Discord File Size Limit (2026): Uploads, GIFs, Emoji
Discord changed its upload limits twice in 2026: free accounts went from 10 MB to 20 MB in August, and Nitro went from 500 MB to 1 GB in October. Plenty of pages, and even search answers, still show the old numbers. These are the current limits for every kind of file, checked against Discord's own pages on November 3, 2026.
Quick answer
You can upload files up to 20 MB without Nitro, 50 MB with Nitro Basic and 1 GB with Nitro. In a server at Boost Level 2 everyone gets 50 MB, and at Level 3, 100 MB. Emoji must be under 256 KB and stickers under 512 KB.
Discord Upload Limits in 2026
| Who's uploading | Per file | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| No Nitro | 20 MB | Up from 10 MB in August 2026 |
| Nitro Basic | 50 MB | $2.99 a month in the US |
| Nitro | 1 GB | Up from 500 MB in October 2026; $9.99 a month in the US |
| Server at Boost Level 2 | 50 MB | For everyone, in that server only |
| Server at Boost Level 3 | 100 MB | For everyone, in that server only |
Sources: Discord's File Attachments FAQ, its October 22, 2026 update and the Server Boosting FAQ. Discord also says it's testing larger limits with some users, so yours might be higher. Videos can be MP4 (H.264, HEVC or AV1) or MOV.
Every Other Discord Size Limit
| What | Max size | Dimensions and formats |
|---|---|---|
| Custom emoji | Under 256 KB | 128 × 128 px; PNG, JPG, GIF, WebP |
| Sticker | 512 KB | Exactly 320 × 320 px; PNG, APNG, GIF; up to 5 s |
| Soundboard sound | 512 KB | MP3 or OGG, up to 5.2 seconds |
| Profile banner (Nitro) | 10 MB | At least 680 × 240 px; PNG, JPG, GIF |
| Server profile picture | 8 MB | Animated needs Nitro |
| Server icon | Not stated | At least 128 × 128 px; 1024 × 1024 looks sharpest |
| Server banner (Level 2+) | Not stated | At least 960 × 540 px (16:9); animated at Level 3 |
| Invite background (Level 1+) | Not stated | 1920 × 1080 px; JPG or PNG, not GIF |
| Role icon (Level 2+) | 256 KB | 64 × 64 px |
| Message | 2,000 characters | 4,000 with Nitro |
What Changed in 2026
- August 13: free uploads doubled to 20 MB. Discord announced "the free upload limit is increasing from 10MB to 20MB". (In Asia and Australia it was already August 14.)
- Phones now check the size first. Discord used to compress a phone video and only then check it against the limit. Now phones check the original file before anything is compressed, like desktop always did. Discord says desktop and iPhone users should find uploading easier, but Android users may hit the limit more often, because Android videos tend to be bigger files.
- October 22: Nitro went to 1 GB. In its October update Discord said Nitro members "can now upload files up to 1GB in size", up from 500 MB. Nitro Basic is still 50 MB.
Why Discord Says Your File Is Too Large
If your file looks like it's under the limit but Discord still refuses it, it's usually one of these:
- You're on a phone. Discord now counts the original size, so a 1-minute phone video of 60 to 170 MB won't squeeze under 20 MB on the way out anymore.
- MB isn't always MB. Windows shows sizes in units of 1,048,576 bytes but calls them MB, so a file Windows calls 19.5 MB is about 20.4 million bytes. Aim for 19 MB or less to be safe.
- The higher limit was a server boost. Boost limits only apply inside that server, not in DMs or other servers.
To make a video fit, work out the bitrate you need with the video file size calculator: drop in your video and it shows the bitrate that fits under 20 MB, which you can then use when you export from CapCut, Premiere or any editor.
How to Send Files Over 20 MB Without Nitro
- Trim it. Shorter is the quickest way to smaller. A 30-second clip at a decent bitrate fits easily.
- Lower the resolution and bitrate. 720p looks fine at bitrates that make 1080p blocky. The video file size calculator gives you the number.
- Send a GIF instead. For a short moment, a GIF plays inline and loops. The video to GIF converter can shrink it to fit 20 MB automatically.
- Shrink images. A photo over the limit will almost always fit as a JPG at 85% quality. Try the image converter.
- Post it in a boosted server. Level 2 allows 50 MB and Level 3 allows 100 MB for everyone there.
- Share a link. Upload big files to any cloud storage service and paste the link in the chat.
Server Boost Upload Limits
Boosting raises the limit for every member of that server, Nitro or not: 50 MB at Level 2 (7 boosts) and 100 MB at Level 3 (14 boosts). Level 1 doesn't change uploads. Discord is also running an experiment where some servers can unlock 250 MB by spending 5 boosts on "Larger File Uploads". A member with Nitro always gets whichever limit is higher.
