PixelkinWhich grid size for pixel art?
The grid decides how much detail fits and how consistent a set stays. Smaller grids are harder to draw on and easier to keep uniform.
| Grid | Good for | Colours that work | Exports (whole-number scales) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16×16 | Tiny UI, map markers, item slots in dense inventories | 4–8 | 32, 64, 128 |
| 18×18 | Twitch sub and bit badges (chat size) | 8–16 | 36, 72 |
| 28×28 | Twitch emotes at chat size | 16–24 | 56, 112 |
| 32×32 | Game items, Discord icons, favicons, avatars | 16 | 64, 128, 256, 512 |
| 64×64 | Roblox UI, detailed items, character busts | 16–32 | 128, 256, 512 |
| 96×96 – 128×128 | Portraits, scenes, wallpapers | 32+ | 384/768, 512/1024 |
Three rules
- Draw at the display size. If viewers see it at 18 px, draw at 18. Shrinking a 72-px drawing to 18 destroys it.
- Scale by whole numbers. 2×, 3×, 4× keep every pixel a square. 1.5× makes some pixels wider than others.
- Fewer colours. A set drawn in 16 colours matches itself. A set drawn in 200 colours does not, whoever draws it.
The presets here follow all three: each one fixes a grid, a palette size and a list of whole-number exports. You can try them on the converter with your own picture.
Questions people ask
Is 32×32 the standard pixel art size?
It is the most common size for icons and items. Characters are often 16, 32 or 48 tall; portraits and scenes go to 128 and beyond.
How many colours should pixel art use?
Enough and no more. 4 to 8 for tiny grids, 16 for icons, 32 for portraits. The limit is what makes a set look consistent.
Can I scale pixel art without blur?
Yes, with nearest-neighbour scaling by a whole number. Most image tools call it “nearest” or “pixelated”.