Show Favicon in Google Search | Best Favicon Size: Recommended by Google, Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy

Written By Irfan Hayat

Are you looking for:

  • What Size Should a favicon Be?

  • How many pixels should a favicon be?

  • Why Favicon is not showing in Google Search?

In this article you will get ultimate guideline about the ideal and recommended favicon size dimension, for your website. If your website favicon does not display in Google Search, then you should follow the favicon size recommendations, described in this article.

Best Favicon Size Recommended by Google, Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy

Please remember that when you ask the query “best favicon size” in search engines (Bing and Google), or AI chat apps (Google Bard and ChatGPT), they all give you the answer that best favicon size is 16 x 16 pixels – in fact this is wrong answer. Few years back, it was used to be a good favicon size, but not now.

If you design a favicon in 16 x 16 px (or 32 x 32 pixels), your website favicon will not display on important places including in Google search results. Get the correct favicon size information below.

Favicon Size Recommendations by Website Builders

Top website builder platforms recommend following sizes and dimensions for icons.

  • Squarespace recommends that favicon images work best across all browsers when sized between 100x100 px and 300x300 px, though they display at 16px × 16px in browser tab.

  • Just like Google Design, Wix also recommends that favicon should be a multiple of 48px square which means that an ideal favicon can be 48x48, 96x96, 144x144 or 192x192 pixels. It can be different in case of an SVG favicon.

  • GoDaddy recommends that the favicon image should be no more than 180 pixels square in Websites + Marketing website builder.

  • However, for WordPress site, GoDaddy recommends that the favicon image must be at least 512x512 pixels square.

  • Google Material Design favors favicons between 48x48 and 192x192 pixels size dimension, so that it can better scale up and down.

  • Google Search also recommends similar size specs for website icon – check Google reference link below.

Dozro Services: Check Price for Creation of Favicon, Brand Minimalist Logo, and Small Business Website.

Why I Created 144x144 Pixel Favicon for Website?

So, how big should favicon be! Here you will find out the best favicon specs and favicon pixel size for website.

I have created website favicon for Dozro website in 144 x 144 px size and PNG format. In my opinion, it the most ideal size for website favicon. The decision is based on following key points.

  • Though in browser toolbar and on search page, browsers still display website favicon in 16x16px size, however, Google Search warns that you must not use the actual website favicon in 16x16 pixels size dimension. It is because larger favicon is required to be displayed in a browser shortcut.

  • In my test on desktop computer (1920x1080 px resolution monitor), Chrome browser displays the YouTube favicon in 24x24 pixels as shortcut icon (watch video) whereas Edge browser displays the same YouTube favicon in 44x44 pixels in Quick Links shortcuts. Please note that these shortcuts appear under search bar on new browser tab. On computer taskbar, favicons of pinned websites display in generally 32x32 pixels.

  • Please remember that Google Search and Wix recommend that website favicon must be a multiple of 48 pixel square. It means browser favicon must be any of 48x48, 96x96, 144x144 or 192x192 pixel sizes. In case of an SVG image, any appropriate favicon dimensions can be used for designing a browser icon.

  • From above example of YouTube favicon, we can infer that, it is quite fine to use a website favicon in 48x48 pixels or 96x96 pixels. However, I prefer a bit larger 144 x 144 px favicon because I am not afraid of any bad impact of favicon on website performance and load time – because a favicon do not affect website speed.

  • This 144x144 px size of browser icon also follow the Squarespace recommendation (between 100x100 px and 300x300 px) for a website favicon.

  • Browser can efficiently scale down the 144x144 px website icon to display at various positions such as browser toolbar, browser shortcuts, and as taskbar icons. It can also display well on retina screens.

  • I do not prefer a 192x192, 256x256, and 512x512 pixel favicon size for website because these unnecessary sizes result in wastage of bytes.

So, the best favicon size is either 48x48, 96x96, 144x144 or 192x192 pixel sizes. Avoid creating a favicon in 16 x 16 px or 32 x 32 pixel size.

Why Favicon is not Showing in Google Search?

If your website favicon is appearing in browser tab but not showing up in Google Search, then:

  • Make sure to use only one favicon per site. Google Search does not support a subdirectory-level home page, for example https://example.com/shop. The home page of your website must be either https://news.example.com or the simple https://example.com.

  • Favicon file must be crawlable by Googlebot-Image and the home page by Googlebot. This condition is introduced in 2024 by Google. In previous documentation, it read “Both the favicon file and the home page must be crawlable by Google”.

  • Favicon must be a multiple of 48 pixel square – it means, favicon size should be 48 x 48 pixel and so on (as I discussed above).

You may check Google Guidelines for Favicon yourself on Google Developers website.

More Resources

Please also check following useful resources.

Irfan Hayat

Founder and CEO @ DOZRO and some other businesses. I have versatile experiences in life. I am inherently a tech lover and practically a businessperson.

You can confidently get any of our Pro Services including website and graphics design, SEO, or video editing.

https://www.dozro.com/irfan-hayat
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Using Brand Logo as Website Favicon Examples