No portrait ready? Use Create a text token for an NPC name or number, or open the artwork sources beside the upload area.
D&D 5e creature sizes: pixels and grid squares
Start with the size in your creature's stat block, then choose its export preset above. In this DnD 5e token maker, a token has two separate sizes: the pixels in the downloaded image and the squares it occupies on your battlemap. Choosing a larger file gives you more image detail; you still set its map footprint after importing it. The table pairs D&D grid footprints with the presets available in this tool, so you can prepare a party and its opponents without guessing export dimensions.
| Creature size | Map footprint | Preset to select | Roll20 export | Foundry export |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiny | ½ × ½ | Medium; resize in VTT | 280 × 280px | 400 × 400px |
| Small | 1 × 1 | Medium | 280 × 280px | 400 × 400px |
| Medium | 1 × 1 | Medium | 280 × 280px | 400 × 400px |
| Large | 2 × 2 | Large | 560 × 560px | 800 × 800px |
| Huge | 3 × 3 | Huge | 840 × 840px | 1200 × 1200px |
| Gargantuan | 4 × 4 or larger | Gargantuan | 1120 × 1120px | 1600 × 1600px |
Tiny and Small have no separate entries in the export dropdown. Use Medium for both: Small keeps a 1 × 1 footprint, while a Tiny creature can be displayed at ½ × ½ in the VTT. The Tiny row therefore shows the actual export you can download, not a nonexistent Tiny preset. For Gargantuan creatures, the listed file stays the same size even if your DM assigns a footprint larger than 4 × 4; check its clarity at that larger scale before the session.
Use a five-foot map grid when reading these footprints. The D&D creature-size rules define occupied space, not a required image resolution. These pixel values are our export presets, not mandatory Roll20 or Foundry limits. See the creature token size guide for a wider reference, and use this page's table to match the current dropdown exactly.
Return to the DnD token maker to upload your portrait and select its preset.
Turn character art into a 5e token in five steps
Upload a portrait
Drop a PNG, JPG, or WebP onto the tool, paste from the clipboard, or select it from your device. For a full-body illustration, start by centering the head and shoulders: a recognizable face is usually easier to identify at battlemap scale than a distant figure. You can load several files together if you are preparing an encounter.
Frame the part players need to recognize
Drag the image inside the preview and adjust zoom until the face fits comfortably within the border. Leave room above horns, hats, and tall ears. If the source is tightly cropped already, zoom out before choosing a heavier frame; enlarging the export cannot restore artwork missing from the original image.
Choose a shape and border
Select Circle for a round portrait token, or use Square or Hex if that suits your map. Pick a border from Fantasy, Minimal, or Sci-Fi and preview it against the portrait. Try a simple ring when an ornate frame covers a weapon, face, or other identifying detail. You can also upload your own transparent PNG border and fit the opening without clipping its decoration.
Match the platform and creature size
For a standard character, choose Medium (1x1) · Roll20 at 280px or Medium (1x1) · Foundry at 400px. For a Large opponent, consider the corresponding 560px or 800px preset. Select PNG for your first import test; WebP is also available. Recheck these settings when returning to the tool because earlier choices may be restored.
Download and check it on the map
Click Download current image, then import the downloaded image into your VTT and set its grid footprint. Inspect it at the zoom level you actually use during play. Follow the Roll20 token export guide or Foundry VTT export guide for the platform-specific workflow. Keep the source art if you may need to reframe it later.
Frame PCs, NPCs, monsters, and summons for play
Player characters: keep faces easy to find
Give the party a shared border style, then frame each face at a similar scale. For four PCs, compare all four exports on the same map before settling on the crops. A bright spell effect or raised sword should not make one portrait look twice as large as the others. Save a clearly named file for each character.
NPCs: make roles visible without revealing secrets
Use a consistent, restrained frame for recurring allies and townspeople. Crop around a visible feature such as a hat, hairstyle, or face covering so players can distinguish similar portraits. If an NPC's allegiance is secret, avoid giving that portrait the enemy border before the reveal. Assign the displayed name in your VTT after importing the file.
