Discord Sticker Size Guide (2026)
The complete reference for Discord custom stickers — the exact 320 × 320 pixel size, 512 KB file limit, PNG/APNG formats, animated rules, and sticker slots per boost tier.
Discord stickers are the bigger, bolder cousins of custom emoji — full-size images you send as their own message to react with style. But stickers have stricter rules than emoji: an exact pixel size, a different file limit, and a narrower list of formats. Get any of them wrong and the upload simply fails. This guide has every current Discord sticker specification for 2026.
Discord Sticker — Quick Specs Table
| Specification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 320 × 320 pixels (exact, square) |
| Max File Size | 512 KB (static and animated) |
| Static Format | PNG |
| Animated Format | APNG (animated PNG) |
| Frame Rate (animated) | Up to 60 FPS |
| Display Size in Chat | ~160 × 160 pixels |
| Transparency | Full alpha (PNG / APNG) |
| GIF support | Not accepted for stickers |
Source: Discord Help Center — Tips for Sticker Creators FAQ
Exact Dimensions: 320 × 320 Pixels
Discord stickers must be exactly 320 × 320 pixels in a square (1:1) aspect ratio. Discord's creator documentation literally states "320px × 320px (exact)" — this is not a recommendation like it is for emoji. A sticker that isn't precisely 320 × 320 will be rejected.
Stickers display at roughly 160 × 160 pixels in chat on desktop. The reason the upload size is double the display size is high-DPI (Retina) sharpness — the 320px source keeps the sticker crisp on modern screens.
Because stickers display much larger than emoji (~160px vs ~32px), you have room for detail here. Fine lines and richer illustration hold up at sticker scale in a way they never would as an emoji.
File Size Limit: 512 KB
Every Discord sticker — static or animated — must be under 512 KB. Note the exact number: many third-party guides round this down to "500 KB," but Discord's official limit is 512 KB (i.e. 512 × 1024 bytes).
A static 320 × 320 PNG rarely comes close to 512 KB. Animated APNG stickers are where the limit bites — animated PNG is not as compact as GIF, so a busy animation can exceed 512 KB quickly. Keep animations short and simple, or compress before uploading.
Formats: PNG & APNG Only
| Format | Static | Animated | Accepted for Stickers? |
|---|---|---|---|
| PNG | Yes | No | Yes — for static stickers |
| APNG | No | Yes | Yes — for animated stickers |
| GIF | Yes | Yes | No — not accepted for stickers |
| Lottie (JSON) | No | Yes | No — Discord’s own packs only, not user uploads |
Stickers are stricter than emoji: no GIF, and regular users cannot upload Lottie
Two format facts that catch people out: GIF is not accepted for stickers (use APNG for animation), and Lottie stickers are Discord's official packs only — you cannot upload your own Lottie/JSON sticker even on a boosted server.
Animated Stickers (APNG)
Animated stickers use the APNG format at up to 60 FPS, within the same 512 KB limit as static stickers. Discord doesn't publish a hard duration cap — the commonly repeated "about 5 seconds" is a practical guideline driven by the 512 KB size limit, not an official rule. In practice, the file size ceiling is what forces animations to stay short.
Important quirk: APNG stickers won't animate if you add them through the chat-bar file upload. You must add animated stickers through Server Settings → Stickers for the animation to work.
Sticker Slots per Boost Tier
The number of custom stickers a server can hold scales with its boost level:
| Boost Level | Boosts Required | Sticker Slots |
|---|---|---|
| Level 0 (base) | 0 | 5 |
| Level 1 | 2 | 15 |
| Level 2 | 7 | 30 |
| Level 3 | 14 | 60 |
Source: Discord Server Boosting FAQ. Custom stickers are primarily a boost perk.
Sticker vs Emoji: What's the Difference?
| Feature | Sticker | Emoji |
|---|---|---|
| Upload Size | 320 × 320 px (exact) | 128 × 128 px (recommended) |
| Display Size | ~160 px | ~32 px |
| File Limit | 512 KB | 256 KB |
| Formats | PNG, APNG | PNG, JPEG, GIF, WebP, AVIF |
| How It’s Used | Sent as its own message | Inline in text or as a reaction |
| Detail Level | Room for detail | Must be simple and bold |
The short version: use an emoji for a small inline reaction, and a stickerfor a bigger standalone statement. If you want the small inline version, resize your image with our Discord Emote Resizer below.
How to Upload Custom Stickers to Discord
- Open your server and click the server name → Server Settings
- Select Stickers in the left sidebar
- Click Upload Sticker and choose your 320 × 320 PNG or APNG file
- Give it a name and a related emoji tag
- Click Save — it's available to everyone in the server
You need the Manage Expressions permission to upload stickers, and the server needs at least one open sticker slot for the tier it's on.
Common Errors & Fixes
| Error | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Upload rejected | Not exactly 320 × 320 | Resize to exact 320 × 320 with our Sticker Resizer |
| File too large | Over 512 KB | Compress the PNG / reduce animation complexity |
| Format not supported | Uploaded a GIF | Convert to PNG (static) or APNG (animated) |
| Animation not playing | Added via chat upload | Add it through Server Settings → Stickers instead |
| No slots available | Sticker pool full | Boost the server or remove an unused sticker |
Frequently Asked Questions
What size should a Discord sticker be?
Discord requires custom stickers to be exactly 320x320 pixels in a square (1:1) aspect ratio. Unlike emoji, this is a hard requirement — the uploader expects a precise 320x320 source.
What is the Discord sticker file size limit?
The maximum file size for a Discord custom sticker is 512 KB. This applies to both static PNG and animated APNG stickers. Many guides incorrectly say 500 KB — the official limit is 512 KB.
What formats do Discord stickers support?
Discord custom stickers must be PNG (static) or APNG (animated). Regular GIF is not accepted for stickers, and while Discord uses Lottie (JSON) for its own official sticker packs, regular users cannot upload Lottie stickers.
Can I upload animated stickers to Discord?
Yes, using the APNG format (animated PNG), up to 60 FPS, within the 512 KB limit. Note that APNG stickers must be added through Server Settings → Stickers — uploading via the chat file-upload button will not render the animation.
How many stickers can a Discord server have?
Custom sticker slots scale with boost level: a base server has 5, Level 1 has 15, Level 2 has 30, and Level 3 has 60 sticker slots.
Why won’t my Discord sticker upload?
The most common causes are wrong dimensions (not exactly 320x320), a file over 512 KB, or the wrong format (GIF instead of PNG/APNG). Fix all three and the upload will go through.
What is the difference between a Discord sticker and emoji?
Emoji are small (128x128, ~32px in chat) and used inline or as reactions. Stickers are larger (320x320, ~160px in chat), sent as their own message, and use different formats (PNG/APNG vs PNG/GIF/WebP).
How do I resize an image to 320x320 for a Discord sticker?
Use a free tool like our Discord Sticker Resizer to resize any image to exactly 320x320 pixels and compress it under 512 KB in PNG format. Upload and download the ready-to-use sticker.