Discord Server Banner Size — Dimensions & Boost Requirements

Discord Banner Dimensions (960 x 540)

• 16:9 is the only shape that fits: Discord crops anything off-ratio to 16:9, so a square or ultrawide source loses its edges rather than letterboxing.
• Upload at 1920 x 1080 for sharpness: the banner is displayed small but on high-DPI screens, and 960 x 540 is the floor, not the target.
• Keep the lower third clear: the server name and its scrim sit there. A centred wordmark will be half-covered.
• It renders narrow: the banner spans the channel-list column, not the whole app. Fine detail and small type disappear — treat it like a header strip, not a poster.
• Formats: JPG and PNG at every boost level; GIF only once the server hits Boost Level 3.

Boost Level Requirements

The banner is a boost perk, not a default setting. If you can’t find the upload box, the server almost certainly hasn’t reached Level 2 yet.

• Boost Level 1: unlocks the invite splash background (1920 x 1080) and an animated server icon.
• Boost Level 2: unlocks the static server banner (960 x 540) and role icons (64 x 64).
• Boost Level 3: unlocks the animated GIF server banner and a vanity invite URL.
• Losing boosts removes the slot: if the server drops below Level 2 the banner stops displaying. Discord keeps the upload, so it returns when the level is restored.

Animated Server Banner (GIF)

• Same canvas, different format: an animated banner is still 960 x 540 at 16:9 — only the file type changes to GIF.
• Boost Level 3 required. A GIF uploaded to a Level 2 server displays as a still frame.
• Loop subtly. The banner sits permanently in a sidebar members read all day. Slow, low-contrast motion ages better than a hard cut every second.
• Cut the frame count, not the dimensions. Shrinking a GIF below 960 x 540 to save file size makes it blurry; dropping frames or trimming the palette does not.

Invite Splash Image (1920 x 1080)

• 1920 x 1080, 16:9, unlocked at Boost Level 1 — one level before the banner.
• It sits behind the invite card, which is centred and opaque, so the middle of the image is hidden. Push the interesting parts outward.
• It’s a first impression, shown to people who haven’t joined yet. The banner is for members; the splash is for prospects.
• One 1920 x 1080 export can serve both — the banner accepts it and downscales, the splash uses it at full size.

How to Add a Discord Server Banner

1. Confirm the server is at Boost Level 2 or higher — check Server Settings → Server Boost Status.
2. Resize your artwork to 960 x 540 (or 1920 x 1080) at a 16:9 ratio using the resizer above.
3. Open Server Settings → Overview.
4. Under Server Banner Background, choose Upload Image and select your file.
5. Save changes, then check the top of the channel list — the server name should still be legible over the bottom of the image.

Frequently Asked Questions