The AWS logo usage guide helps you understand how to correctly use Amazon Web Services’ trademarks, logos, and visual assets across your brand materials. Whether you’re an AWS Partner, a developer showcasing your app, or a designer working on co-branded visuals, following these guidelines keeps your work professional, trusted, and compliant.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to use the AWS logo safely, what to avoid when designing marketing materials, and how to co-brand correctly using the “Powered by AWS” mark. You’ll also find examples of good vs bad usage, a simple compliance checklist, and a short FAQ to help you stay aligned with AWS brand and trademark rules.
Quick Plain Overview: Why AWS Branding Rules Matter
Think of AWS branding like a team jersey – when everyone wears it correctly, people instantly know who’s part of the same trusted group. Misusing it, however, can create confusion or even break brand rules. Following the Branding for AWS Partners ensures your designs look professional, trustworthy, and aligned with Amazon’s global identity.
There are three key reasons why this matters:
- It protects trust and clarity in how AWS is represented.
- It avoids legal and compliance risks that come from the misuse of logos or trademarks.
- It boosts partner credibility, helping your business stand out as a genuine and responsible AWS collaborator.
Core AWS Logo and Mark Rules
Use Only Approved Marks
Always use the official AWS logo and wordmark provided by Amazon Web Services. You can’t change its colors, proportions, or design elements. Never redraw or create your own version – even small tweaks can break compliance. Only download approved assets from the official AWS Brand Resources page to ensure your materials meet Amazon’s trademark standards.
Spacing, Size, and Placement
Maintain clear space around the AWS logo – think of it as “breathing room.” No text or graphics should touch this zone. AWS recommends a minimum clear area equal to the height of the logo’s “A.” The logo should always remain readable, with a minimum width of about 70 pixels (digital) or 0.75 inches (print). Proper spacing keeps your design clean and professional.
Allowed vs. Disallowed Modifications
You can’t stretch, rotate, recolor, or add effects (like shadows or gradients) to the AWS logo. Avoid using it on busy backgrounds or in ways that reduce contrast. Don’t combine it with your own logo to make a new mark. Allowed: resizing proportionally and using it on neutral backgrounds. Disallowed: editing, distortion, or placing it inside shapes or custom icons.
Co-Branding Rules for Partners
If you’re an AWS Partner, you must use “Powered by AWS” or official partner badges provided through the AWS Partner Network (APN). These have specific placement and color rules. Never mix them with your company’s logo into one combined design. AWS approves each badge type, so always refer to the Partner Branding Guide before publishing.
Termination & License Conditions
Your right to use AWS trademarks or logos comes through a license agreement (like APN membership or promotional approval). If that relationship ends, your license to use their branding ends immediately. You must remove AWS marks from all materials – digital and print – to stay compliant. AWS reserves the right to revoke usage for any misuse or misrepresentation.
Examples: Good Usage vs Common Mistakes
Understanding how to properly use the AWS logo helps keep your materials professional and compliant. Here’s a simple comparison of what’s right and what to avoid when displaying AWS marks on websites, brochures, or digital ads.
✅ Correct Usage (Good Examples)
- Use the official AWS logo downloaded from the AWS Brand Assets page.
- Maintain ample, clear space around the logo (at least the height of the “A”).
- Display it on a neutral background with enough contrast for visibility.
- Use official colors only – typically black, white, or approved orange gradients.
- Keep the logo proportions unchanged when resizing for digital or print.
❌ Incorrect Usage (Common Mistakes)
- Changing colors (e.g., blue or green versions of the AWS logo).
- Adding taglines or extra icons next to the logo.
- Distorting or stretching the logo to fit into custom shapes.
- Placing it on cluttered or dark backgrounds that reduce readability.
- Combining it with your own brand mark to make a hybrid logo is not allowed.
Correct usage builds trust and shows that you respect AWS’s brand identity and trademark rules.
Partner Branding & Co-Marketing Logo Use
AWS offers specific branding privileges to registered partners under its AWS Partner Network (APN). If your company qualifies, you may use official badges such as “Powered by AWS” or APN Partner logos in your marketing materials – but only in ways defined in the APN Creative & Co-Branding Guide.
These assets are meant to show technical validation and collaboration, not ownership or endorsement by AWS. You must always:
- Use only the approved partner badge from the AWS Partner Portal.
- Place the AWS logo separately from your brand logo, with proper spacing.
- Never alter, recolor, or merge AWS marks with your design.
- Include clear attribution, such as “Powered by AWS,” only when your product is actually hosted or built using AWS infrastructure.
Following these rules keeps your partnership compliant and builds long-term trust under the official Amazon Web Services branding framework.
Quick Compliance Checklist for Your Materials
Before publishing or printing anything that features the AWS logo, partner badge, or “Powered by AWS” mark, always walk through this quick compliance checklist. Following these steps ensures your materials stay professional, credible, and fully aligned with Amazon Web Services brand policies:
✅ Use official artwork only – Download logos directly from the AWS Brand Assets or APN Partner Portal. Never recreate, trace, or recolor them.
✅ Maintain clear space and minimum size – Keep enough padding around the logo so it’s never crowded by text or graphics.
✅ Include the correct trademark notice – Add:
“AWS and the ‘Powered by AWS’ logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.”
✅ Avoid any false endorsement – Don’t phrase content as if AWS has certified, approved, or sponsored your company.
✅ Submit for review when required – If you’re using AWS branding in booths, event signage, or advertising, submit designs to AWS Partner Marketing for pre-approval.
This checklist helps your brand maintain trust, compliance, and professional integrity while showcasing your AWS-powered capabilities confidently.
