D&D token size by creature size
A Medium or Small creature fills one 5-foot square. Large is 2×2 squares, Huge is 3×3 and Gargantuan is 4×4. Tiny creatures take half a square each, so four fit in one. Make the token image square and let your virtual tabletop (VTT) scale it to the grid.
Token size chart for 5e creature sizes
| Size | Space | Grid squares | Example creatures (SRD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiny | 2½ × 2½ ft | 4 per square | Imp, sprite |
| Small | 5 × 5 ft | 1 × 1 | Goblin, giant rat |
| Medium | 5 × 5 ft | 1 × 1 | Orc, werewolf |
| Large | 10 × 10 ft | 2 × 2 | Ogre, hippogriff |
| Huge | 15 × 15 ft | 3 × 3 | Fire giant, treant |
| Gargantuan | 20 × 20 ft or larger | 4 × 4 or larger | Kraken, purple worm |
Small and Medium creatures share the same 5-foot space, so their tokens are the same size. Creature sizes and spaces are from the D&D 5e rules (SRD 5.1 and the D&D Beyond Basic Rules) and are unchanged in the 2024 free rules table.
A creature’s space is not its physical size. The SRD says it is “the area in feet that it effectively controls in combat, not an expression of its physical dimensions.” By convention, a token fills its whole space edge to edge, so a Large ogre’s token covers a 2×2 block and a Tiny imp’s token covers a quarter of one square.
Footprints on a grid
Miniature base sizes
| Size | Usual base | Also seen |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny | About 12–20 mm | Often just a small base or none |
| Small / Medium | 25 mm (1 in) | – |
| Large | 50 mm (2 in) | 40 mm, common in wargaming |
| Huge | 75 mm (3 in) | 80 mm |
| Gargantuan | 100 mm (4 in) or larger | – |
The rulebooks give spaces, not base diameters, so these are hobby conventions and vary by maker. They assume a 1-inch square for each 5 feet.
sprite.cartosmith.app/token-size-guide/ · Free token maker at sprite.cartosmith.app
Token image size for Roll20, Foundry VTT and Owlbear Rodeo
Use a square PNG with a transparent background. Every VTT scales the image to the grid, so the pixel size controls sharpness, not how big the token looks on the map. A bigger creature is set by its size in squares in the VTT, not by making a different image.
Roll20
280 px per square
Roll20’s grid is 70 pixels per square at 100% zoom. Roll20’s own art guidelines for marketplace tokens ask for 280 × 280 px per square (4× the grid, so it stays sharp when zoomed), as a PNG with an alpha channel, under 5 MB.
For your own tokens, Roll20 does not enforce a size; 280 px is a convention. A Large token would be 560 × 560 px at that scale.
Sources: Roll20 token art guidelines and Roll20 forum.
Foundry VTT
400 px, commonly
Foundry’s media guide says tokens for Medium or Large creatures are between 200 and 400 px square, and that 400 × 400 has become an industry standard.
PNG and WebP both support transparency; WebP files are usually smaller. A token’s size is set in grid units (width and height of 1 is one square), separate from the artwork scale.
Sources: Foundry media optimization guide and Foundry tokens article.
Owlbear Rodeo
No fixed size found
We could not find an official token pixel size in Owlbear Rodeo’s documentation. A square transparent PNG is the usual choice; the 256 px or larger range many creators use is a convention, not a requirement.
Place the token in your scene and check it against your grid.
Source: Owlbear Rodeo docs (no token size specified).
What size does the CartoSmith token maker save?
The CartoSmith token maker draws your art at up to 256 × 256 pixels and saves it as a transparent PNG. For virtual tabletops it can also save a 280 × 280 file for Roll20 or a 400 × 400 file for Foundry VTT: the same art enlarged with hard pixel edges (no smoothing), still transparent. Most VTTs scale the image to the grid anyway, so the standard size imports and fits like any other token too. Pixel art can look soft if a VTT enlarges it a lot, so check it at the zoom you play at. See also the pixel art token maker page.
Import tips
- Keep the image square, with the creature filling the canvas and the background transparent.
- Set the token’s size in squares (2 for Large, 3 for Huge, 4 for Gargantuan) in the VTT after importing.
- Check the token against light and dark maps so it does not blend in.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Medium token in pixels?
There is no single required number, because VTTs scale the image to the grid. Roll20’s grid is 70 px per square, its marketplace guidelines use 280 px per square, and Foundry’s guide says 400 × 400 is an industry standard. A square PNG of 256 px or more suits a single-square token.
How many Tiny creatures fit in one square?
Four. A Tiny creature’s space is 2½ by 2½ feet, so four share a 5-foot square.
Is a Small token smaller than a Medium token?
No, not in the rules. Both Small and Medium creatures have a 5-by-5-foot space, so both tokens fill one square. Some artists draw Small figures a little smaller inside the square.
How big is a Huge or Gargantuan token?
Huge fills 3×3 squares (15 ft) and Gargantuan fills 4×4 squares (20 ft) or more. In your VTT, set the token to 3 or 4 squares wide and tall.
Should tokens have a transparent background?
Yes. A transparent PNG lets the VTT show its own ring or the map around the figure. The CartoSmith token maker saves transparent PNGs.
Does the CartoSmith token maker export 280 or 400 pixel tokens?
Yes, as presets. The art is drawn at up to 256 × 256 pixels, and the token maker can save it enlarged to 280 × 280 for Roll20 or 400 × 400 for Foundry VTT, with hard pixel edges and a transparent background. The normal 256, 128 and 64 pixel saves are still there, and most VTTs scale tokens to the grid anyway.
What base size should my miniature be?
On a 1-inch grid, 25 mm for Small and Medium, 50 mm for Large, 75 mm for Huge and 100 mm for Gargantuan are the usual conventions. Some people use 40 mm for Large or 80 mm for Huge.
Make a token that fits
Build a pixel-art token in your browser, free and with no account, then drop it into any VTT.