The original r/place palette contained 16 colors.
During the 2017 experiment, each registered Reddit user could select one of 16 colors when placing a pixel on the shared canvas. The limited palette was central to the project’s look: communities had to build recognizable images with a small set of basic colors rather than unlimited digital shades.
The palette worked alongside a placement cooldown. After changing one pixel, a user had to wait before placing another, so large designs depended on coordination among many people. The canvas began as a mostly blank 1,000-by-1,000 grid and gradually filled with flags, logos, memes, characters and other artwork.
The number 16 applies specifically to the original 2017 edition. Later returns changed the rules and palette. The 2022 edition began with the same 16 colors but added more during the event, eventually reaching 32. The 2023 edition started with eight colors and expanded over time. Those later totals are why answers such as 32 or 8 can seem plausible, but they do not describe the original palette.