Monsters: read the stat block before exporting
Choose Large, Huge, or Gargantuan from the creature's actual size entry, rather than judging by the illustration. A portrait of a dragon does not tell you its age or grid footprint. Keep the head or silhouette inside the crop, and test a Huge token across 3 × 3 squares. For repeated enemies, use distinct names or markers in the VTT so initiative entries remain identifiable.
Summons and familiars: separate ownership from size
Choose a border that connects a summoned creature with its player, then check the size specified by the spell or creature statistics. A familiar and a summoned beast need not occupy the same space. For a Tiny familiar, export with Medium and reduce its footprint in the VTT. Keep a separate file for each form you expect to use.
Prepare an encounter with the image queue
For a scene with four PCs, one NPC ally, and six enemies, select all eleven portraits and drop them onto the tool. Work through creatures that share a border and size together. Frame each portrait, then choose Download all ZIP for one archive. Or Download current image to save one item and advance to the next. Each picture needs its own framing check, especially when mixing face portraits with full-body monster art.
Border, color, shape, label, format, and export preset apply to the entire ZIP. For mixed creature sizes, download individually with the appropriate preset, or use one pixel size for the ZIP and set each footprint in the VTT. Position and zoom belong to each image, so you can click an earlier queue thumbnail to revisit its crop. The tool does not read creature names or automatically infer sizes from artwork.
Save the finished downloads in an encounter folder and check the file count against your roster. Before closing the tab, confirm that each creature has a readable token and the right footprint on the map. Settings can survive a return visit, but the uploaded image queue does not. Keep original portraits on your device for later revisions, and use the RPG Token Maker when you want the general tool entry point for another game.
DnD token maker FAQ
Can I frame the encounter with my own PNG border?
Yes. Add a transparent PNG under Custom PNG border, then fit the regular circle, square or hex opening with width, height and offset controls. Your frame keeps its proportions and colors and appears in single and ZIP downloads. Remove it to return to the built-in border; uploaded frames are not restored on a future visit.
Can I make a quick NPC or numbered placeholder?
Choose Create a text token. Enter a single number, letter or short name such as Guard, then pick contrasting text and background colors. Each placeholder keeps its own content and can be downloaded alone or in a mixed image-and-placeholder ZIP.
Is this DnD token creator free without an account?
Yes. Upload your own PNG, JPG, or WebP art, adjust its framing, and export a token without registering or paying. Image processing happens in your browser. Download the finished files before leaving: the image queue is not saved between visits, even though tool settings are saved locally.
Which preset should I use for a Small or Medium D&D character?
Both sizes normally occupy a 1 × 1 square on a D&D battlemap. Choose Medium (1x1) · Roll20 for a 280px square export, or Medium (1x1) · Foundry for 400px. Set the imported token to one grid square in your VTT; file resolution alone does not set its footprint.
How do I make a Tiny familiar when there is no Tiny preset?
Use the existing Medium preset: 280px for Roll20 or 400px for Foundry. Then set the token to half a grid square wide and half a square tall in your VTT, following your table's rules. This page does not offer a separate Tiny export size; keep the face prominent so it remains readable when reduced.
Can I prepare a whole encounter with batch mode?
Yes. Upload, drop or paste images, adjust each token, then Download all ZIP. Each token keeps its own border, color, shape, format, pixel size and caption. Use the two Apply to all controls when you want matching appearance or export settings. Download current image remains available and advances to the next item.
Will PNG export remove the background from my character art?
No. With a circular token, the area outside the circle is transparent, but a white or colored background inside the original portrait remains. Use artwork with an existing transparent background if you need that area clear. PNG and WebP exports preserve transparency; neither option performs automatic background removal.
Can these tokens work in Pathfinder 2e or Call of Cthulhu?
Yes. Export PNG or WebP using a preset for your VTT, then configure the token footprint for that game. Pathfinder 2e uses familiar Small through Gargantuan spaces, but its Tiny rules describe a space smaller than one square. For Call of Cthulhu, agree on the map scale with your Keeper; do not treat a D&D size label as a rule for that system.