Chat Stickers

WhatsApp Sticker Size: 512×512, 100 KB, PNG or WebP

Check the 512×512 canvas, 100 KB static-file cap, PNG and WebP choices, and the separate steps needed to import a sticker into WhatsApp.

Updated 2026-09-0610 min readBy StickerBeam product team

Example digital sticker PNG from the Photo to Sticker workflow.

WhatsApp sticker requirements

Quick answer

Use a 512×512 square file and keep a static sticker at or below 100 KB. PNG preserves a flexible transparent source; WebP is the compact, import-oriented export. StickerBeam prepares the file, while WhatsApp import remains a separate step.

Canvas: 512×512 px
Static file cap: 100 KB maximum
Formats: PNG or WebP
Import: Completed separately in WhatsApp

Source: WhatsApp Help Center (checked September 2, 2026). Platform rules can change, so verify the current requirements before publishing a sticker pack.

This workflow is for people who already have a photo and want a reusable transparent sticker file without opening a heavy design suite or sending the photo to a generation service.

Many people make photo stickers because they want to use them in chat apps. The file you download is only one part of that workflow. The chat app or sticker app still controls how stickers are imported, grouped, and displayed.

Browser-local workflow demo

What the WhatsApp WebP QA verified

This demo was exported again in the current browser editor on September 6, 2026. It uses automatic background removal and a white outline, with no erase or restore brush corrections. It is a demonstration, not a promise that every photo will produce the same edge quality.

Tested 2026-09-06

Cat source photo used to illustrate a chat sticker workflow — Representative source: a pet photo with fur, indoor clutter, and soft edge detail.

Transparent cat sticker result before platform-specific WebP export — Transparent PNG exported with the white outline control at 12, subject scale at 100%, and centered position. No manual brush corrections were made; inspect fine edges before reusing the image.

What we verified

The background-removal model and editor run in the browser; the source photo is not sent to an image-generation API.
This example was exported without manual brush corrections. Erase and Restore remain available when your own cutout needs adjustment.
Transparent PNG, 512×512 PNG, and WhatsApp-oriented WebP are generated on the device without a watermark.

Limits to keep in mind

• The public cat images illustrate the source/result workflow; the numeric adapter checks come from the dedicated engineering fixture.
• StickerBeam does not import the file into WhatsApp or publish a sticker pack.
• Platform requirements can change, so users should still verify the current import workflow in the app they use.

Free browser editor

Make your sticker in this browser

Choose one photo, refine the sticker result, and download the finished file free.

Digital sticker files only. No physical stickers are printed or shipped.

Open the free editor

Why the export uses a 512×512 canvas

Chat stickers are displayed small and commonly use a square canvas. The StickerBeam WhatsApp adapter creates a 512×512 WebP so the file has predictable dimensions while preserving the subject's aspect ratio inside the square.

The adapter keeps safe padding around the subject instead of stretching the image to fill every pixel. It also adds a white edge treatment to help the sticker remain readable on both light and dark chat backgrounds.

Transparent background is important

A chat sticker usually needs transparency so it does not appear as a square photo tile. The WebP adapter preserves an alpha channel and places the sticker result on a transparent square canvas rather than flattening it onto white.

Before importing the image, inspect either the clean PNG or the WebP on a contrasting background. Transparency does not repair missing hair, fur, fingers, product corners, or other details that were already weak in the preview.

How the adapter stays under 100KB

Your browser tries several WebP quality settings and checks the encoded file size against the 100KB cap. If WebP encoding is unavailable, fails, or cannot meet that cap, the editor downloads a 512×512 PNG instead and explains the change. Check the downloaded format before importing it: this PNG fallback is not guaranteed to meet WhatsApp's 100KB limit.

The size cap applies to the generated WhatsApp WebP variant, not to the clean source PNG. A complex subject with soft edges or many semi-transparent pixels may need more compression than a simple object. That is why file size and visual quality are both tested rather than assuming that a `.webp` extension alone is enough.

Target canvas: 512×512 pixels.
Target format: transparent WebP.
Target file-size cap: 100KB.

