Discord Sticker Size & Format: The Complete Guide (2026)

Discord stickers are larger, expressive images that server members can send in chat — bigger than emoji, smaller than a full image. Unlike regular emoji, stickers carry more personality and context, making them popular in community servers. Getting the format and size right is essential; Discord is strict about sticker specifications.

The most important things to remember: 320 × 320 pixels exactly, under 512 KB. Discord will reject stickers that are any other size, and oversized files won't upload.

Discord supports both APNG (Animated PNG) and GIF for animated stickers. APNG is technically superior — it supports full RGB colour with alpha transparency, while GIF is limited to 256 colours and binary transparency (pixels are either fully transparent or fully opaque). For most sticker use cases:

• •GIF: easier to create, widely supported by design tools.
• •APNG: better quality, especially for stickers with gradients or smooth edges.
• •Both must stay under 512 KB after animation — keep loops short (1–2 seconds).
• •Discord recommends APNG for the best quality result.

Custom sticker slots unlock with Server Boosts. Here's how many sticker slots each boost level gives:

• •Open your server → Server Settings → Stickers.
• •Click 'Upload Sticker' and select your 320×320 PNG, APNG or GIF file.
• •Add a sticker name (shown on hover) and a related emoji.
• •Save — the sticker is immediately available to all server members.
• •You need the Manage Emojis and Stickers permission to upload.

• •320 px is much larger than an emote — you have room for more detail, but keep it readable as a thumbnail.
• •Transparent backgrounds let the sticker sit naturally in any chat theme.
• •Bold outlines help the sticker stand out against dark and light backgrounds.
• •Keep animations short (under 2 seconds) to hit the 512 KB limit.
• •Expressive faces, reactions, and meme formats work especially well as stickers.