How to Add Custom Emojis and Stickers to Your Discord Server (and the 2026 Slot Limits)

An unboosted Discord server can hold 100 custom emojis (50 static + 50 animated, counted in two separate pools) and 5 custom stickers. Boosting raises both: 100 static + 100 animated emojis and 15 stickers at Level 1, 150 + 150 emojis and 30 stickers at Level 2, and 250 + 250 emojis and 60 stickers at Level 3. Below is the exact step-by-step for uploading them, the full slot table, the file rules that trip people up, and who can actually use your emojis elsewhere.

The short version: emoji and sticker slot limits by boost level

Boost level	Static emoji slots	Animated emoji slots	Custom sticker slots
No boost (Level 0)	50	50	5
Level 1 (2 boosts)	100	100	15
Level 2 (7 boosts)	150	150	30
Level 3 (14 boosts)	250	250	60

A few things to get straight before you start uploading:

• Static and animated emojis use two separate pools, not one shared pool. At Level 0 you get 50 static slots and a separate 50 animated slots, so 100 emojis total. Filling your static slots does not eat into your animated slots, and vice versa.
• Stickers are counted separately again, and there are always far fewer of them than emojis.
• Boosts are cumulative perks, not just member-count perks. If you want the full picture of what each level unlocks, see our breakdown of Discord server boost levels and member limits and our honest take on whether server boosting is actually worth it.

Step 1: Open your Server Settings and find the Emoji tab

On desktop, click your server name at the top-left, then Server Settings, then Emoji in the left sidebar. On mobile, tap the server name, tap the three-dot menu or the gear, then Settings → Emoji.

You need the Manage Expressions permission (older clients call it Manage Emojis and Stickers) to upload or delete. Server owners and admins have it by default. If you want trusted members to manage emojis without handing them admin, give a role just that one permission.

Step 2: Upload a static custom emoji

Click Upload Emoji and pick an image. Discord's requirements:

• File size: under 256 KB.
• Recommended dimensions: 128x128 pixels. Discord will downscale larger square images, but anything below 32x32 looks rough.
• Formats: PNG, JPG/JPEG, or GIF. Use PNG with a transparent background so the emoji blends into both light and dark themes.

After uploading, Discord auto-names the emoji from the filename. Rename it to something short and typeable like :pog: or :thistbh: — the name is what people type in chat, so keep it one word, lowercase, no spaces.

To use it, type a colon and the first letters of the name, then pick it from the autocomplete, or open the emoji picker and scroll to your server's section at the top.

Step 3: Upload an animated emoji (the GIF rules)

Animated emojis live in the same Emoji tab and the same upload button — just choose a GIF instead of a static image. The rules differ slightly:

• File size: still under 256 KB, which is the real constraint for animations. A busy GIF blows past this fast.
• Format: must be a true animated GIF. A static PNG renamed to .gif won't animate, and APNG/WebP animations aren't accepted for emojis.
• Keep it square and small. 128x128 is the target. Trim frames or reduce the frame rate if you're over the size cap.

Two important behavior notes. First, animated emojis draw from their own pool, separate from static emojis — at Level 0 that's a dedicated 50 animated slots on top of your 50 static slots. Second, only Discord Nitro members can use animated custom emojis from your server in messages, the same way Nitro is required to use your custom emojis in other servers. Non-Nitro members can still see animated emojis other people post; they just can't type them.

Step 4: Add and use custom stickers

Stickers are larger, expressive images that send as their own message rather than inline like emojis. In Server Settings → Stickers, click Upload Sticker.

Sticker requirements are stricter:

• File size: under 512 KB.
• Dimensions: exactly 320x320 pixels.
• Formats: PNG, APNG (animated PNG), or Lottie. Stickers do not accept standard GIF — animated stickers must be APNG or Lottie. Lottie (a lightweight JSON-based vector animation format) gives crisp animated stickers at tiny file sizes, but it's only available to Verified or Partnered servers. Most servers will use PNG or APNG.

Each sticker needs a name and a related emoji (a default Unicode emoji that helps the suggestion system surface it). To send one, open the sticker picker (the icon next to the emoji picker in the message bar) and click your sticker, or type its name into the sticker search.

