Telegram Sticker Size Requirements & Technical Specs

Understanding Telegram sticker size requirements is critical for creating stickers that the @Stickers bot will accept. Get the dimensions wrong, and your hours of design work get rejected instantly. This technical guide covers the exact telegram sticker size specifications, file format options, and optimization techniques you need to know.

Whether you're creating your first sticker pack or troubleshooting rejections, this reference will answer every question about telegram sticker dimensions, file sizes, and format compatibility.

Exact Telegram Sticker Dimensions

The telegram sticker size requirement is strict: at least one side must be exactly 512 pixels. The @Stickers bot validates this automatically and will reject any image that doesn't meet this specification.

Here are the acceptable dimension patterns:

Key Rule: The longest side must be exactly 512 pixels. The shorter side can be anything from 1px to 512px, as long as the file stays under 512 KB. However, square 512×512px is strongly recommended because it displays consistently across all Telegram clients and chat contexts.

PNG vs WebP: Which Format to Use?

Telegram accepts two image formats for stickers: PNG and WebP. Both support transparency, but they have different strengths and trade-offs.

Recommendation: Start with PNG. It's easier to work with, has better tool support, and Telegram's 512 KB limit is generous enough for most PNG stickers. Only switch to WebP if you're hitting file size limits with complex, high-detail designs.

File Size Optimization

The telegram sticker size limit is 512 KB per sticker. This is usually plenty of space, but complex images with gradients, detailed backgrounds, or many colors can exceed this limit. Here's how to optimize:

PNG Compression Techniques

1. Use PNG-8 instead of PNG-24
   If your sticker has 256 colors or fewer, PNG-8 format can reduce file size by 70-80% with zero visible quality loss. Most stickers (especially cartoon styles) work perfectly with PNG-8.
2. Apply lossless compression
   Tools like TinyPNG, ImageOptim, or pngquant can shrink PNG files by 50-70% without changing a single pixel. These tools optimize the PNG encoding, not the image itself.
3. Reduce color palette
   Photoshop and GIMP let you reduce color count while maintaining quality. Dropping from 16 million colors to 256 colors is usually invisible but saves massive file space.
4. Flatten transparency layers
   Some editors create complex alpha channels. Flatten to a simple transparent/opaque mask to reduce file complexity.

When to Resize Instead of Compress

If your 512×512px sticker still exceeds 512 KB after compression, consider creating a rectangular sticker instead:

• Change to 512 × 384 px (25% smaller file)
• Or 384 × 512 px for vertical subjects
• Still meets the "one side must be 512px" rule
• Displays well in chats with minimal distortion

Transparency Requirements

All Telegram stickers must have transparent backgrounds. This is non-negotiable—the @Stickers bot will reject stickers with white, black, or colored backgrounds.

Technical requirements for transparency:

• Alpha channel required: Save your PNG with RGBA color mode (not RGB)
• Full transparency: Background pixels must have alpha = 0 (completely transparent)
• No semi-transparency halos: Avoid fuzzy edges with partial transparency unless intentional
• Clean edges: No white or colored outlines from poor background removal

How to Check Transparency

Before uploading to @Stickers bot, verify your transparency:

1. Open the PNG in an image editor with checkered transparency preview
2. Look for gray/white checkerboard pattern behind your subject
3. Zoom in to check edges for color halos or artifacts
4. Test on both light and dark backgrounds to spot issues

Aspect Ratio and Composition

While Telegram technically allows any aspect ratio (as long as one side is 512px), the 1:1 square ratio is best practice for several reasons:

• Consistent display size: Square stickers appear at the same size regardless of chat layout
• Mobile optimization: Square format works on all screen sizes without distortion
• Grid alignment: Sticker picker displays squares in clean grids
• Emoji comparison: Standard emojis are square, so 1:1 stickers match visually

When to use rectangular stickers:

• Text-heavy stickers that need horizontal space (like "Happy Birthday" banners)
• Full-body character portraits that are naturally vertical
• Wide scene compositions (landscapes, group shots)
• File size optimization (rectangular = smaller files)

Quick Reference Checklist

Before uploading to @Stickers bot, verify your sticker meets all these telegram sticker size requirements:

Common Size-Related Rejections

If the @Stickers bot rejects your sticker, 90% of the time it's a telegram sticker size issue. Here are the most common problems and how to fix them:

Conclusion

Telegram sticker size requirements are strict but simple once you understand them: 512 pixels on at least one side, PNG format, under 512 KB, with transparent background. Following these specifications ensures your stickers are accepted by the @Stickers bot on the first try.

The square 512×512px format is the safest choice for beginners and delivers the most consistent results across all Telegram clients. As you get more advanced, you can experiment with rectangular dimensions, WebP compression, and file size optimization to create larger, more detailed sticker packs.

Remember: getting the technical specs right is just the foundation. Great stickers also need strong visual design, clear composition, and emotional expressiveness. But without the correct telegram sticker dimensions, even the best designs won't make it past the upload screen.