FiveM server banners: banner_detail and banner_connecting

9 min read5 sections · 6 questions answered
Short answer

Set sets banner_detail "https://…" and sets banner_connecting "https://…" in server.cfg with direct HTTPS image links. There is no official Cfx size; design a wide, short strip (1865×108 and 1920×200 are both common), keep text and logos in the central third, and host the file somewhere permanent.

Banners are the widest billboard your server gets in the FiveM client: one on the server’s detail page, one while a player connects. They take two lines of config, but the size question trips up almost everyone because the internet is full of confident, contradictory “official” numbers. Here is what is actually true, and how to make a banner that looks right everywhere.

What the two banners are

VariableWhere players see itBest use
banner_detailThe server’s detail page in the server browserSelling the server: name, style, key features
banner_connectingThe connecting screen while the player joinsReassurance: name, Discord invite, “welcome”

Both are server variables set with sets, which publishes them to the server list. They are optional; without them FiveM shows its default layout.

server.cfg
sets banner_detail "https://cdn.example.com/myserver/banner-detail-v1.png"
sets banner_connecting "https://cdn.example.com/myserver/banner-connecting-v1.png"

The size question, answered honestly

Search for “FiveM banner size” and you will find 1920×480, 512×128, 620×260 and 1865×108, each described as official. None of them come from Cfx documentation, which does not specify a banner size. The banner is displayed as a wide strip and scaled to the space the client gives it, so an image of any size is shown — the question is only whether yours looks good once scaled.

SizeWhere it comes fromVerdict
1865×108The long-standing “Connecting Banner Tutorial with Template” on the Cfx forumA safe, proven strip shape.
1920×200Widely used by large serversSlightly taller; gives room for a logo.
1920×480, 620×260Various store blogsMuch taller shapes — expect cropping or large empty bars.

What makes a banner work

  • One message. Your name plus one line: “Serious RP · Custom jobs · Whitelisted”. Nobody reads a paragraph on a banner.
  • High contrast text with a subtle dark gradient behind it, so it reads on bright artwork.
  • Brand consistency. The same colours, font and logo as your loading screen and Discord.
  • A clear Discord line on the connecting banner. Players who fail to connect can still find you.
  • Light files. Keep each banner well under 1 MB; the client downloads it on demand.

For a full brand system — palette, type and templates — see the server branding kit.

Hosting: the reason most banners “break”

A banner that works for a week and then disappears is almost always a hosting problem, not a FiveM one.

  1. 1The URL must return the image itself. Paste it into a browser tab: you should see only the image, not a page around it.
  2. 2Use HTTPS.
  3. 3Avoid Discord attachment links — since late 2023 they are signed with an expiry and stop working.
  4. 4Avoid free hosts that delete inactive images or hotlink-protect them.
  5. 5Put a version in the file name (-v2) when you change the art, so cached copies refresh.

Troubleshooting

SymptomLikely cause
No banner at allTypo in the variable name, missing sets, or the URL is not a direct image.
Banner worked, then vanishedExpiring link (Discord) or the host deleted the file.
Old banner still showsCached — change the file name and restart.
Banner looks stretched or croppedYour canvas is far from a wide strip; redesign at 1865×108 or 1920×200.

Common questions

What size should a FiveM banner be?

There is no official size. Use a wide strip — 1865×108 or 1920×200 are the common choices — and keep important content in the centre so scaling never cuts it off.

What is the difference between banner_detail and banner_connecting?

banner_detail appears on your server’s page in the server browser; banner_connecting appears on the screen shown while a player connects.

Can I use a GIF as my FiveM banner?

The banner is loaded as an ordinary web image, so a GIF URL is accepted, but a large animated file slows the page it appears on. A crisp static PNG is the safer, lighter choice.

Why did my banner disappear after a few days?

Almost always because the link expired or the host removed the file. Discord attachment links expire; host the banner on your own site or a permanent image host.

Do I use set or sets for the banner?

Use sets. It publishes the variable to the server list, which is where the client reads it.

Do banners help my server rank higher?

No, ranking depends on players and upvotes. A good banner increases how many people join after opening your page, which is what grows the player count.

Want a loading screen you never have to debug?

Build it in the browser, export once, and edit it whenever — no HTML, no re-uploads.

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