A clear rules page for Roblox creators who need to prepare the right file for the right publishing surface.
When a Roblox creator compares an experience icon, Home page thumbnail, and Experience Detail Page thumbnail before upload, the important question is not "PNG or JPG?" yet. The first question is which Roblox surface will display this image and what dimensions, crop, moderation, and player expectation apply there.
Use the official size logic first
The Roblox experience icon is the square identity file. Creator Hub recommends a 512x512 pixel template and notes that icons can display at smaller sizes across Roblox, so the icon needs strong central recognition. Do not design it as a mini poster. A square icon with three tiny characters, a subtitle, a reward number, and a busy background may technically upload, but it will not read cleanly as a game tile.
Roblox thumbnails are landscape assets. Creator Hub recommends a 16:9 aspect ratio and says 1920x1080 is ideal for high-resolution display across Roblox. That makes a thumbnail better for gameplay context: a room, map, chase, battle, shop, event, or update scene. Use the wider frame to prove the experience, not to repeat the icon at larger size.
| Visual role | Size or export logic | Format logic | Crop or policy risk | Final Creator Dashboard check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experience icon | Square file, 512x512 or larger | PNG for crisp art, JPG only if the image is screenshot-heavy | Non-square art, tiny labels, edge-cropped characters | Icon preview after moderation-ready upload |
| Home page thumbnail | 16:9 composition, ideally 1920x1080 | JPG for rendered gameplay, PNG for sharp graphic scenes | Weak gameplay promise or misleading clickbait | Home Page tab active thumbnails |
| Experience Detail Page thumbnail | 16:9 media carousel image | JPG, PNG, GIF, TGA, or BMP when appropriate | Bad carousel order, missing alt text, fake mechanics | Detail page order, preview, and alt text field |
| Video preview | Authentic gameplay capture | Uploaded video rather than static image | External footage, voice-over, or gameplay misrepresentation | Video moderation status and playable accuracy |
Choose formats by image content
Roblox accepts several uploaded image thumbnail formats, including JPG, GIF, PNG, TGA, and BMP. That does not mean every format is equally useful for every asset. PNG works well when an icon has flat colors, sharp type, UI art, or transparent source layers. JPG works well for screenshots, shaded environments, and action scenes where natural image compression is less visible.
GIF, TGA, and BMP are not usually the first choice for simple Roblox publishing work. Use them only when there is a deliberate reason and the Creator Dashboard accepts the file cleanly. For most creators, the reliable workflow is to keep a high-resolution source, export one square icon and one or more 16:9 thumbnails, then compress the final delivery copies carefully.
Understand Home page personalization
The Home Page tab matters because Roblox can personalize active thumbnails when more than one thumbnail is available. A creator should not make five near-identical images just to fill slots. Each active thumbnail should test a real reason someone might play: combat, racing, building, trading, story, roleplay, update content, or a seasonal event. The thumbnail that wins attention should still be truthful, because players who feel tricked are unlikely to stay.
Keep the upload rules tied to trust
Every file should pass three checks: dimensions, recognition, and honesty. Dimensions make the file fit the surface. Recognition tells a player what the experience is. Honesty keeps the visual aligned with Roblox moderation and player expectations. Avoid fake "free Robux" claims, external links, QR codes, private contact details, copied characters you do not own, and gameplay that is not available in your experience.
FAQs About Roblox Size and Format Rules
No. The icon is a square recognition asset, while thumbnails are 16:9 media used on the Home page and detail page.
Roblox lists JPG, GIF, PNG, TGA, and BMP as supported uploaded thumbnail formats.
Use multiple thumbnails when each one shows a distinct real reason to play, especially if you plan to use Home page thumbnail personalization.
