How to create a token on Ethereum

Here is how to create a token on Ethereum without code: connect a wallet, fill in the token details, pay a small fee in ETH, and deploy an ERC-20 in about a minute. If you would rather write the contract yourself, that path is here too.

One thing has changed since most guides were written: Ethereum gas is cheap now, mostly under 1 gwei through 2026. Deploying a token no longer means paying a fortune, and this guide shows exactly what it costs and how to do it.

ERC-20: the standard behind every Ethereum token

An ERC-20 token follows ERC-20, the token standard Fabian Vogelsteller proposed in 2015. It is the rulebook every fungible token on Ethereum uses, and it is why any wallet, exchange, or DeFi app can handle any ERC-20 the same way.

Creating one means deploying a smart contract that sets the name, symbol, supply, and who holds it. That contract is permanent once it is live, so the details matter. The same standard also runs on Ethereum's Layer 2s, so the token you build here is portable across the ecosystem.

Create your ERC-20 without code

The fastest route is a no-code creator. Open the Ethereum token creator and you go from a blank form to a live contract in about a minute. Here is each step.

Step 1: Connect your wallet

Connect MetaMask or another Ethereum wallet, and make sure it is set to the Ethereum network. Keep a little ETH in it for the tool fee plus network gas.

Step 2: Enter your token details

Fill in the token name, symbol, total supply, and decimals. Most tokens use 18 decimals, the Ethereum default. The name and symbol are permanent once you deploy, so read them twice.

Step 3: Choose your features

A standard token needs nothing extra. If you want advanced features like a buy or sell tax, minting, or burning, turn them on here. Standard tokens use the basic tier; advanced features move you to the advanced tier and a higher fee.

Step 4: Review and check the fee

Check the summary. The tool fee is 0.01 ETH for a standard token or 0.03 ETH with advanced features, shown before you sign. Network gas is separate and always goes to the chain, never to the tool.

Step 5: Deploy and get your contract

Confirm the transaction in MetaMask. The contract deploys in a few seconds, and you get the token's contract address. Save it; that address is your token.

How much does it cost to create a token on Ethereum?

Less than most guides claim. There are two costs: the tool fee and network gas.

The tool fee is flat: 0.01 ETH for a standard token, or 0.03 ETH for advanced features, shown before you sign.

Gas is the part that has changed. Through 2026, Ethereum has mostly run well under 1 gwei, a fraction of the fees people remember. Deploying an ERC-20 uses roughly 1 to 1.5 million gas, so at those prices the gas to launch a token is usually a small fraction of an ETH, often less than the tool fee itself. The old idea that Ethereum is too expensive to deploy on is out of date.

If your project spans more than Ethereum, Tokenry deploys the same ERC-20 on Base, Arbitrum, and other EVM chains too, and ERC20 vs BEP20 covers how the standards differ across them.

Do you need to write Solidity?

For most tokens, no. A no-code tool deploys the same standard ERC-20, verified, in a minute. You would write it yourself only for custom logic a generator cannot produce, like an unusual mint schedule or a bespoke fee mechanism.

Here is the honest trade-off.

The bottom line: for a standard token, the no-code route wins on time and safety. Reach for Solidity only when you need behavior no generator offers, and you are ready to test and audit it.

Write your own ERC-20 in Solidity

If you do need custom code, do not start from a blank file. Build on OpenZeppelin's audited ERC-20, the library most Ethereum tokens inherit from. A minimal fixed-supply token is only a few lines.

// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
pragma solidity ^0.8.20;
import "@openzeppelin/contracts/token/ERC20/ERC20.sol";

contract MyToken is ERC20 {
    constructor() ERC20("My Token", "MTK") {
        _mint(msg.sender, 1000000 * 10 ** decimals());
    }
}

From there:

• Compile in Remix with the Solidity version your pragma line targets.
• Test on Sepolia first. Deploy to the Sepolia testnet and confirm the token behaves before you touch mainnet. A wrong constructor value is permanent.
• Deploy to mainnet through MetaMask, then verify the source on Etherscan so holders can read the code.

This is the path Ethereum was built for, but it is also where one bug becomes a permanent, on-chain mistake. Most launches do not need it.

Get your token trading on Uniswap

A deployed token is not tradeable until there is a market for it. On Ethereum, that means a liquidity pool on Uniswap, the largest DEX. Pair your token with ETH and set the starting price by the ratio you deposit. Once the pool is live, the market sets the price and anyone can buy or sell.

Locking or burning the liquidity afterward is a common trust signal, since it proves you cannot pull the funds. Before you open a pool, two quick steps:

• Add the token to your wallet. Paste the contract address into MetaMask under Import tokens to see your balance.
• Verify it on [Etherscan](https://etherscan.io). A verified contract lets holders read the code and builds trust. A no-code tool handles this automatically.

Where Ethereum token launches go wrong

A few mistakes come up again and again.

• Getting the name or symbol wrong. Both are permanent once deployed. Read them twice before you sign.
• Not keeping enough ETH. The tool fee is not the only cost. Leave a little extra for gas, even though gas is cheap now.
• Losing the contract address. Save it the moment you deploy. You need it to add the token to wallets, verify it, and open a Uniswap pool.
• Skipping verification. An unverified contract looks suspicious to buyers. Verify it, or use a tool that verifies automatically.

Educational content, not financial advice. Tokenry is a self-serve, non-custodial tool, not a financial advisor. Crypto is volatile and risky - always do your own research before creating or investing in any token.