vidstickerTwitch emote size: dimensions, file limits and formats
Twitch keeps every emote in three sizes: 28, 56 and 112 pixels. You don't have to make them yourself: one square file from 112×112 to 4096×4096 under 1 MB is enough, and Twitch scales it down. If you want control over each size, you can upload all three by hand, and then the file limits are much tighter.
Limits at a glance
| Static emote | Animated emote | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | PNG | GIF |
| Auto-resize (the default) | one file, 112×112 to 4096×4096 | one GIF, 112×112 to 4096×4096 |
| File size with Auto-resize | under 1 MB | up to 1 MB |
| Manual mode | three files: 28×28, 56×56, 112×112 | three GIFs: 28×28, 56×56, 112×112 |
| File size in manual mode | under 100 KB each | up to 512 KB each |
| Frames | — | up to 60 |
| Flashing | — | no more than 3 flashes or flickers a second |
| Still image | — | the first frame, or your own static image |
Either way, the image must be square, and Twitch asks for a fully transparent background. The emote's full code is your channel prefix plus the name you give it, for example prefixGG.
Auto-resize or manual mode?
Auto-resize is the right choice almost every time. Manual mode is for artists who redraw the 28-pixel version by hand, because thin lines blur when a big picture is simply scaled down. All three files must show the same image, and an animated emote won't go live if one of the GIFs is missing.
What size to make it
112×112 is enough: it's the largest size Twitch keeps, so a bigger file adds nothing for viewers. Draw larger only if your drawing app needs it. What matters is how the emote looks at 28 pixels, the size Twitch's own guide tells you to design for. Crop tight around the face, keep shapes big and limit any text to one short word.
How to fit an animated emote into 1 MB and 60 frames
60 frames are 3 seconds at 20 frames per second, or 2 seconds at 30. The weight depends mostly on the size of the GIF. We measured 3-second clips at 20 frames per second, with the background left in:
| GIF size | Person talking | Busy scene, moving camera |
|---|---|---|
| 112×112 | about 400 KB | about 800 KB |
| 224×224 | 1.5 MB | 2.8 MB |
| 512×512 | 7 MB | 13 MB |
So Twitch's 4096×4096 ceiling doesn't help with video: at 224×224 a clip is already over the limit, so make the GIF 112×112. If it's still too heavy, or over 512 KB in manual mode, here's what helps, from most to least effective:
- Remove the background. Transparent areas compress to almost nothing.
- Shorten the clip. 1–2 seconds instead of 3 leave room for smoother motion.
- Lower the frame rate. At emote size, 10–15 frames per second still look fine.
- Use fewer colors. A GIF has up to 256 colors per frame; a simple emote needs far fewer.
Our Twitch page does this for you: upload a clip, a video, a GIF or a photo, and you get a square 112×112 GIF under 1 MB and 60 frames, plus a static PNG of the same size. It lowers the frame rate and colors only as much as the file needs. These files are made for Auto-resize; for manual mode, you'd still need the 28 and 56 px versions.
Why an emote gets rejected
- At upload: the image isn't square, the file is too heavy, a GIF has more than 60 frames, or the format is wrong: PNG for static, GIF for animated.
- At review: the emote breaks Twitch's rules, or the animation flashes more than 3 times a second. Twitch emails you the general reason; you can change the emote and submit it again. Twitch's requirements have the details.
While an emote is Pending Approval, viewers can't see it, and the check can take a few days. Partners in good standing and Affiliates who have streamed on 60 different days in the past year skip it: their emotes go live right away.
Kick and 7TV
Both have their own limits, according to their help pages:
| Kick | 7TV | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | PNG or GIF | PNG, APNG, WEBP, WEBM or GIF |
| Size | up to 500×500 | up to 1000×1000, resized automatically |
| File size | under 1 MB | up to 7 MB |
| Frames | not stated | up to 1000 |
| How many | 60 channel emotes, plus 24 for subscribers on Affiliate and Verified channels | no limit on uploads |
FAQ
What size should a Twitch emote be?
A square PNG or GIF from 112×112 to 4096×4096 pixels, under 1 MB. Twitch makes the smaller sizes itself. If you upload by hand, you need 28×28, 56×56 and 112×112.
How do I resize a GIF for Twitch?
Upload it on our Twitch page: it makes the GIF square at 112×112 and compresses it under 1 MB and 60 frames. A tall or wide GIF keeps its proportions, with transparent margins, unless you crop it first.
Can an emote be wider than it is tall?
The image itself can't: Twitch accepts only squares. A wide picture has to be cropped or placed on a transparent square.
Who can upload animated emotes?
Twitch's chart lists Tier 1 animated emotes for all monetized streamers. Affiliates start with 5 animated slots and can unlock up to 20. Partners can earn up to 60 for Tier 1, plus 5 each for Tiers 2 and 3.
Why doesn't my animated emote move?
On Twitch's iPhone app it may not: Twitch's help says animation works throughout the Android app and is still in progress for iOS. Viewers can also turn it off with the Emote Animations setting.
Can I upload an MP4, WEBM or APNG?
Not to Twitch: animated emotes are GIF only. 7TV accepts APNG and WEBM. To use a video on Twitch, convert it first on our page.
Is the converter free?
Yes, with no watermark. Without signing in you can make 5 emotes a day; signing in removes the limit.