To create an NFT on Solana, you upload an image and a metadata file to permanent storage, then mint an on-chain asset that points to them, most cheaply with Metaplex Core, where one asset costs about 0.003 SOL compared with about 0.022 SOL under the older Token Metadata standard (Metaplex docs). You can do it without code through the Metaplex web interface or with the Metaplex SDK for larger collections. Minting is the easy part; the decisions that matter are the standard, the storage and who keeps the right to change the NFT later.
Key Facts
- Standards: Metaplex Core (single account), Metaplex Token Metadata (older, several accounts) and compressed NFTs through Bubblegum for very large mints.
- Mint cost: about 0.003 SOL per Core asset vs about 0.022 SOL per Token Metadata NFT (Metaplex docs).
- Compute: about 17,000 compute units to create a Core asset vs about 205,000 for Token Metadata (Metaplex docs).
- In dollars: at $95.42 per SOL (CoinGecko, October 31, 2026), one Core asset is about $0.29 and one Token Metadata NFT about $2.10, before storage.
- Royalties: Core can enforce royalties through its Royalties plugin, using an allowlist or denylist of programs (Metaplex docs).
- Tools: a no-code web interface at core.metaplex.com, the JavaScript SDK mpl-core, and Core Candy Machine for public mint drops.
Step 1: Prepare a Wallet and SOL
Creating an NFT needs a Solana wallet with enough SOL for the mint, the storage upload and the network fee. For a single Core NFT, 0.01 SOL leaves a safe margin. If you hold other tokens, you can swap a small amount into SOL through Jupiter, the Solana swap router.
Use a separate wallet for creating and testing if you plan to sign many transactions on new sites. It keeps your main holdings away from every connection you approve.
Step 2: Choose the NFT Standard
The NFT standard decides cost, features and which tools read your asset. The program layer behind all three is covered in our Metaplex explainer.
| Standard | Cost per NFT (Metaplex docs) | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Metaplex Core | about 0.003 SOL | new single NFTs and collections |
| Token Metadata | about 0.022 SOL | a tool or marketplace you rely on still needs the old format |
| Compressed (Bubblegum) | a fraction of a standard NFT | thousands or millions of items |
For most first NFTs, Core is the default choice: one account per asset, lower rent and optional royalty enforcement.
Step 3: Upload the Image and Metadata
The NFT on-chain stores a URI, not the image itself, so the file must live somewhere that will not disappear. Create a JSON metadata file with name, description, image link and attributes, then upload both the image and the JSON to Arweave or IPFS. A normal web server is the weak option: if the hosting expires, the NFT shows a broken image forever.
Storage is a separate cost from the mint and depends on file size and provider. Compress large images before upload.
Step 4: Mint the NFT
Minting creates the on-chain asset and sends it to your wallet. There are two practical paths:
- No code: open the Metaplex Core web interface, connect your wallet, upload the file, fill in name and attributes, and sign.
- Code: use the mpl-core SDK to create a collection first, then mint each asset into it. This is the route for larger collections.
The minimum balance an account must hold is rent, explained in how Solana rent works. It is the main reason Core is cheaper: one account instead of several. For 100 NFTs, Core needs about 0.3 SOL vs about 2.2 SOL with Token Metadata, a saving of about 1.9 SOL, or roughly $181 at the October 31 price.
Step 5: Set Royalties, Authority and List
Before the first sale, decide two settings. Royalties: the Core Royalties plugin sets a percentage paid to your wallet on each sale. Update authority: if you keep it, you can fix mistakes but buyers must trust you not to change the art; if you revoke it, the NFT is final.
Then check the asset on Solscan and list it on Magic Eden or Tensor. Buyers will follow the steps in how to buy an NFT on Solana, so make your official collection link easy to find.
Limits and Common Mistakes
Creating an NFT on Solana is cheap, but cheap minting creates no demand on its own.
- Rights: mint only art you own or have a license for. Marketplaces can delist copied work.
- Mutable metadata: a live update authority lets the image and name change after sale; serious buyers check it.
- Wrong network: test on devnet first, but remember devnet NFTs have no value and do not appear on mainnet marketplaces.
- Storage first: broken links cannot be fixed later if you revoked the update authority.
NFTs and Memecoins Like $DOLAN
An NFT and a memecoin are both Solana tokens with Metaplex metadata; the difference is supply. An NFT has a supply of one, while DOLAN Duck ($DOLAN) is a fungible fair-launch token with a fixed 98.3M supply, about 10,700 holders and contract address 4YK1njyeCkBuXG6phNtidJWKCbBhB659iwGkUJx98P5Z. Its name and duck image come from a metadata account in the same way as an NFT’s. If you want to see how the two token types share one program model, read our SPL token guide.
Upload the image and a JSON metadata file to Arweave or IPFS, then mint a Metaplex Core asset with the web interface or the mpl-core SDK, and sign with your Solana wallet.
About 0.003 SOL per Metaplex Core asset or about 0.022 SOL with Token Metadata, plus storage and a small network fee.
Yes. The Metaplex Core web interface lets you upload a file, add attributes and mint by signing with your wallet.
Core stores an NFT in one account, uses about 17,000 compute units and can enforce royalties through a plugin. Token Metadata uses several accounts and costs about seven times more.
Revoke it when the art and metadata are final and you want buyers to trust the NFT cannot change. Keep it while you may still need to fix mistakes.
Yes. Create a Core collection, then mint assets into it with the SDK, or use Core Candy Machine if buyers should mint the items themselves.