Discord emoji size and 256 KB resizer
The short answer
A Discord custom emoji should be 128 × 128 pixels and must be under 256 KB, with transparency preserved — checked 31 July 2026.
Source: Discord Support — How to Add Custom Emojis · Last checked · READ FROM SOURCE
Discord states custom emoji must be under 256 KB and recommends 128 × 128. The 256 KB ceiling is the constraint that fails most uploads, so this tool checks it before you download.
Workbench
128 × 128 · 1:1
Add your image
Drag a file here, paste from the clipboard, or choose one below. PNG, JPEG and WebP.
Nothing is uploaded. The file is read by this tab only.
Runs on your device. Your image is decoded, cropped and encoded by this browser tab. It is never uploaded, and there is no image-processing service behind this page.
Why this asset is awkward
The 256 KB ceiling is what actually rejects most Discord emoji uploads. A 128 × 128 PNG exported from a screenshot or a photo can easily land at 300 KB or more, and Discord refuses it without explaining which part of the file is too big.
This page resizes to exactly 128 × 128, preserves the alpha channel, and shows the exact byte count against the limit before you download. If PNG is over budget, switching the export to WebP usually halves the file without a visible difference. Previews render at 22 pixels inline and 48 pixels jumbo — the two sizes Discord actually uses.
Exact specification
| Asset | Pixels | Ratio | Formats | File limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discord custom emoji | 128 × 128 | 1:1 | png, jpeg, webp | 256 KB |
This one page also answers: discord emoji resizer, discord emote size, discord custom emoji dimensions. They describe the same asset, so they share a single URL rather than getting a thin page each.
What the overlays mean
The centre box is our own guideline. Inline emoji render at roughly 22 pixels beside text, so anything in the outer 8% of the frame is effectively decoration. Keeping the subject inside the box also stops the emoji from visually colliding with the words on either side of it.
- 22 px legibility corekeep content here
- Social Toolshed guideline, not a Discord rule: inline emoji render around 22 px. Detail outside this box disappears at that size.
Three things that go wrong
- 01
Trim the empty space
An emoji with a wide transparent margin renders smaller than its neighbours at the same 22 pixels. Zoom in so the subject fills the frame.
- 02
WebP is the escape hatch for the byte limit
Discord accepts WebP for custom emoji. If your PNG is over 256 KB, WebP at quality 0.9 usually lands well under while keeping the alpha channel.
- 03
Beware of screenshots
A cropped screenshot has photographic noise in every pixel, which is why it compresses badly and reads as mud at 22 pixels. Flat, high-contrast artwork works far better.
Questions people actually ask
What size should a Discord emoji be?
128 × 128 pixels. Discord will accept and downscale larger images, but resizing yourself gives you control over how the small version looks and makes it much easier to stay under the 256 KB limit.
Why does Discord say my emoji is too big?
Almost always the file size rather than the dimensions — the limit is 256 KB. Photographic or noisy images blow past it even at 128 × 128. Exporting as WebP, or simplifying the artwork, is the fix. This tool shows the byte count before you download.
Do Discord emoji support transparency?
Yes, and they should use it — a custom emoji with a solid rectangle behind it looks wrong beside the built-in set. This page preserves the alpha channel and warns you if the uploaded image is fully opaque.
How many custom emoji can a server have?
It depends on the server’s boost level, starting at 50 slots and rising with boosts. That is a server setting rather than an image property — this tool only prepares the file.
More Discord sizes
The same job on other platforms
Need several of these at once? The One Image to Social Pack takes a single focal point and exports every destination you choose as one ZIP with a manifest.