Telegram Sticker Pack Creation: Size Requirements & Best Practices

Telegram stickers are larger than Discord or Slack emojis—they're designed to be more expressive and detailed. While Discord emojis display at 32×32 pixels, Telegram stickers are typically 512×512 pixels and can be up to 512KB in file size. This larger canvas allows for more detailed designs and better visibility on mobile devices where Telegram is primarily used.

Sticker packs are collections of related stickers that users can install and use in Telegram conversations. A pack must have at least one sticker and can contain up to 120 stickers. Packs are created through Telegram's @BotFather bot, which handles the creation and management process. Once created, sticker packs can be shared publicly or kept private.

Telegram supports both static and animated stickers. Static stickers use PNG format with transparency. Animated stickers use TGS format (Telegram's custom format based on Lottie animations). The creation process differs slightly between static and animated stickers, but both follow similar size and quality requirements.

Telegram stickers must be exactly 512×512 pixels. This is a strict requirement—not 510×510 or 515×515, but exactly 512×512. Stickers that don't meet this exact dimension will be rejected during upload. Always export your stickers at this exact size. If you're designing at a larger size (1024×1024 or 2048×2048 for detail), scale down to 512×512 for final export.

File size limits are 512KB for static PNG stickers and 64KB for animated TGS stickers. These limits are strict—files exceeding these sizes will be rejected. For static stickers, 512KB is generous enough for detailed designs if you optimize properly. For animated stickers, 64KB is more restrictive and requires careful optimization to fit complex animations.

The 512×512 pixel requirement means your designs need to work at this specific size. Unlike Discord emojis that are tiny, Telegram stickers are large enough to show detail. However, they're still viewed on mobile screens where users might see them at smaller sizes depending on device and zoom level. Design for clarity at 512×512 but ensure they remain readable when scaled down.

Static stickers must be PNG format with transparency. Telegram requires transparent backgrounds—stickers with solid backgrounds won't work properly. The PNG must use RGBA color mode to support transparency. Export with transparency enabled and ensure your design works on both light and dark backgrounds since Telegram supports both themes.

Animated stickers use TGS format, which is Telegram's custom format based on Lottie JSON animations. You can't directly export to TGS from most design tools—you need to create animations in a tool that exports Lottie JSON (like After Effects with the Bodymovin plugin), then convert to TGS using Telegram's converter tools. This process is more complex than creating static stickers.

For static stickers, optimize PNG files to stay under 512KB. Use PNG compression tools to reduce file size while maintaining quality. Remove unnecessary metadata. Consider reducing color palette if your design doesn't need full 24-bit color. Well-optimized PNGs can be detailed and colorful while staying under the size limit.

Start by messaging @BotFather on Telegram. Send /newpack to begin creating a new sticker pack. BotFather will guide you through the process step by step. You'll need to provide a name for your pack, an emoji that represents it, and then upload your sticker files one by one.

BotFather will ask for a short name for your pack (alphanumeric and underscores only, no spaces). This becomes part of the pack's URL. Choose something memorable and descriptive. You'll also provide a title (the display name users see) and can optionally add a link to your website or social media.

Upload stickers one at a time by sending PNG files directly to BotFather. For each sticker, you'll assign an emoji that represents it (this helps users find stickers through emoji search). After uploading all stickers, send /publish to make your pack public, or keep it private for personal use. The process is straightforward but requires uploading each sticker individually, which can be time-consuming for large packs.

Design for mobile viewing. Telegram is primarily a mobile app, so stickers are viewed on phone screens. While 512×512 pixels is large, users see stickers at various sizes depending on their device and zoom level. Ensure your designs are clear and readable even when viewed smaller. Bold shapes, high contrast, and clear expressions work better than fine details that might get lost.

Use transparent backgrounds effectively. Since stickers have transparent backgrounds, they'll appear on various chat backgrounds (light, dark, colorful). Design with this in mind—avoid colors that blend into common backgrounds. Add subtle outlines or shadows if needed to ensure stickers stand out on any background. Test your stickers on both light and dark themes before publishing.

Create cohesive packs with consistent style. A good sticker pack has a unified visual style—same art style, color palette, and design approach across all stickers. This makes the pack feel professional and intentional rather than random. Plan your pack's theme and style before creating individual stickers to ensure consistency.

Consider sticker categories and use cases. Popular Telegram sticker packs cover emotions, reactions, characters, memes, or specific themes. Think about what situations people use stickers for and create a pack that covers those needs. A pack with 20-30 well-chosen stickers often performs better than a pack with 100 random stickers.

Creating animated Telegram stickers is more complex than static stickers. You need to create animations in a tool that exports Lottie JSON format, such as After Effects with the Bodymovin plugin, or use online tools that support Lottie export. The animation is then converted to TGS format using Telegram's converter tools or third-party converters.

