How to Make Discord Emotes
A custom Discord emoji is a square transparent image up to 128×128 pixels and under 256 KB, uploaded in Server Settings → Emoji. This guide covers the full spec, how many slots your server has, and the three ways to actually make the artwork — drawing, commissioning, or generating with AI — with honest costs for each.
What are the requirements for Discord emojis?
| Property | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Up to 128×128 px, square |
| File size | Under 256 KB |
| Static format | PNG (transparent) or JPG |
| Animated format | GIF (uploaded), served as animated emoji |
| Name | 2+ characters, letters/numbers/underscores |
Discord stores the emoji at up to 128×128 but displays it much smaller in chat (roughly 22 px inline, 48 px when posted alone). The same rule as every emote platform applies: judge your design at the small size. Transparency matters too — emojis sit on light and dark themes, so a baked-in background looks broken for half your members.
How many emoji slots does a server get?
Every server starts with 50 static and 50 animated emoji slots. Server Boosts raise both pools:
| Boost level | Boosts needed | Static slots | Animated slots |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 0 | — | 50 | 50 |
| Level 1 | 2 | 100 | 100 |
| Level 2 | 7 | 150 | 150 |
| Level 3 | 14 | 250 | 250 |
Members can use the server's custom emojis inside that server for free; using them in other servers and DMs is a Nitro perk. For the server owner that means: every emoji you add is a perk for all members, not just Nitro subscribers.
Three ways to make the artwork
The spec is the easy part — the artwork is where the three routes differ. Honest numbers, from the streamer-commission market and our own pricing:
| Method | Cost per emoji | Turnaround | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draw it yourself | Free (your time) | Hours per emoji + learning curve | Artists who enjoy it; full creative control |
| Commission an artist | €20–50 typical | Days to weeks, incl. revisions | A signature set in a specific artist's style |
| Generate with AI | €0.60–1.00 (emote.gen credits) | Under a minute per batch | Full matching packs fast; iterating cheaply |
These routes combine well: many communities commission one or two hero emojis from a favourite artist and fill the remaining slots with a consistent generated set. The expensive mistake is commissioning a full 50-emoji pack before knowing which reactions your server actually uses — start small, watch what gets used, then expand.
Generate a matching emoji set
Upload a photo, mascot or logo, pick the reactions your server uses, and emote.gen exports 128 px transparent PNGs (plus animated WebP) sized for Discord.
Try the Discord emoji generatorHow to upload an emoji to your server
You need the Manage Expressions permission (server owners and most admin roles have it).
- 1
Open the emoji settings
On desktop: right-click the server name → Server Settings → Emoji. On mobile: server name → Settings → Emoji.
- 2
Upload the file
Click Upload Emoji and select your transparent PNG (or GIF for animated). Discord rejects files over 256 KB — compress or downscale if needed.
- 3
Name it
The name is what members type between colons, like :pog: — short, memorable, no spaces. You can rename it any time without re-uploading.
- 4
Test it in chat
Post the emoji once in a busy channel and check it on both the dark and light theme. If it has a grey fringe or unreadable detail, fix the source and re-upload.
Only upload artwork you have the rights to. Ripped emotes from other servers or artists' work without a license can get reported and removed — and it's a bad look for your community.
Discord emote FAQ
Up to 128×128 pixels, square, under 256 KB. PNG with a transparent background for static emojis; GIF for animated ones.
50 static and 50 animated slots at base level, rising with Server Boosts to 250 of each at Level 3 (14 boosts).
No — inside your server everyone can use its custom emojis. Nitro is needed to use them in other servers and DMs.
Commissioned emojis typically run €20–50 each. AI generation with emote.gen costs €0.60–1.00 per emoji depending on the credit pack, with 3 free credits on signup.
Yes — draw them yourself in any editor that exports transparent PNG, or use emote.gen's 3 free signup credits to generate your first three without paying.