corner and overlay it. For all other resolutions smaller than 256×256, Vista/7/8 work in the same way as XP, you have to prepare an overlay icon in the lower left corner.
Reply
Jools says:
22nd August 2014 at 00:37
Hi and thanks for the nice guide!
I have a question though. What is the name of the tool you use in the first screenshot?
Reply
1. Adam Parrish says:
  22nd August 2014 at 08:39
  Hi Jools,
  Axialis IconWorkshop
  http://www.axialis.com/iconworkshop/
  Cheers,
  Adam
  Reply
Boontawee V. says:
17th April 2015 at 10:44
Solved my myth that want to know for 10 years.
I always code program but didnt know which size is best suit.
Reply
Isoar says:
11th April 2016 at 16:34
I am learning to program the Windows API and I want to create a program that includes a toolbar of buttons containing icons. While searching for what size to make my icons I found several sources that say the standard size for Windows icon images is 16×15, even many on microsoft.com such as https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa315378%28v=vs.60%29.aspx and https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb983125.aspx. Do you know what the deal is with that?
Reply
1. Adam Parrish says:
  12th April 2016 at 10:26
  Hi Isoar,
  There are many ways to deploy icons. This guide is very specifically about the icon size requirements for Windows 7 Compliant ICO files.
  The bitmap strip images mentioned in the article you linked to are specific to that method of deployment so if that is what you are using then it would be best to observe those standards.
  16×16 pixels is a general standard throughout Windows and I would always stick with standards unless you have very specific information telling you otherwise, which seems to be the case for these strip images.
  Adam
  Reply
  1. Isoar says:
    13th April 2016 at 15:39
    The strange thing is the Windows provides you with some standard buttons such as open and new and these are contained in the file Comctl32.dll. I extracted the bitmap strips from that file using a resource extractor and their width is only divisible by 16, not 15! So Windows itself is using 16×16 bitmap images for icons. Im started to suspect the 16×15 size might be an old standard, but I cant say for sure.
    Reply
    1. Adam Parrish says:
      13th April 2016 at 15:53
      Yes, Microsoft are only consistent in being confusing
      I hope you work it out.
      Adam
      Reply
Dino Zavagno says:
6th August 2016 at 12:38
I blog quitе often and I really appreciate your information.
Your article has realy peaked my intereѕt.
I will bookmark your blog and keep сhecking for new information about once a week.
I subscribed to yߋur RSS feed as well.
Reply
1. Adam Parrish says:
  8th August 2016 at 09:12
  Thanks Dino, anything else I can help with, just let me know.
  Reply
Phillip Hughes says:
21st September 2016 at 00:04
Hi Adam, can you comment on this odd 3rd party icon treatment by W7 home premium please. As administrator the file icon appears as full size but as user the file icon is displayed as a smaller image within a clear frame/border the size of the full size icon. On a separate PC this behaviour does not occur suggesting that something within the specific user account is doing this to this specific icon but no to any others. I have tried removal/re-install of the program and of the file type to no avail. Any thoughts would be most welcome, thanks
Reply
1. Adam Parrish says:
  21st September 2016 at 17:37
  Hi Phillip,
  I would really need to see some screen shots to make sure I understand correctly what you are describing. It may be something specific about that particular user account has been customised or indeed the icon file itself. Assuming this only happens with a specific icon?
  Adam
  Reply
Phillip Hughes says:
21st September 2016 at 23:38
Thanks Adam, I have put together a composite screenshot as attached to try and illustrate this and take it a little further.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipN9hVntnDexdzGEXS3PRWSWjM_d1CihlaaEUyinLTxzfbKoIyuOj8oSTkwl3Pj-2A/photo/AF1QipO-x2C6FXjV89VybpP6NJJYL0jK2rnqjlxuVpa2?key=Y0NOcEZlYTNBODg2WGtiakVaemJTUHRRX2hoM293
Yes, the problem is only with this one program but it would seem to be User specific after I experimentally changed the default program icon as per screenshot. The User account did not reflect this change, and I noticed that while the Admin. level tile label includes the name of the command program the User level tile label is just a generic PDF File. (? any significance) This failure would seem to support your intuition about the User account. But, within the User account all other file icons (Office 2010, various 3rd party programs) seem to be full-size and appear the same logged on as Administrator. There seems to be a program-specific difference in default icon rendering between account levels and/or a User-related failure to accept a changed icon. As mentioned earlier I have deleted the command program, and the file type, then reinstalled the command program but all to no avail. My abilities and knowledge have flat-lined at this point, though Id like to understand what is happening and how to correct it while learning a little more about icons in the process.
If you can shed some illumination on how/why icons and their settings behave this way Id be most grateful.
Reply
Adam Parrish says:
22nd September 2016 at 09:39
The only things I can think of are:
a) deleting the thumbs.db file in the folder with the offending file (you will need to show hidden files and folders)
b) try changing the default associated program for PDF to something else and then change it back to your new program. I dont think it will make a difference though.
It looks like program you installed includes both versions of the icon but I dont see any reason why it displays one over another in a different user account.
Have you tried creating a brand new user account to see if this display difference is consistent on any non admin account?
