Stickers and emoji look similar, but they behave differently. An emoji sits inline with text and can be used as a reaction. A sticker is sent on its own, displayed much larger, and can't be a reaction. That makes stickers perfect for big expressive moments: a celebration, a mascot waving hello, or a reaction image your server uses all the time. Because they are shown large, stickers can carry more detail than emoji, including short words that would be unreadable at emoji size.

Discord's sticker requirements are strict: the image must be exactly 320 × 320 pixels and no larger than 512 KB. Static stickers are PNG files. Animated stickers use APNG, the animated version of PNG, which keeps smooth edges and full transparency that GIFs can't. If a file doesn't meet the requirements, the upload dialog rejects it. The most common problem is size: an animation with many frames and colors can easily pass 512 KB, so keep animations short and limit the colors you use.

GIF supports only 256 colors per frame and on-or-off transparency, which gives jagged edges on rounded shapes. APNG supports millions of colors and soft, partially transparent edges, so stickers look clean on both dark and light themes. Most image editors don't export APNG easily, which is the main reason people struggle to make animated stickers. The Boxtype Server Emoji Maker exports animated stickers as APNG automatically, so you can make one without converting files.

Sticker slots are much scarcer than emoji slots. An unboosted server gets 5 sticker slots. Boosting raises that to 15 at Level 1, 30 at Level 2 and 60 at Level 3. Because there are so few, treat stickers as your server's greatest hits: the expressions people reach for every day. You can see the remaining slots in Server Settings → Stickers.

Open Server Settings → Stickers and choose Upload Sticker. Pick the file, then fill in the details Discord asks for: a name, a related emoji, and a short description. The related emoji is used when Discord suggests stickers as members type, so choose the emoji that matches the sticker's mood, like 🎉 for a celebration sticker. The description helps screen reader users understand the sticker. Upload stickers through Server Settings rather than dragging the file into a chat. Dropping the file into a channel just posts it as an image.

Leave some padding around the edge of the 320 × 320 canvas so nothing looks cramped. Use a transparent background so the sticker floats on the chat, and add a thin outline in a contrasting color so it stays visible in both dark and light mode. Words on stickers should be short and bold: three to six letters, or one big word. Animations should loop smoothly and calmly; a sticker that flashes or shakes hard gets tiring when it is posted often.

Members can send a server's stickers in that server. Sending a server's stickers in other servers and DMs requires Discord Nitro, the same as with emoji. Discord also has its own sticker packs, which everyone can use, so your custom stickers should offer something those packs don't: your server's characters, jokes and words.

If the upload button rejects your file, check the three requirements in order: exactly 320 × 320 pixels, 512 KB or smaller, and PNG or APNG. An animated file saved as .png without animation data will upload but stay still; make sure your tool exported a real APNG. If Discord asks for a related emoji and you can't find a good match, choose the closest feeling rather than a literal match; the emoji is mostly used for suggestions.

With only a few slots, think about what your members say most. A server mascot in three or four moods (happy, shocked, sleepy, celebrating) covers many reactions. Inside jokes and catchphrases make great word stickers. Seasonal stickers can rotate in and out: swap a summer sticker for a holiday one in December, and your sticker picker always feels fresh.