TGS files have a strict 64KB size limit, which requires careful optimization. Keep animations simple with limited frames and elements. Complex animations with many moving parts or long durations often exceed the size limit. Focus on short, looping animations that convey emotion or action clearly. Simple animations (2-5 seconds, looping) work best within the constraints.

Test TGS files before uploading. Use Telegram's sticker testing tools or upload to a test pack to verify animations play correctly. TGS format has specific requirements and limitations—not all Lottie animations convert perfectly. Test early and adjust your animation approach if needed to ensure compatibility.

For static PNG stickers, use compression tools to reduce file size while maintaining quality. Tools like TinyPNG, ImageOptim, or Photoshop's "Save for Web" feature can significantly reduce file sizes. Remove unnecessary metadata and color profiles. If your design uses limited colors, consider using indexed color mode instead of full RGB to reduce file size.

Optimize for the 512KB limit without sacrificing visual quality. Well-optimized PNGs can be detailed and colorful while staying under the limit. If you're consistently hitting the limit, simplify designs slightly, reduce color complexity, or use more efficient compression. The goal is the smallest file size that maintains acceptable quality.

For animated TGS stickers, optimization is critical due to the 64KB limit. Reduce frame count, simplify animations, limit colors, and remove unnecessary elements. Use efficient animation techniques—transform and opacity changes are more efficient than complex shape animations. Test file sizes throughout the creation process to ensure you'll stay under the limit.

Telegram stickers are much larger than Discord/Slack emojis. Discord emojis are 32×32 pixels; Telegram stickers are 512×512 pixels—16x larger in each dimension. This allows for more detail and expression but requires different design approaches. Designs that work as tiny emojis might look too simple at sticker size, while detailed sticker designs would be unreadable at emoji size.

Telegram stickers are used differently in conversation. They're sent as full messages rather than inline reactions, and users can send multiple stickers in sequence. This means stickers need to work as standalone communication units, not just decorative additions to text. Design stickers that communicate clearly on their own.

File size limits are different. Discord allows 256KB for static emojis; Telegram allows 512KB for static stickers but only 64KB for animated stickers (much smaller than Discord's animated emoji limits). These differences affect what designs are feasible on each platform.

Upload process is different. Discord and Slack use web interfaces for uploading emojis. Telegram requires using the @BotFather bot and uploading stickers through chat messages. This is less convenient but provides more control over pack organization and metadata.

Plan your pack before creating stickers. Decide on a theme, style, and set of emotions or concepts you want to cover. Create a cohesive collection rather than random individual stickers. A well-planned pack with 20-30 stickers performs better than a disorganized pack with 100 stickers.

Test stickers on both light and dark Telegram themes before publishing. Upload to a test pack, view in actual Telegram conversations, and verify they look good on different backgrounds. Make adjustments if stickers blend into backgrounds or become hard to see. This testing prevents publishing packs that don't work well in real use.

Use descriptive emoji assignments for searchability. When assigning emojis to stickers in BotFather, choose emojis that accurately represent the sticker's meaning. This helps users find your stickers through Telegram's emoji search feature. Good emoji assignments increase sticker usage and pack popularity.

Create a memorable pack name and title. The pack name appears in URLs and should be unique and descriptive. The title is what users see when browsing packs—make it clear what the pack contains. Good naming helps users discover and remember your pack.

Wrong dimensions are the most common rejection reason. Stickers must be exactly 512×512 pixels—not close, but exactly. Always verify dimensions before uploading. Use image editing software to check and correct dimensions if needed. Export settings should explicitly set 512×512 to avoid mistakes.

File size exceeding limits causes rejections. Check file sizes before uploading. If a PNG is over 512KB, optimize it further. If a TGS is over 64KB, simplify the animation. Don't assume your files are under the limit—verify with file properties or compression tools.

Missing transparency on static stickers causes issues. Telegram requires transparent backgrounds. If your PNG has a solid background, remove it before uploading. Test transparency by viewing the file on different colored backgrounds to ensure the background is truly transparent, not white or another color.

Inconsistent pack style makes packs feel unprofessional. If you're creating a pack, maintain consistent art style, color palette, and design approach across all stickers. Random styles mixed together create a disjointed experience. Plan your pack's visual identity before creating individual stickers.

After uploading all stickers to BotFather, use /publish to make your pack public. BotFather will provide a link you can share. Public packs appear in Telegram's sticker search and can be installed by anyone with the link. You can also keep packs private for personal use or share with specific people.

Promote your sticker pack through social media, communities, and Telegram channels. Share the pack link and preview images. Sticker packs spread through word-of-mouth and sharing, so active promotion helps increase installs. Popular packs get featured in Telegram's sticker suggestions, which drives organic growth.

Update packs by adding new stickers. Use BotFather's /addsticker command to add stickers to existing packs. This lets you expand popular packs without creating entirely new packs. Regular updates keep packs fresh and encourage continued usage.