Adam
Reply
1. pfhughes says:
  26th September 2016 at 18:59
  Hi again Adam and thanks:
  No luck Im afraid with the suggestions but an eventual resolution of sorts.
  I deleted the command program, used a registry utility (jv16, with a system backup and restore point FIRST) to clean out any reference to it I could find, and then installed an alternative command program. This correctly shows the icons across both admin. and user accounts so Ill settle for that as the time involved is out of proportion to the angst involved.
  It has improved my understanding of icons though, as has your site, so Im grateful for your effort and expertise.
  Thanks a bundle. Cheers.
  Reply
Adam Parrish says:
29th September 2016 at 09:02
Sorry I couldnt have been more help. Seems like an oddity of the application you were using.
Thanks for your kind comments.
Adam
Reply
Tarik says:
30th October 2016 at 13:23
Thank you
Reply
chris says:
27th December 2016 at 15:57
thanks for this great info. unfortunately my windows 10 system is using the scaled down 256×256 icon for all views other than small icons, list, and details (uses 16×16). is this normal now for windows10? deleting the iconcache files hasnt changed anything.
Extra Large Icons 256 x 256 pixels
Large Icons 256×256 pixels (scaled down)
Medium Icons 256×256 pixels (scaled down)
Small Icons 16 x 16 pixels
List 16 x 16 pixels
Details 16 x 16 pixels
Tiles 256×256 pixels (scaled down)
Content 256×256 pixels (scaled down)
Reply
1. chris says:
  27th December 2016 at 16:04
  Fixed.
  selecting always show icons, never thumbnails from the folder view options fixed the issue.
  Reply
Adam Parrish says:
4th January 2017 at 09:12
Hi Chris,
I am glad you managed to sort that out. Happy New Year!
Adam
Reply
Rachel Dassin says:
28th May 2017 at 13:07
Very awesome guide for beginners! I just learned from this: http://www.coreldraw.com/en/pages/ico-file/ how I can edit those Window icons, but I was interested in reading more before I start editing, and this guide is very helpful! Thank you!
Reply
1. Adam Parrish says:
  28th May 2017 at 17:40
  Thanks Rachel, Im glad it was useful.
  Reply
SINA says:
30th April 2018 at 01:38
Dear Mr. Parrish,
I usually use Photoshop in order to design my personal customized folder icons. I make them in rectangular shapes at 512 x 512 (because my monitor is very high resolution and shows them micro! If smaller size), and save them as .PNG files. Then I convert them to .ICO through one of the free online programs.
By customized folder, I mean Personal folders and not System folders, and also they are about 60 folders on my HDD, all with customized icons.
My Windows: 7 ultimate, 64-bit, Intel Core i7, 32.0 GB of Ram installed on a SSD drive.
1. Does Windows read and run folders showed by this size of icons (512×512) without slowing its performance? I ask this because when I connect my HDD to the PC, it shows them Extra-large by default and has to read all 60 folders at a same time together.
2. Can Windows essentially read and technically show 512×512 folder icons? I dont know if it converts them automatically down to 256×256.
Regards,
Sina
Reply
1. Adam Parrish says:
  4th May 2018 at 11:00
  Hi Sina,
  Thanks for getting in touch.
  That is a good question about the 512 pixel sizes. I am not sure what happens in Windows 7 but in Windows 10 you can use scaling within the display controls to make icons and text larger on 4k and higher displays. I honestly dont know if this would use the full resolution of a 512px ICO file or whether it would first scale down to 256 and then scale that back up to fill the allocated image area (when using scaling).
  Without using the scaling controls Windows wont display an icon larger than 256 pixels so for performance reasons I would probably stick to that as a maximum size. You could try one folder with a 256 and one with 512, if you cant see a noticeable difference in image quality then it doesnt matter either way and you should stay with 256.
  I hope that helps a bit
  Adam
  Reply
SINA says:
30th April 2018 at 01:41
By the way,
Your article is awesome and very informative. Actually very clear and to the point.
Thanks
Reply
Eiliv Ulvestad Henschien says:
13th July 2018 at 19:12
Is this comment field fake?
You seems so nice, all of you. It cant be real.
Ive never seen such a polite comment field before. Its like the commenters here are sending letters to each other.
Eiliv
Reply
1. Adam Parrish says:
  14th July 2018 at 08:16
  Hello Eiliv,
  Thanks for dropping by and posting a comment.
  I think its rather nice how polite people have been on my blog. Were just trying to help each other out after all.
  Have a good day.
  Adam
  Reply
Peter says:
19th August 2019 at 11:14
Hi!
I wonder why I have to use 256*256 icons to display the 96*96 icons
on my desktop? I use Windows 10 Home.
Best regards,
Peter
Reply
1. Adam Parrish says:
  21st August 2019 at 08:19
  Hi Peter,
  It is simply a standard Windows adopted a long time ago. If your Desktop icons are set to large it will use the full 256×256 pixels.
  256×256, 48, 32 & 16 pixels are the specification that Windows uses for ICO files and the OS scales to display at non-standard sizes like 96×96 pixels. There is no reason you cant create an ICO file with a 96×96 pixel image in it. Windows should then use that size if the environment it is in requests it.
  Cheers,
  Adam
  Reply