Platform rules can change

WhatsApp, Telegram, iMessage, Discord, and third-party sticker apps can each have different import rules. Some need a sticker pack app. Some compress images. Some accept PNG directly. Some require additional metadata, tray artwork, or a separate publishing step.

StickerBeam creates downloadable PNG and WebP assets. It does not connect to a WhatsApp account, call an official WhatsApp API, create or publish a sticker pack, or complete the platform-specific import steps for you.

Keep the source file

If the sticker looks too small in chat, try a source photo where the subject fills more of the frame before generating another result.

Keep Reading

Related sticker guides

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File Format

Transparent PNG Stickers Explained

Why transparent PNG is the most useful output format for digital stickers, and what to check before using the file elsewhere.

Workflow

How to Turn a Photo into a Sticker PNG

A practical walkthrough for turning one everyday photo into a clean digital sticker PNG without treating the site like a heavy design app.

Product Scope

Digital Stickers vs Printed Stickers

A clear explanation of what Photo to Sticker provides, what it does not provide, and when you need a separate print service.

Verify the asset before beginning a WhatsApp import

Separate source, square layout, and compact delivery file

Keep three concepts separate. The original photo preserves all available source detail. The transparent PNG is the reusable cutout master. The 512 by 512 PNG or WhatsApp-oriented WebP is a destination copy with the subject placed on a square transparent canvas. Keeping the master prevents one compressed chat export from becoming the only version you can edit later.

The square canvas does not stretch a tall person or wide object to fill every pixel. Subject scale and x or y position determine the placement while preserving proportions. Leave space for the outline and inspect the result at chat size, where a tiny subject or dense fine detail may become difficult to read.

Confirm what the browser downloaded

Open the downloaded asset and check its dimensions, extension, transparency, and visible subject size. WebP encoding depends on browser capability and image complexity. When the browser cannot create the intended WebP or the export cannot meet its target, StickerBeam may provide a 512 by 512 PNG fallback with an explanation. A PNG fallback should be treated as a different file, not renamed to WebP or assumed to meet the same file-size limit.

Complex fur, soft edges, and many semi-transparent pixels can require more data than a simple solid object. Compression may soften those details even when the cutout master looks good. Compare the compact file with the transparent PNG and decide whether the small chat result remains recognizable.

Use the current import path on your device

StickerBeam creates the image asset but does not add it to WhatsApp. Complete the import through the current WhatsApp feature or a compatible third-party sticker app available for your device. That workflow may ask for multiple stickers, pack metadata, a tray icon, naming, or another publishing step. Requirements can change with the app and operating system, so follow the importer you actually use.

If import fails, compare the downloaded file with the importer's current requirements one field at a time: format, pixel dimensions, file size, alpha support, and any pack-level assets. Regenerating the same cutout will not fix a missing pack name or unsupported extension. StickerBeam does not connect accounts, create packs, or guarantee acceptance by an outside app.

Recover without losing the clean result

Save the transparent PNG before troubleshooting an import. If another app recompresses the WebP, adds a solid background, or rejects the file, the master lets you create a new copy without repeating edge cleanup. Keep the original photo too, especially if later pack artwork needs a different crop or border.

The browser editor has no account history, so export before refreshing or closing the tab. If local processing fails, verify that the single JPEG, PNG, WebP, or AVIF input is at most 25 MB, close demanding tabs, and try a smaller copy when memory is limited. If the source itself is blurred or missing an essential feature, switch photos rather than expecting the platform export to repair it.

Check the sticker once inside the chosen importer before preparing many more images. The app may display different padding, add its own preview background, or compress files further. A single trial reveals whether you should adjust subject scale, outline width, or source detail for the remaining items, even though StickerBeam itself still edits one image at a time.

Keep platform rules and creative quality as separate checks. A file may meet the required dimensions and still be hard to recognize, or look excellent while failing an importer's size or pack requirement. Verify the visual result in StickerBeam, then verify the technical and pack rules in the destination workflow.

If a third-party app asks for broad account or photo-library access, decide whether that permission fits your needs and review its current terms. StickerBeam's browser-local processing does not extend to another service after you choose to upload the exported file there.

Inspect the cutout master first.
Verify the 512-square file and its actual extension.
Complete pack and account steps outside StickerBeam.
Keep the transparent PNG for future exports and recovery.