Which sizes do I actually need?

16 and 32 cover browser tabs, 48 covers Windows shortcuts, and 256 covers high density displays and large icon views. Including all four is common and the file stays small.

Do I still need a PNG icon as well?

Usually yes. Modern browsers prefer a PNG declared with a link tag, and search engines want a square PNG whose side is a multiple of 48. The .ico remains the fallback.

ICO Generator

Turn any image into a real multi-resolution favicon.ico. Every size a browser or Windows might ask for is packed into a single file.

Drop an image here

A square PNG of at least 256×256 gives the sharpest results.

About this tool

Builds a multi-resolution .ico from a single image. A proper favicon holds several sizes in one file so the browser can pick the right one for a tab, a bookmark bar or a desktop shortcut, instead of scaling one bitmap badly.

How to use it

1Drop a square image, ideally 256 pixels or larger.
2Choose which resolutions to include.
3Download the .ico and put it at the root of your site.

Good to know

Start square and start large

A non-square source has to be cropped or padded, and an upscaled one looks soft at every size. 256 pixels square or bigger gives every entry something to work from.

Detail disappears at 16 pixels

Thin strokes and small text average into grey at tab size. Logos with fine detail usually need a simplified mark for the smallest entries, which is why professional icon sets are drawn per size rather than scaled.