telegram stickers reference
Telegram sticker size: 512×512, WebP vs PNG, and the 512 KB limit
The exact rules for a static Telegram sticker — one side exactly 512 px, PNG or WebP with transparency, under 512 KB — with a WebP-vs-PNG table, the 100×100 emoji confusion, and what the @Stickers bot actually rejects.
Aman Jha·September 18, 2026·4 min read
A static Telegram sticker must be a PNG or WebP with a transparent background where one side is exactly 512 pixels and the other is 512 or less. The @Stickers bot also rejects files over 512 KB. Custom emoji are a different thing — exactly 100×100 — which is where most “wrong size” errors come from.
Telegram sticker requirements, in one table
| Type | Format | Size | File limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Static sticker | PNG or WebP, transparent | One side exactly 512 px, the other ≤ 512 | 512 KB (enforced by the bot) |
| Animated sticker | TGS (Lottie-style vector) | 512×512 | 64 KB |
| Video sticker | WEBM (VP9), no audio | One side 512 px | 256 KB, ≤ 3 s |
| Custom emoji | PNG/WebP, TGS or WEBM | Exactly 100×100 | Same per-format caps |
The size and format rules are on Telegram's sticker documentation, along with the design tip: “a transparent background, white stroke and black shadow effect will make your sticker stand out.” The 512 KB static cap isn't printed on that page any more; the bot enforces it when you upload.
Telegram sticker size and dimensions: 512 px on one side
The rule is about the longer edge. A square 512×512 is the safe default: it fills the sticker slot and never surprises you. A 512×300 sticker is valid too and shows as a wide strip — useful for a caption-style sticker, odd for a face. Anything larger than 512 on either side is rejected; anything with neither side at 512 is rejected. Telegram displays stickers scaled down in chats, so 512 is the ceiling, not a recommendation to draw at 512.
People also ask about resolution. Telegram's rules are in pixels only; its sticker page says nothing about DPI, so a 512-pixel image at 72 or 300 DPI is the same sticker.
Telegram sticker file size limit
A static sticker has to be under 512 KB. That's the one you'll hit with a detailed photo saved as PNG. Animated TGS stickers have a much tighter 64 KB cap, and video WEBM stickers 256 KB and no longer than 3 seconds. The 512 KB static limit isn't printed on Telegram's sticker page any more; the @Stickers bot enforces it when you upload, so that's where you find out.
The quickest fix is WebP. The same 512×512 cut-out is several times smaller as WebP than as PNG, and the Gifsy sticker maker re-encodes its WebP at a lower quality step by step if the first try is over the limit.
Telegram sticker format: PNG vs WebP
| PNG | WebP | |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency | Yes, lossless | Yes |
| Typical size at 512×512 | Larger; a detailed photo cut-out can pass 512 KB | Several times smaller |
| Quality | Exact pixels | Lossy at a quality you choose; the Gifsy sticker maker starts at 0.92 and only steps down if the cap is hit |
| Use it for | The untouched cut-out; Discord, Signal, iMessage images | Uploading to @Stickers |
Why the bot rejects your file
- Sent as a photo. Telegram recompresses photos to JPEG and drops the transparency. Attach → File.
- Over 512 KB. Convert to WebP, or lower the PNG's detail.
- Not transparent. A JPG, or a PNG with an opaque background. Cut the background out first.
- Wrong dimensions. Neither side is 512, or a side exceeds 512.
- “Exactly 100×100”. You started an emoji pack with
/newemojipack. Use/newpack.
Resize any image to 512×512 for Telegram
Drop the photo on the 512×512 sticker maker. It does more than resize: it removes the background with an AI model in your browser, adds the white outline and shadow, and exports a 512×512 WebP re-encoded to stay under 512 KB, plus a PNG. Nothing is uploaded. The pack itself is then built with the @Stickers bot — the whole flow is in how to make Telegram stickers from a photo without an app.
FAQ
Does a Telegram sticker have to be exactly 512×512?
One side must be exactly 512 px; the other can be 512 or less. A square 512×512 is the safe default and what the Gifsy sticker maker exports, but a 512×380 landscape sticker is valid.
Is WebP or PNG better for Telegram stickers?
WebP for uploading to @Stickers: it is far smaller, so it stays under the 512 KB cap without effort. PNG is lossless and fine when the cut-out is simple, but a detailed photo cut-out as PNG can exceed the cap.
What is the file size limit for a Telegram sticker?
512 KB for a static sticker, enforced by the @Stickers bot when you upload. Animated TGS stickers are capped at 64 KB and video WEBM stickers at 256 KB.
Why does Telegram ask for 100×100 pixels?
100×100 is the size for custom emoji, which you get by starting a pack with /newemojipack. For stickers, start with /newpack and use 512 px.
Do stickers need a transparent background?
They need to be PNG or WebP with an alpha channel; Telegram's guide recommends a transparent background with a white stroke and black shadow so the sticker stands out on any chat theme. An opaque square works technically but looks like a photo, not a sticker.