Telegram checks every creative before it goes live, so a wrong size or an extra line break sends your ad back to moderation. This guide gathers the Telegram ads sizes you need in one place: text limits, image and video specs, TMA formats and the most common reasons for rejection. Whether you handle campaign management yourself or hand it to a media buyer, the specs below will save you several review cycles.
If you are new to the platform, start with our overview of Telegram monetization, see how monetizing a Telegram channel works for owners, and read the breakdown of ad types available inside Telegram.
This guide was prepared by the AffRoom team. We track ad formats and ad assets across networks every day, and you can compare ad networks for Telegram in our catalog, filtered by format and vertical, so every advertiser can shortlist suitable sources quickly.
Telegram Ads Sizes and Specs in 2026 at a Glance
Understanding Telegram starts with one split: there are two different ad worlds. Official sponsored messages run through Telegram’s Ad Platform and are strict about every character. Ads for Telegram Mini Apps run through third-party networks and use their own formats, which can fit a web app, a game or a store inside the messenger.
| Format | Text | Image | Video | Button |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sponsored message (official) | Up to 160 characters, spaces included | Optional: JPG or PNG, up to 5 MB, 16:9, from 640 px wide | Optional: MP4, up to 20 MB, 3–60 s, 16:9, from 640 px wide | One button with a link |
| Push-style (TMA) | Title up to 30, description up to 60 characters | Icon | – | The whole ad is the button |
| Interstitial banner (TMA) | Short title and description | Full-screen static image | – | CTA button |
| Interstitial video (TMA) | Title and description | – | Full-screen, about 10–20 s | CTA button, closable |
| Embedded banner (TMA) | – | Static banner in a fixed spot | – | The banner is the button |
| Channel ad post (bought from owner) | Caption up to 1,024 characters (4,096 for Premium authors) | JPG or PNG, up to 10 MB | MP4, up to 2 GB | Optional link buttons |

Character Limit and Text Rules for Ads on Telegram
Telegram’s character limit for sponsored messages is 160 characters including spaces. Each ad has one text and one button that opens the advertised link, and Telegram labels it as “Sponsored”. Sponsored messages appear as small cards under the last post in public channels with 1,000+ subscribers. Because this is sponsored content, the copy should read like a short promotional post, not like a news item.
The official Ad Policies and Guidelines also set formatting rules that decide whether the text passes, and they sit on top of the platform’s terms of service:
- No line breaks, bullet points or numbered lists;
- No gimmicky capitalization, spaced-out letters, symbols or ASCII art;
- No intrusive or excessive emojis (a few relevant ones are fine);
- One optional link inside the text (
@link,t.me/link), and it must lead to the same destination as the main URL; - No URL shorteners or IP addresses instead of links.
Tip: editing the text, the link or the media sends a live ad back to review, while bid and budget changes do not. Before launching an ad with a new offer, write it as a template with one promise and one call to action, then reuse that template across variants. To test three headlines, launch three separate ads instead of editing one.
Image Size and Video Specs: What Telegram Accepts
Media is optional in sponsored messages, but it raises the CPM you need to bid: roughly +50–80% for an image and +70–100% for a video. Make sure the image or video converts better than plain text before you pay for it, and track click-through rate on every variant. If you need a refresher on the pricing models, see CPC and CPM cost models.
| Spec | Image | Video |
|---|---|---|
| Formats | JPG, PNG | MP4 |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Minimum width | 640 px | 640 px |
| Max file size | 5 MB | 20 MB |
| Duration | – | 3–60 seconds |
| Practical resolution | 1280 × 720 px | 1280 × 720 px |

Image size and video size work the same way: design for 16:9, keep the text large and keep the key element in the centre, because previews on mobile are small. For video content, put the message in the first three seconds.

