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Brand Identity • Guidelines

Icon Style Guidelines (Simple Rules)

Icons are a tiny detail that make your brand look “designed” when they’re consistent—and messy when they’re not. Use these rules to standardize your icon style.

Back to Identity & Design Hub Document in guidelines

4 rules to standardize your icons

You don’t need a fancy system. You need a few decisions that stay consistent.

Pick outline OR filled (don’t mix)
Mixing styles makes the UI feel inconsistent immediately.

Choose one
  • Outline icons everywhere
  • Filled icons everywhere

Standardize stroke weight
Different stroke weights look like icons from different brands.

Choose one
  • 1.5px stroke
  • 2px stroke
  • 2.5px stroke

Standardize corners (sharp vs rounded)
Corner style affects “personality” (friendly vs serious).

Choose one
  • Rounded corners
  • Sharp corners

Use consistent sizing and alignment
Icons “jump” visually when they’re not aligned or sized consistently.

Choose one
  • 16px for inline text
  • 20px for UI labels
  • 24px for feature blocks

Quick checklist (before you publish)

Checklist

  • Do icons share the same style (outline/filled)?
  • Do they share the same stroke weight?
  • Do they share the same corner style?
  • Are they aligned to the same baseline and size within sections?
  • Are you using icons to clarify meaning (not as decoration only)?

Using 5 different icon sets

Fix: Pick one icon set and stick to it. Consistency matters more than “perfect” icons.

Icons that don’t match typography weight

Fix: If your UI is light and minimal, use lighter icons. If it’s bold, use bolder icons.

Icons used without labels

Fix: For small businesses, clarity beats clever—use labels with icons for navigation and features.

Next step: tie it into your guidelines

Add icon style rules (outline/filled, stroke, corners, sizes) to your brand guidelines so your website and marketing always feel cohesive.

Use the Brand Guidelines Template Review logo file formats

Continue Building Your Visual Identity

Icons are one element of your complete brand identity. Explore these related topics to build a cohesive visual system.

Brand Guidelines Ultimate Guide

Icon style guidelines should be part of your comprehensive brand guidelines. Learn how to document all visual elements including icons, colors, typography, and imagery.

Read Complete Guide

Visual Identity Elements

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Define photography and graphic style rules that work alongside your icon guidelines for complete visual consistency.

Brand Typography Guide

Learn how to choose fonts that complement your icon style and create a harmonious visual identity.

How to Choose Brand Colors

Select a color palette that works with your icon style to create a cohesive brand visual system.

Logo Design: Complete Guide

Master logo design and learn how icons integrate with your logo to create a complete brand mark system.

Logo File Formats Guide

Understand file formats for icons and logos, including SVG for scalable icons and when to use different formats.

Brand Application Hub

Learn how to apply your icon style consistently across website, social media, email, and all brand touchpoints.