Picovert

Telegram Image Size Guide: Profile, Stickers, and File Sharing

By Picovert Team2026-03-314 min read

Telegram has two completely different ways to send images — as a photo (compressed) or as a file (original quality). Understanding which mode applies and what sizes Telegram expects for profile photos, stickers, and channel imagery helps you avoid unexpected quality loss and failed uploads.

Telegram Profile Photo

  • Recommended size: 640×640 px. Telegram displays profile photos as circles at various sizes — the main chat list shows them at approximately 54×54 px, but 640×640 ensures sharpness everywhere
  • Maximum file size: 10 MB (Telegram Premium allows larger)
  • Accepted formats: JPEG, PNG
  • Aspect ratio: Square (1:1). Non-square images are cropped — use the Image Cropper to center your subject in a 1:1 frame
  • Tip: Telegram lets you set multiple profile photos that cycle or appear to different contacts — each should be 640×640 px

Sending Photos vs Files (the Most Important Distinction)

Telegram's photo and file modes behave very differently:

  • Photo mode (default when you tap the image icon): Telegram compresses the image to JPEG at approximately 80% quality and scales down images wider than 2560 px. The long side is capped at about 2560 px on Telegram servers. PNG files sent as photos are converted to JPEG, losing transparency
  • File mode (tap paperclip → File): the original file is uploaded completely unchanged — format, resolution, and quality are all preserved. Supports files up to 2 GB per file (4 GB with Telegram Premium)
  • When to use File mode: professional photos, edited images where you control the JPEG quality, PNG files with transparency, or any image you need the recipient to open at full resolution

Telegram Stickers

Telegram has three types of stickers, each with distinct requirements:

  • Static stickers: 512×512 px maximum. WebP format required. Maximum file size: 512 KB. PNG is also accepted but converted to WebP by the app
  • Animated stickers (.TGS): Telegram's own Lottie-based animation format. 512×512 px canvas, maximum 64 KB. Created from After Effects or Lottie-compatible tools — not standard WebP animated
  • Video stickers (.WEBM): WebM video with transparent background (VP9 codec). 512×512 px, maximum 3 seconds, maximum 256 KB. Must loop seamlessly
  • Emoji stickers: same format as regular stickers but displayed at smaller sizes in messages

Telegram Channel and Group Photos

  • Recommended size: 640×640 px (same as profile photo)
  • Display: shown as a circle in channel/group lists and at the top of chat headers
  • Aspect ratio: Square (1:1) — Telegram crops non-square images
  • Maximum file size: 10 MB

Telegram Photo Compression Behavior

When you send an image as a photo (not a file), Telegram applies these compressions:

  • Images wider than approximately 2560 px are scaled down to fit within that limit
  • All photos are re-encoded to JPEG at approximately 80% quality
  • PNG files are converted to JPEG — transparency is lost
  • Photos below 2560 px on the long side pass through compression unchanged in dimensions, but are still re-encoded to JPEG

For photo sharing where quality matters, send files at 1280×960 px or smaller at 85–90% JPEG quality — you control the compression instead of letting Telegram decide. For originals, always use File mode.

Telegram Bot and Mini App Images

  • Bot profile photo: 640×640 px (same as user profile)
  • Inline query thumbnails: 100×100 px for image thumbnails in inline search results
  • Mini App (WebApp) og:image: 1280×720 px (16:9) for the preview image when sharing a Mini App link in chats

Step-by-Step: Prepare Telegram Images

  1. Profile photo: crop to 1:1, then resize to 640×640 px. Keep your subject centered with minimal background
  2. Photos for quality sharing: resize to 1280 px on the long side, then compress at 85–90% JPEG quality before sending. Or use File mode to send the original
  3. Stickers: design at 512×512 px with a transparent background. Export as WebP under 512 KB for static stickers
  4. Channel/group image: crop to 1:1 and resize to 640×640 px — same workflow as profile photos

Telegram Image Quick Reference

  • Profile photo: 640×640 px, 10 MB max, JPEG/PNG (circle crop)
  • Photo (sent as photo): compressed to ~2560 px, ~80% JPEG
  • File (sent as file): original quality, up to 2 GB
  • Static sticker: 512×512 px max, 512 KB max, WebP
  • Animated sticker: 512×512 px, 64 KB max, TGS format
  • Video sticker: 512×512 px, 256 KB max, WebM VP9
  • Channel/group photo: 640×640 px, 10 MB max (circle crop)