Guide · Updated October 31, 2026

Twitch Emote Size Requirements

Twitch emotes must be square PNG or GIF files at 112×112, 56×56 and 28×28 pixels, each under 1 MB. You can upload all three sizes yourself, or one large square image and let Twitch scale it down. Sub badges use 72, 36 and 18 pixels and must stay under 25 KB.

All Twitch image sizes at a glance

These are the numbers Twitch asks for when you upload each asset in the Creator Dashboard. Everything except the banner, offline screen and panels must be square.

AssetSize (px)FormatMax file size
Emote112, 56, 28 (square)PNG or GIF1 MB
Animated emote112, 56, 28 (square)GIF1 MB
Sub / loyalty badge72, 36, 18 (square)PNG25 KB
Bit badge72, 36, 18 (square)PNG25 KB
Channel points icon112, 56, 28 (square)PNGNot listed
Profile pictureat least 256×256JPG, PNG or GIF10 MB
Profile banner1200×480 recommendedJPG, PNG or GIF10 MB
Offline screen1920×1080JPG, PNG or GIF10 MB
Panel image320 wideJPG, PNG or GIFNot listed

Twitch emote size

A Twitch emote is one image in three square sizes: 112×112, 56×56 and 28×28 pixels. Twitch picks the right one for the viewer's screen, so all three should look like the same emote. Use a transparent background so the emote sits cleanly on both dark and light chat themes.

SizeWhere viewers see it
28×28Chat on standard screens. This is the size most viewers actually see.
56×56Chat on high-density (retina) screens and zoomed-in browsers.
112×112Very sharp screens and larger previews.

Simple upload vs advanced upload

Simple upload takes one square image and Twitch generates the three sizes. It is the fastest route, but the scaling is plain: thin lines and small details tend to go soft at 28 px. Advanced upload lets you supply 112, 56 and 28 px files yourself, which is how you keep the small size crisp.

If your artwork is already finished, the free Twitch emote resizer makes all three sizes in your browser with light sharpening, keeps the transparency and prints the file size under each one, so you can see it is under 1 MB before you upload. Nothing leaves your device.

Animated emotes

Animated emotes use the same three square sizes, 112, 56 and 28 pixels, but must be GIF files, still under 1 MB each. Keep the motion simple and the loop short: a bounce, a shake or a blink reads far better in a busy chat than a detailed scene.

Twitch can also turn a static emote into an animated one with built-in animation templates such as shake and spin. That is the easiest option if you only have a PNG. Keep the 1 MB limit in mind for custom GIFs, since every extra frame adds weight.

Sub badges and bit badges

Subscriber (loyalty) badges are 72×72, 36×36 and 18×18 pixels, PNG only, and each file has to be under 25 KB. That file limit is much tighter than for emotes, so flat colours and simple shapes help.

BadgeSizes (px)FormatMax file size
Subscriber / loyalty badge72, 36, 18PNG25 KB
Bit badge72, 36, 18PNG25 KB

The 18 px badge sits next to the viewer's name in chat, so it needs one bold shape: a crown, a paw, a number. Use the free Twitch badge resizer to cut an image to 72, 36 and 18 px, or design a matching set with the sub badge maker.

Channel points icons

Custom channel points icons and reward icons use the emote sizes: 112×112, 56×56 and 28×28 pixels, PNG with a transparent background. The same design rules apply, because the icon shows up next to the points balance at a very small size.

Profile picture, banner, offline screen and panels

The profile picture needs at least 256×256 px, the banner 1200×480 px, the offline screen 1920×1080 px, and panels 320 px wide. Of these four, only the profile picture is square.

AssetSizeMax file sizeTip
Profile pictureat least 256×256 px10 MBShown as a circle, so keep the face centred.
Profile banner1200×480 px recommended10 MBKeep text in the middle; the edges get cropped.
Offline screen1920×1080 px10 MBShown in the video player when you are offline.
Panels320 px wideNot listedHeight is up to you; keep a set the same height.

Need a banner that matches your emotes? The Twitch banner maker draws one at 1200×480 in the same style.

Why is my emote blurry?

A blurry emote is almost always a design that has too much detail for 28 pixels, or a big image that was scaled down in one step. Twitch's simple upload does exactly that. These fixes help most:

  • Thicker outlines. A dark outline of 3–4 px at 112 px keeps the shape readable when it shrinks to a quarter of that.
  • Crop to the head or upper body. A full-body character becomes a smudge at 28 px. Faces carry the emotion.
  • Cut small text. One short word like "GG" or "HI" can work. Anything longer will not.
  • Fill the canvas. Leave only a few pixels of empty space around the character, not a wide margin.
  • Resize each size separately. Make the 56 and 28 px versions from the original, with light sharpening, instead of letting Twitch do it.
  • Check both chat themes. White or very light characters vanish on light mode without an outline.

Our 28 px readability test

On October 31, 2026 we generated a batch of test emotes with the AI pipeline behind Twitch Emote Maker: six styles from text prompts, plus emotes from selfies and a pet photo. We viewed every one at 112, 56 and 28 px on both a dark and a light chat background.

  • Emotes with thick outlines, a big head and a centred subject stayed recognisable at 28 px in every style we tried.
  • A full-body character (a pixel knight) and an emote with small text (a bear holding a "GG" sign) did not read at 28 px.
  • A white character (a ghost) only stood out on the light background because of its outline.

That is why our generator frames emotes as heads or half-bodies by default and asks for bold outlines. It is also why every result is shown in a dark and a light mock chat at 28 px before you download. Below, a Cute style frog and a Bold Lines style frog are shown at 112, 56 and 28 px, their real sizes.

Cute style frog emote at 112 pxCute style frog emote at 56 pxCute style frog emote at 28 px
Cute style frog at 112, 56 and 28 px. AI-generated with Twitch Emote Maker.
Bold Lines style frog emote at 112 pxBold Lines style frog emote at 56 pxBold Lines style frog emote at 28 px
Bold Lines style frog at 112, 56 and 28 px. AI-generated with Twitch Emote Maker.

Get your emotes to the right size

Resize an existing emote for free, or make a new one with AI that is drawn to read at 28 px. Your first emote is free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size should Twitch emotes be?

Twitch emotes should be square images at 112×112, 56×56 and 28×28 pixels. They must be PNG or GIF files and each file must be under 1 MB. You can also upload one large square image and let Twitch create the smaller sizes.

Can I upload just one image for a Twitch emote, or do I need 3 sizes?

Yes. Simple upload takes one square PNG or GIF and Twitch scales it to all three sizes. It is quicker, but Twitch does not sharpen the small versions, so fine details can blur at 28 px. Advanced upload lets you supply each size yourself.

What size should Twitch sub badges be?

Subscriber badges are 72×72, 36×36 and 18×18 pixels, PNG, and each file must be under 25 KB. Bit badges use the same sizes and limits.

Why does my emote look blurry in chat?

Usually because a large image was scaled straight down to 28 px, or because the design has thin lines, small text or a full-body character. Use thick outlines, a big head and few details, and resize each size separately with light sharpening.

What size is a Twitch banner?

Twitch recommends 1200×480 pixels for the profile banner, with a 10 MB file limit. Keep text and faces near the centre because the banner is cropped differently on different screens.