The limits worth remembering
- Twitch subscriber emotes come in three sizes: 112×112, 56×56 and 28×28.
- Subscriber badges use a different set: 72×72, 36×36 and 18×18, with a hard 25 KB file-size cap.
- Emote file size limit is 1 MB, not 25 KB. The 25 KB figure floating around belongs to badges.
- Twitch's default auto-resize mode lets you upload one square PNG between 112×112 and 4096×4096 and generates the rest for you.
- Judge the design at 28×28 first. That is the size chat actually shows.
Official Twitch asset sizes
Twitch's own help centre documents these sizes. Resizer pages online mix them up, which is how a 25 KB badge limit ends up quoted as an emote limit.
| Asset | Required sizes | Format | File-size cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscriber emote (auto-resize) | One square master, 112×112 to 4096×4096 | PNG, not animated | 1 MB |
| Subscriber emote (manual) | 28×28, 56×56, 112×112 | PNG | 512 KB each |
| Animated emote (auto-resize) | One square GIF, 112×112 to 4096×4096 | GIF, max 60 frames | 1 MB |
| Animated emote (manual) | 28×28, 56×56, 112×112 | GIF, max 60 frames | 512 KB each |
| Subscriber badge | 18×18, 36×36, 72×72 | PNG, transparent | 25 KB |
| Channel flair | 18×18, 36×36, 72×72 | PNG, transparent | 25 KB |
| Channel Points icon | 28×28, 56×56, 112×112 | PNG | 1 MB |
Source: Twitch Help, Animated Emotes and Subscriber Badge Guide. Limits change, so check the linked pages before a big upload.
How to resize a Twitch emote
- Drop your artwork above. A square PNG with a transparent background gives the cleanest result, but any image works.
- Pick the asset you are uploading: Subscriber emote for chat emotes, Subscriber badge for the icon next to a subscriber's name.
- Choose Fit unless you need to crop, then check the 28px strip. That preview is the real test.
- Read the file-size figure under each size. Anything marked Too large will be rejected as-is.
- Hit Download all sizes and upload each file to the matching field in your Creator Dashboard.
Why emotes get rejected
- Wrong dimensions. Twitch needs exact pixels. 111×112 or 113×112 is not 112×112.
- Fine detail, thin strokes and small text all disappear at chat size. Simplify the art, not the resolution.
- Emotes are meant to be transparent PNGs. A white rectangle reads as a sticker in chat.
- Blurry edges come from upscaling. Stretching a small image to 112px produces soft, jaggied pixels, so start from art at 112×112 or larger.
- An animated GIF that is not square, or runs over 60 frames, is a hard upload error rather than a judgement call.
- Cropping each size separately means the emote reads as three different emotes in chat.
Frequently asked questions
What size should a Twitch emote be?
Twitch uses 112×112, 56×56 and 28×28 pixels. With auto-resize, the default, you upload a single square PNG between 112×112 and 4096×4096 and Twitch generates the smaller sizes itself. Manual mode asks you for all three files.
What is the maximum file size for a Twitch emote?
1 MB for auto-resize uploads, and 512 KB per file if you upload the three sizes manually. In practice a well-made 112×112 PNG is a few KB, so this limit is almost never the reason an emote fails.
Is the Twitch emote limit really 25 KB?
No. The 25 KB cap applies to subscriber badges and channel flairs, not emotes. Emote uploads are capped at 1 MB. You will see the 25 KB figure quoted as an emote limit on several resizer pages; it is a mix-up with the badge spec.
What size are Twitch subscriber badges?
Badges use 72×72, 36×36 and 18×18 pixels, uploaded as PNG with a transparent background, and each file must stay under 25 KB. Choose the badge preset above rather than the emote preset.
Can Twitch emotes be animated?
Yes, as GIF, limited to Affiliates and Partners. The file must be square, 60 frames or fewer, and within 1 MB. Because browsers cannot re-encode an animated GIF without a server, this tool audits your GIF and exports still PNG sizes from its first frame.
Should my Twitch emote have a transparent background?
Yes. Twitch renders emotes over its own dark and light chat themes, so a transparent PNG is the only format that looks right in both. The Fit mode here keeps transparency intact; JPEG input loses it, so export PNG.
Does this upload my images anywhere?
No. Every resize happens with the Canvas API inside your browser tab. There is no server call and no file storage, so your artwork stays on your device. That also makes it safe for client work you have not been paid for yet.
Why does my emote look fine at 112px but muddy at 28px?
Because chat renders 28×28, which is the only size most viewers ever see. The 28px strip under each result is a true-pixel preview for exactly this check. Fix it by simplifying the silhouette, thickening strokes and dropping small text, then re-export.