Discord GIF Size Limits
A GIF you upload is just a file, so it follows your upload limit: 20 MB without Nitro. GIFs you pick from Discord's GIF button are links to a GIF site, so they don't count against anything. Elsewhere, GIFs have their own limits:
- Animated emoji: under 256 KB, best at 128 × 128. Anyone can add them to a server, but using them takes Nitro or Nitro Basic.
- Animated stickers: 512 KB, exactly 320 × 320, up to 5 seconds.
- Animated profile picture or banner: needs Nitro. Banners can be up to 10 MB.
- Animated server banner: needs Boost Level 3. It plays for 5 seconds, then pauses.
The video to GIF converter has one-tap presets for emoji and stickers: it makes the GIF the right size and shape, then keeps shrinking it until it's under the limit. Your video is never uploaded.
Emoji, Sticker and Soundboard Slots
How many a server can hold depends on its boost level. Emoji slots are separate for normal and animated emoji, so 50 + 50 means 50 of each.
| Server level | Emoji | Stickers | Soundboard sounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| No boosts | 50 + 50 | 5 | 8 |
| Level 1 (2 boosts) | 100 + 100 | 15 | 24 |
| Level 2 (7 boosts) | 150 + 150 | 30 | 36 |
| Level 3 (14 boosts) | 250 + 250 | 60 | 48 |
Soundboard sounds are MP3 or OGG files up to 512 KB and 5.2 seconds. Using a server's sounds in another server takes Nitro. For a still emoji or sticker, export a PNG at the right size with the image converter and check it's under the limit.
Profile and Server Image Sizes
- Profile picture: PNG, JPG or GIF, shown as a circle. Animated GIFs need Nitro. Discord doesn't state a size, but a square of at least 512 × 512 stays sharp.
- Profile banner (Nitro): PNG, JPG or animated GIF under 10 MB, at least 680 × 240.
- Server icon: at least 128 × 128; upload 1024 × 1024 for the sharpest result. Animated icons need Boost Level 1.
- Server banner: at least 960 × 540 (16:9). Needs Boost Level 2, or Level 3 for an animated one.
- Invite background: 1920 × 1080, JPG or PNG. Needs Boost Level 1.
Message Length and What Nitro Costs
A message can be 2,000 characters, or 4,000 with Nitro; paste in more and Discord turns it into a text file. In the US, Nitro Basic is $2.99 a month and Nitro is $9.99; prices differ in other countries.
Posting an event? Put the time in with a Discord timestamp, so everyone sees it in their own time zone.
Frequently asked questions
What is Discord's file size limit in 2026?
20 MB per file without Nitro, 50 MB with Nitro Basic and 1 GB with Nitro. Discord raised the free limit from 10 MB in August 2026 and the Nitro limit from 500 MB in October 2026. In a server at Boost Level 2 everyone can upload 50 MB, and at Level 3, 100 MB.
Is the Discord Nitro upload limit 500 MB or 1 GB?
1 GB. Discord announced it in its October 22, 2026 update, and its File Attachments FAQ now says "Nitro offers up to 1GB". Pages that still say 500 MB are out of date. Nitro Basic stays at 50 MB.
Why does Discord say my file is too large when it's under 20 MB?
Discord now checks a file's size before it compresses anything, on phones as well as computers, so a phone video counts at its full original size. Your computer may also show sizes in mebibytes, where 20 MB on Windows is about 21 million bytes. Aim for 19 MB or less to be safe.
How do I send a file over 20 MB on Discord without Nitro?
Compress the video to a lower bitrate or resolution, trim it, or send a GIF instead of the clip. You can also post it in a server at Boost Level 2 (50 MB) or Level 3 (100 MB), or upload it to cloud storage and share the link.
Does boosting a server increase the upload limit?
Yes, for everyone in that server: 50 MB at Level 2 (7 boosts) and 100 MB at Level 3 (14 boosts). It doesn't apply in DMs or other servers. Discord is also testing a 250 MB option that some servers can buy with 5 boosts.
What is the GIF size limit on Discord?
A GIF posted in chat follows the normal upload limit: 20 MB without Nitro. GIFs from the GIF picker are links, so they don't count. A custom emoji has to be under 256 KB, a sticker under 512 KB, and an animated profile picture needs Nitro.
What size should a Discord emoji be?
Make it 128 × 128 pixels and under 256 KB, as a PNG, JPG, GIF or WebP. Every server gets 50 normal and 50 animated emoji slots, rising to 250 of each at Boost Level 3.
What size are Discord stickers?
Exactly 320 × 320 pixels and no more than 512 KB, as a PNG, APNG or GIF. Animated stickers can be up to 5 seconds long. Servers get 5 sticker slots, rising to 60 at Boost Level 3.
How long can a Discord message be?
2,000 characters, or 4,000 with Nitro. Longer text you paste is turned into a text file attachment.
Wrapping Up 👋
Remember three numbers: 20 MB free, 50 MB with Nitro Basic and 1 GB with Nitro. When a file won't fit, trim it, lower the bitrate or turn it into a GIF, and aim a little under the limit to be safe.
