Discord asks for a server banner of at least 960 x 540 px in 16:9, and it only appears once the server reaches Boost Level 2. The single most useful fact is that boost level, not the pixel size, is what stops most servers from having one.
Where it shows
- The top of the channel sidebar inside your server
- The header above the channel list in the Discord mobile app
- Behind the server name every member sees when they switch to your server
The safe zone
Discord prints the server name over the banner and asks that the top 48 px of the file stay fairly simple and free of busy imagery so that title stays readable. The bottom of the banner meets the channel list, which crowds it in a narrow window, and Discord advises against logos or text overlays in the artwork at all. Keep the focal point in the middle band and treat the top strip as background.
Quirks worth knowing
- A static banner needs Server Boost Level 2 and an animated one needs Level 3, while Discord Partner servers get the feature without boosting.
- Discord asks for an upload of at least 960 x 540 px in 16:9 and says the app resizes a 1920 x 1080 px image automatically, so a 2x export is safe to send.
- The top 48 px is called out specifically, because the server title is drawn over that strip.
- Discord advises against images with logos or text overlays here and suggests game art, key art, character stills or a subtle background pattern instead.
- No file size cap and no format list are published for this asset beyond a reference to an image or a GIF, so both of those fields are left empty here.
- This is not the Server Invite Background, which is a separate 1920 x 1080 px JPG or PNG that needs only Boost Level 1 and cannot animate.
Common mistakes
- Running the server name across the top of the artwork, where Discord already prints the server name.
- Uploading the art into the Server Invite Background field and wondering why it never shows above the channel list.
- Blaming the file when the banner does not appear, when the server simply has not reached Boost Level 2.
- Cropping key art so the character's face lands in the top 48 px, the one strip Discord asks you to keep quiet.
What we recommend
- Export at 1920 x 1080 px and let Discord resize it, so type and logo edges stay clean after compression.
- Keep the top 48 px as flat color or soft texture and set the focal point below it.
- Leave the wordmark off, since the server title already prints over the image and Discord recommends against text overlays.
- Check the result in a narrow window, where the channel list crowds the lower part of the banner.
Common questions
Why can't I add a banner to my Discord server?
The server banner needs Server Boost Level 2, and an animated banner needs Level 3. Discord Partner servers have access without boosting. Until the server reaches that level the option is not available, whatever file you have ready.
What size is a Discord server banner?
At least 960 x 540 px at a 16:9 ratio. Discord resizes a 1920 x 1080 px upload automatically, so the larger export is a safe habit and holds up better through compression. Keep the top 48 px simple so the server name stays legible.
What is the difference between a server banner and an invite background?
The banner sits at the top of the channel list for members already inside the server and needs Boost Level 2. The Server Invite Background is the 1920 x 1080 px image behind the join card that people see before they join, it needs only Boost Level 1, and it accepts JPG and PNG but cannot be a GIF.
Should my Discord banner include the server name?
Discord recommends avoiding logos and text overlays, because it already prints the server title over the banner. Two sets of type in the same 48 px strip compete with each other. Use game art, character stills or a pattern and let Discord supply the name.
More answers on thumbnail, carousel and cover questions are on the FAQ.