Use the Pixel Grid Generator to draw pixel art on a customizable grid and export it as a PNG image or CSS code — free, no signup, and no software to install.
Pick a grid size from 8×8 up to 128×128, click or tap to paint each pixel, and download your artwork in seconds. It works for retro-style game sprites, app icons, favicons, and any small graphic that needs that classic blocky look.
How It Works
The tool renders a grid of individual, clickable squares — each square is one “pixel” in your final image, regardless of how large it appears on screen while you’re editing.
- Choose a grid size. Pick a preset (8×8, 16×16, 32×32, 64×64) or set a custom width and height up to 128×128. Common sprite dimensions like 16×16 and 32×32 are covered out of the box.
- Pick a color. Select from the built-in palette or use the custom color picker for an exact match.
- Paint. Click or tap a square to fill it; click and drag to paint multiple squares in one stroke. Use the eraser to clear individual pixels.
- Adjust as needed. Zoom in or out to work more precisely, toggle grid lines on or off, and use undo/redo to fix mistakes.
- Export. Download a PNG at up to 24× the original pixel size for crisp, scaled-up output, or generate a copy-paste CSS
box-shadowsnippet for grids up to 16×16 (256 pixels).
Nothing you draw is uploaded anywhere — the grid, the colors, and the export all run in your browser.
Use Cases
- Game sprites and tilesets. Block out character sprites, tile assets, or item icons at standard sizes like 16×16 or 32×32 before bringing them into a game engine.
- App and favicon icons. Design a simple pixel-style icon and export it as a PNG — a natural starting point if you’re also building a favicon for a WordPress site, since small pixel icons scale down cleanly at typical favicon sizes.
- Retro-style web graphics. Create blocky, nostalgic visuals for blog headers, social posts, or landing pages without opening a full image editor.
- Learning pixel art fundamentals. The grid-based workflow makes it easy to see exactly how sprite artists work at the pixel level, which is useful for beginners experimenting with the style.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pixel grid generator?
A pixel grid generator is a tool that lets you draw images pixel by pixel on a fixed grid, then export the result as an image or code — commonly used for pixel art, game sprites, and small icon graphics.
What’s the best grid size for sprite art?
Most 2D game sprites use 16×16 or 32×32 grids, though simpler icons often use 8×8 and more detailed character art can go up to 64×64 or larger. The tool includes presets for all of these, plus a custom size option up to 128×128.
Can I export my pixel art as a PNG?
Yes. The PNG export scales your grid up by a factor you choose — 4×, 8×, 16×, or 24× the original pixel size — so the download stays crisp and blocky instead of blurry, with transparency preserved for unpainted areas.
Can I get CSS code instead of an image?
Yes, for grids of 256 pixels or fewer (16×16 and under). The tool generates a copy-paste box-shadow CSS snippet that recreates your pixel art in pure CSS, with no image file needed — useful for developers who want a lightweight, code-only graphic.
Is there a limit to how large my grid can be?
The canvas supports up to 128×128 pixels. PNG export works at any grid size; CSS export is capped at 16×16 because larger grids produce impractically long CSS.
Do I need to install anything or sign up?
No. The Pixel Grid Generator runs entirely in your browser — there’s nothing to install, no account required, and your artwork isn’t uploaded or stored anywhere.