Favicon Design: 6 Rules for an Icon That Reads at 16px

Design at 16x16 first, scale up

The favicon is most often viewed at 16x16 pixels. Designing at that size forces you to remove everything that won't read.

Single-letter monograms and bold geometric shapes work. Detailed wordmarks and gradients do not.

High contrast, simple silhouette

Use two colors max. The silhouette should be recognizable in pure black on white. If it isn't, simplify.

A favicon shouldn't try to be your full logo. It's a recognizable mark, not a brand asset.

Export the right sizes

You need at least: 16x16, 32x32, 180x180 (Apple touch), 192x192, 512x512 (PWA), and an SVG fallback. Most favicon generators handle this in one click.