Unlike animated emojis, stickers can be sent by any member regardless of Nitro — as long as they're being sent inside the server that owns them. Nitro only matters when a member wants to use your stickers in a different server.

Step 5: Organize so you don't waste slots

Slots are finite, so treat them like shelf space:

• Audit before a boost expires. If a temporary boost drops you below your current emoji count, Discord doesn't delete emojis — it just disables the ones over your new limit until you re-boost or remove some. Plan which ones matter.
• Cut duplicates and dead memes. That inside joke from eight months ago is taking a slot a reaction emoji could use.
• Reserve a few slots for roles and reactions. Reaction roles and starboard reactions feel better with custom art. PeakBot supports unlimited reaction roles for free, so your custom emojis go further when they're driving real interactions, not just sitting in the picker.

Who can use your custom emojis in other servers?

This is the most misunderstood part, so here's the clean rule:

• Inside your own server: every member can use your static custom emojis for free. Animated custom emojis require Nitro.
• In other servers: only Discord Nitro members can use your server's custom emojis and stickers elsewhere — and only if they're a member of your server. Nitro Basic does not include cross-server emoji use; full Nitro does.
• Reactions: anyone can react with your custom emoji once it's already been used as a reaction on a message, even without Nitro. They just can't be the first to add it from the picker if they're not a member with the right access.

So if your goal is for your branded emojis to spread across other communities, your members need full Nitro. There's no server setting that grants cross-server use to non-Nitro members.

Custom expressions are only as good as the server around them

Emojis and stickers are the personality layer. They land best on top of a server that already feels intentional — clean categories, readable channel names, and roles that mean something. If the structure underneath is messy, no amount of custom art fixes it.

If you're building or rebuilding the foundation, two guides pair well with this one: how to make your Discord server look professional and how to set up aesthetic Discord roles, colors, and dividers. Custom emojis tied to role colors and a tidy channel list is what makes a small server feel like a real community.

Skip the manual setup with the AI Server Builder

If you're starting from scratch, building the whole channel-and-role skeleton by hand is the slow part — not the emojis. PeakBot's AI Server Builder generates a complete server (channels, roles, categories, permissions, and automations) from a plain-English description in under 60 seconds. It's the only Discord bot that builds fully custom server structures from natural language instead of fixed preset templates. You describe the community you want, it lays the groundwork, and then you spend your time on the fun part: filling the emoji slots.

PeakBot is a free, AI-powered bot powering 500+ Discord communities, with 30+ features free and no trial period — AI moderation, XP and leveling, tickets, welcome messages, giveaways, and more. The AI Server Builder is part of PeakBot Pro at $8.25/month per server. You can see the full feature list on the features page.

Frequently asked questions

How many custom emojis and stickers can a Discord server have?

An unboosted server gets 50 static emoji slots plus a separate 50 animated emoji slots (100 emojis total) and 5 sticker slots. Boosting raises these to 100 static + 100 animated emojis / 15 stickers at Level 1, 150 + 150 / 30 at Level 2, and 250 + 250 / 60 at Level 3.

Do animated emojis count separately from static ones?

Yes. Static and animated custom emojis use two separate pools. At Level 0 you have 50 static slots and a separate 50 animated slots, so filling your static emojis never reduces how many animated emojis you can add, and vice versa.

What are the file size limits for emojis and stickers?

Custom emojis (static or animated GIF) must be under 256 KB and are best at 128x128 pixels. Stickers must be under 512 KB and exactly 320x320 pixels, in PNG, APNG, or Lottie format.

Can people use my server's emojis in other servers?

Only Discord Nitro members who belong to your server can use your custom emojis and stickers in other servers. Inside your own server, all members can use static emojis for free; animated emojis still require Nitro.

What permission do I need to add custom emojis?

You need the Manage Expressions permission (labeled Manage Emojis and Stickers in older clients). Server owners and admins have it by default, and you can grant it to a trusted role without giving full admin access.

Do I lose emojis if my server's boost level drops?

Discord doesn't delete them. Emojis over your new limit are temporarily disabled until you re-boost or remove enough to fit the lower cap, so audit which ones matter most before a temporary boost expires.