What Carbon is
Carbon Icons is IBM's open-source icon library, built as part of the Carbon Design System. The 2,644 icons are drawn on a 32×32 grid — significantly larger than the 24×24 most libraries use — which gives the set a slightly more generous, open feel and room for finer internal detail.
IBM maintains the set to enterprise standards, with strict contribution review and a strong emphasis on accessibility and international neutrality. The icons avoid culture-specific metaphors wherever a neutral alternative exists, which matters for products shipping globally.
IconStash indexes the complete Carbon Icons collection. You can search it alongside 27 other libraries, preview any icon at any size and colour, and export SVG, PNG, React JSX, Vue, CSS, or an SVG sprite without installing a package or creating an account.
React
npm install @carbon/icons-react
The official package ships each icon as a tree-shakeable component, so bundlers only include the icons you actually import. Open any Carbon icon on IconStash and the Code tab shows that icon's exact import statement and JSX.
Plain SVG and other frameworks
You do not have to install anything. Every Carbon page lets you copy the raw SVG markup and paste it inline, which avoids a dependency entirely and gives you full control over colour, size, and stroke width.
IconStash also exports PNG at six sizes, Vue and CSS snippets, and SVG sprites — all generated in the browser from the original vector.
Good fit
Enterprise software, data and analytics platforms, and products that need to satisfy accessibility review and ship in multiple locales.
Consider alternatives
For a lighter, more contemporary feel, Lucide and Tabler are easier to work with. Fluent UI is the other major enterprise set, with far more icons.
Licensing
Apache 2.0 with an express patent grant. Free for commercial use; IBM asks that you not use the icons in a way that implies IBM endorsement.
What is Carbon Icons?
Carbon Icons is IBM's open-source icon library, built as part of the Carbon Design System. The 2,644 icons are drawn on a 32×32 grid — significantly larger than the 24×24 most libraries use — which gives the set a slightly more generous, open feel and room for finer internal detail.
Is Carbon Icons free for commercial use?
Yes. Carbon Icons is released under Apache 2.0, which permits commercial use, modification, and distribution and includes an express patent grant from the licensor. Attribution is not required for ordinary use, but you should not use the icons in a way that implies the licensor endorses your product.
How do I use Carbon icons in React?
Install the package with npm install @carbon/icons-react, then import icons as components. Every Carbon page on IconStash shows the exact import statement and usage snippet for that specific icon in the Code tab, so you can copy working code without checking the docs. Tree-shakeable packages mean your bundler only includes the icons you actually import.
Can I download Carbon icons as PNG?
Yes. Open any Carbon icon on IconStash and use the Download PNG button to export at 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, or 512 pixels. The PNG is generated client-side from the original vector, so it stays crisp at every size. You can also copy the raw SVG markup, export a React component, or build an SVG sprite without installing anything.
Why is the Carbon grid 32×32?
Carbon's grid gives each icon more internal room than the common 24×24, which suits the data-dense enterprise interfaces IBM builds — charts, tables, and instrumentation panels where icons carry fine detail. The icons scale down cleanly, but their detail level is tuned for clarity rather than minimalism.
Are Carbon Icons accessible by default?
Carbon is maintained with accessibility as a design constraint rather than an afterthought, and the set avoids culture-specific metaphors where a neutral alternative exists. That said, accessibility still depends on how you implement icons — decorative icons should be hidden from assistive technology and meaningful ones need accessible labels.