How to Use SVG Icons in Canva (Upload, Recolor, Resize)
Upload free SVG icons to Canva, change their color, keep them sharp at any size and fix the common problems, step by step.
Canva has its own icon library, but you are not limited to it. You can upload any SVG icon and use it like a built-in element: resize it without blur, recolor it and reuse it across designs. This works on free Canva accounts.
Step 1: Download the icon as SVG
Find the icon you want on this site and press Download SVG under the outline or the solid version. Keep the SVG, not the PNG. Canva can recolor and enlarge an SVG, while a PNG is fixed.
Step 2: Upload it to Canva
- Open your design in Canva.
- Click Uploads in the left sidebar.
- Click Upload files and choose the SVG. You can also drag the file straight onto the page.
- The icon appears under your uploaded images. Click it to place it on the design.
Step 3: Change the color
Click the icon on the canvas. One or more color squares appear in the toolbar at the top. Click a square and choose a new color, including your brand colors.
If no color square appears, go back to the icon page, pick your color with the Colour box there, download the SVG again and upload that copy. The color is then written into the file.
Step 4: Resize and place it
Drag a corner handle to resize. Because the file is a vector, it stays sharp whether it is a small bullet or fills the page. Hold the icon and drag to move it. Canva shows guide lines when it lines up with other elements.
Tips for a consistent look
- Stick to one style. Use all outline or all solid icons in a design. Every icon in this library is drawn on the same grid with the same line weight, so a set from here will match.
- Keep sizes equal. Give every icon in a row the same width.
- Limit the colors. One icon color, or two at most, looks more deliberate than a rainbow.
- Save them to a folder. In Uploads, add your icons to a folder so you can find them in every design.
When to use PNG instead
If Canva rejects a file, or you are on a device where SVG upload fails, use the PNG button on the icon page. Choose 512 or 1024 pixels and set the color before downloading, because a PNG cannot be recolored in Canva.
Ideas to start with
View all 12 free Social Media icons
Questions
Is SVG upload free in Canva?
Yes. Uploading SVG files works on the free plan. Downloading your finished design as an SVG is a paid Canva feature, but that is a different thing.
Why did my outline icon upload with thick or missing lines?
Very occasionally an editor handles stroked lines differently. Use the solid version of the icon, or download a PNG in the color you need.
Can I use these icons in Canva designs I sell?
Yes, as part of a larger design such as a flyer, a social post or a presentation. You may not resell or share the icons themselves as an icon or template element pack. The license has the details.
Every icon on this site is free to download. If this guide helped, you can say thanks by buying a pack from the LinearAndLoom Etsy shop.
