Discord avatar size
Discord asks for an avatar of at least 128 × 128 px and scales larger pictures down. It shows the avatar as a circle: on your profile, next to your messages and in the member list of a server.
| What | Discord |
|---|---|
| Shape | Square, 1:1. Discord shows it as a circle |
| Smallest size | 128 × 128 px |
| Size to upload | 256 × 256 px |
| Format | JPG, PNG or GIF |
| Animated avatar | With Discord Nitro only |
Why 256 px
Twice the smallest size keeps your avatar sharp on high-density screens and on your profile, where Discord shows it larger than next to messages. That is why the tool starts at 256 px. Choose 128 px for the smallest file.
Leave room for the online dot
Discord puts a small dot on the lower right of your avatar to show whether you are online, idle or busy. It covers that part of the circle, so keep your face and anything that matters away from it.
What the circle cuts off
The circle keeps the middle of the square and hides its four corners, about a fifth of the picture. Keep your face in the middle, leave some room above your hair, and let your shoulders run out at the bottom. Text and logos near the edge are cut off.
When the photo itself is the problem
A resizer cannot fix a photo that is too small, too dark or cut off at the forehead. If you have no better picture, a professional headshot made from a few selfies gives you one that fits the circle from the start.