Linux Icon Sizes — freedesktop.org Standard
Linux desktop environments like GNOME and KDE follow the freedesktop.org Icon Theme Specification. Applications should provide PNG icons at multiple sizes so the desktop can pick the closest match for any display context. Here is the complete set of sizes you should include.
Required Sizes
| Size | Format | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 512x512 | PNG | Large preview and app store |
| 256x256 | PNG | High-DPI displays |
| 128x128 | PNG | Application menu and dock |
| 96x96 | PNG | Some desktop environments |
| 64x64 | PNG | File manager and panels |
| 48x48 | PNG | Standard application icon |
| 32x32 | PNG | Panel icons and menus |
| 24x24 | PNG | Toolbar and small menus |
| 16x16 | PNG | Status bar and context menus |
Best Practices
- 1Provide PNG icons at 16, 24, 32, 48, 64, 128, 256, and 512px for complete coverage.
- 2Optionally include an SVG in the scalable/ directory for perfect rendering at any size.
- 3Follow the freedesktop.org naming convention: place icons in hicolor/NxN/apps/appname.png.
- 4Test your icon in both GNOME and KDE — they render icons slightly differently.
Common Mistakes
- Providing only one large icon — the desktop environment will downscale it poorly at small sizes.
- Not placing icons in the correct freedesktop.org directory structure (/usr/share/icons/hicolor/NxN/apps/).
- Forgetting the scalable SVG — some DEs prefer SVG if the exact pixel size is unavailable.
- Using non-square icons — the icon spec expects square dimensions for all sizes.
Generate All Linux Icon Sizes
Upload one image and get every Linux icon size — from 16px status bar to 512px app store — following freedesktop.org standards.
Open GeneratorFrequently Asked Questions
What icon sizes does Linux need?
Linux desktops expect PNG icons at standard sizes: 16, 24, 32, 48, 64, 128, 256, and 512 pixels. They should be placed in the hicolor icon theme directory.
Does Linux support SVG icons?
Yes. You can place an SVG in the scalable/ directory of your icon theme. Desktop environments will use it when no exact pixel-size match is found.
Where do Linux app icons go?
App icons are installed to /usr/share/icons/hicolor/{size}x{size}/apps/your-app.png following the freedesktop.org Icon Theme Specification.