The effect of Ni size and support has been decoupled and evaluated separately for dry reforming of methane. Smaller Ni nanoparticles (2.6 nm) showed higher CH4 turnover frequency than larger Ni nanoparticles (17.3 nm). Alumina and MgO supports showed much higher CH4 turnover frequency than silica support when the same size of Ni nanoparticles were used.