Key takeaways
- The full Brand Kit is a Canva Pro feature — free-plan users see it but can't add their own logos, palettes, and uploaded fonts.
- Setup takes about ten minutes: open the Brand page, create a kit, then add logos, color palettes with hex codes, and fonts.
- Free-plan alternative: keep one 'brand board' design with your hex codes, fonts, and logo files, and copy from it into every new design.
To set up a Brand Kit in Canva, go to the Brand page from the homepage sidebar, create a new brand, and add your logos, brand colors, and brand fonts. From then on, your colors and fonts appear at the top of every picker in the editor, and your logos are one click away in any design. The full Brand Kit requires Canva Pro — below are the setup steps plus practical alternatives if you're on Canva Free.
What the Brand Kit actually does
- Logos: store every logo variation (color, monochrome, icon-only) and drop them into designs from the Brand tab.
- Colors: save your palette once; it appears first in the color picker everywhere, so nobody picks an off-brand shade by accident.
- Fonts: set default heading, subheading, and body fonts — including fonts you upload yourself — and apply them in one click.
- Brand templates and controls (Teams): on Canva for Teams you can lock colors and fonts so the whole team stays consistent.
Set up your Brand Kit step by step
- Open the Brand page. From the Canva homepage, click Brand in the left sidebar, then choose Brand Kit and "Add new".
- Name your brand. Pro and Teams plans support multiple kits — one per client or project. Name it clearly.
- Upload your logos. Add every variation you use. Transparent PNGs work best; SVG upload is supported on paid plans.
- Add brand colors. Create a palette and enter exact hex codes from your brand guidelines — don't eyeball them with the picker. You can add multiple palettes (primary, secondary, seasonal).
- Set brand fonts. Choose heading, subheading, and body fonts from Canva's library, or upload licensed font files (see our font upload guide — uploading is also a Pro feature).
- Set defaults. Mark the kit as default so its styles load automatically in new designs.
Using the kit inside the editor
Once the kit exists, it does its work quietly. Open the color picker and your palette sits at the top. Select text and your brand fonts lead the font list, with one-click "brand styles" that apply your heading/body pairing to a whole page. In the left panel, the Brand tab shows your logos ready to drag in. If you build templates for repeated formats — Instagram posts, slide decks — apply the kit once and duplicate the template instead of restyling every file.
Free plan vs Pro for brand consistency
| Task | Canva Free | Canva Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Save brand logos | Via Uploads folder (manual) | Brand Kit, one click |
| Brand color palettes | Manual hex entry each time | Saved palettes, top of picker |
| Default brand fonts | Manual selection | Set once, applied everywhere |
| Upload custom fonts | Not available | Included |
| Multiple brand kits | Not available | Included |
The free-plan workaround: a brand board
- Create one design called "Brand Board". Any size works — it's a reference file, not a deliverable.
- Add color swatches with hex codes. Draw squares in each brand color and label them with the hex value in text.
- Add type samples. Write your brand name in your heading and body fonts so you can copy the text boxes into new designs.
- Paste your logo files onto the board (or keep them organized in an Uploads folder named "Brand").
- Copy from the board into every new design. Paste a swatch, sample its color with the picker, and enter hex codes when precision matters.
It's manual, but it works — and when you eventually upgrade, the brand board becomes your source document for filling in the real Brand Kit in one sitting. Teachers and nonprofits should check Canva for Education or the nonprofit program first, since both include Pro-level features at no cost for eligible users.
Official resources
- Canva Help — set up and use your Brand Kit
- Canva Help — brand controls for teams
- Canva Help Center — how-to articles
Related MFA Tools articles
- Canva Pro: what the paid plan includes
- Canva Free vs Pro: full comparison
- How to add and upload fonts in Canva
- How to make a logo in Canva
Frequently asked questions
Is the Brand Kit free in Canva?
No. The full Brand Kit — saved logos, custom color palettes, default brand fonts, and font uploads — requires Canva Pro or Canva for Teams. Free-plan users can open the Brand page but the core features are locked. Canva for Education and Canva for Nonprofits include Brand Kit features at no cost for eligible users.
How many Brand Kits can I have in Canva?
Canva Pro and Canva for Teams allow multiple Brand Kits, which is useful if you manage several brands or clients. Each kit holds its own logos, color palettes, and fonts, and you can switch between kits from the Brand tab inside the editor.
Can I upload my own fonts to the Brand Kit?
Yes, on Canva Pro or Teams. Open your Brand Kit, go to Brand fonts, and upload OTF, TTF, or WOFF files. You must own a license that permits this use — uploading a font you only bought for desktop use can violate its license.
How do I keep designs consistent on Canva Free?
Create a single brand board design containing your color swatches with hex codes, type samples in your chosen fonts, and your logo files. Copy elements from it into every new design and enter hex codes manually in the color picker. It takes a few extra minutes per design but produces the same visual consistency.