If you reuse assets from Facebook ads, crop them to 16:9 first, and for Instagram, Facebook and TikTok sizes in the same workflow, use our social media image sizes guide.
Telegram Mini Apps Ad Sizes and Formats
In-app ads for TMAs do not use the same sizes as channel ads. They run through networks such as RichAds, and each format has its own elements and limits. Some networks also offer a rewarded ad or rewarded interstitial through an SDK, with server-side event tracking.
| Format | What the creative contains | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Push-style | Icon, title (up to 30 characters), description (up to 60 characters); the whole ad is clickable | Fast, high-CTR promos |
| Interstitial banner | Full-screen static image, short title, description, optional brand text and button | Launches and exclusive offers |
| Interstitial video | Full-screen video of about 10–20 seconds with title, description and a closable CTA button | Games and e-commerce |
| Embedded banner | Static banner fixed inside the app interface | Long-term, evergreen campaigns |
Pixel dimensions for these ads are set by each network, so check the dashboard in your cabinet before exporting. RichAds states that the interstitial banner fits any resolution, so test one vertical and one square version. Pricing and where to launch are covered in where to buy placements on Telegram, and real results are in our RichAds case study with Telegram traffic.
Post Sizes for a Telegram Channel in 2026
A channel ad post is a regular post, so Telegram limits apply instead of ad limits. If you buy a placement from the owner, check the channel’s average post views and audience size first:
- Message text: up to 4,096 characters;
- Caption under a photo or video: up to 1,024 characters (2,048 for Premium, per spec trackers);
- Photo: JPG or PNG, up to 10 MB; Telegram compresses it, so send it as a file if quality matters;
- Video: MP4 and similar formats, up to 2 GB;
- Recommended image sizes: 1080 × 1080 px (square), 1080 × 1350 px (vertical), 1080 × 566 px (landscape); video thumbnail 1280 × 720 px.
Price, post length and button links are agreed with the channel owner, so ask for the exact format before you pay. Pick a Telegram group or channel that fits your offer: find channels with relevant topics, check their user base, and ask for referral links so you can see which placement brings relevant users.
Why Telegram Ad Creatives Get Rejected
Most rejections come from the text and the destination, not from the file size.
| Reason | Example | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Formatting | Line breaks, lists, CAPS, symbol art | One plain sentence or two, normal capitalization |
| Wrong links | Shortened URL, two links in the text | One link, same destination as the button |
| Misleading claims | “You just won”, “best company”, shock or scare tactics | Neutral, verifiable wording; see our clickbait ads examples for what to avoid |
| Weak destination | Empty channel, unresponsive chat, site that redirects | A working, active page that matches the ad text |
| Language mismatch | English ad in a channel of another language | Match the language of the channel, ad and destination |
| Prohibited category | Real-money gambling, betting, loans, supplements, adult content | Use another traffic source (see below) |
The official guidelines prohibit real-money gambling, betting, predatory loans, unverified health products and adult content. Gambling, Betting, Nutra and Finance ads are moderated especially strictly, and review can take several days. If your vertical is on that list, plan for TMA networks or direct channel posts instead of the official platform.
Pre-Launch Optimization Checklist: Drive Traffic Without Rejections
- Text is 160 characters or fewer, with no line breaks or lists;
- One link, matching the button destination;
- Image or video is 16:9, within the file limits;
- Destination channel is active with a profile image and description, and the bot automatically replies to /start;
- Language of the ad, channel and destination is the same;
- Vertical is allowed on the platform you chose.
Telegram-Native Funnel vs App Store Funnel: How Ad Formats Fit
This funnel is shorter than a classic app store funnel. The user taps an ad, lands in a TMA or a chat flow inside the messenger and pays through in-app payments or Telegram Stars, with no store redirect and no install. That is why web3 projects, games and sellers of digital goods lean on Telegram, and why formats matter: every extra touchpoint between the first user taps and the first action costs you conversions.
Analytics, Conversion Rate and Acquisition Cost
Specs only matter if the numbers work. Use analytics to track CTR, conversion rate and acquisition cost for every variant. The most important metric depends on your goal: cost per subscriber for a channel, cost per install for an app or cost per sale for a shop.
Telegram Bots, Subscribers and Paid Subscriptions
Many advertisers drive traffic to Telegram bots that qualify the lead, then bring users to a Telegram channel or another offer. The flow can collect an email, hand out exclusive content or sell a paid subscription, so the funnel stays inside the app after the click.
Payout Terms and Monetization for Publishers
If you monetize your own TMA instead of buying traffic, compare the prices listed in each network’s cabinet and the payout schedule before you integrate. On the buy side, an effective Telegram content strategy means the ad, the chat flow and the channel say the same thing, so users who arrive via Telegram see a consistent offer.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
What size should an image be for sponsored messages?
Use a 16:9 image, at least 640 px wide, in JPG or PNG up to 5 MB. A 1280 × 720 px file is a safe working size.
What is the character limit for sponsored messages?
Official sponsored messages allow up to 160 characters including spaces, plus one button. Line breaks and lists are not allowed. Channel posts bought from owners follow regular Telegram limits instead: 1,024 characters for captions.
What video size and length do sponsored messages support?
MP4 up to 20 MB, 3–60 seconds, 16:9 and at least 640 px wide. TMA interstitial video ads usually run about 10–20 seconds and can be closed after a few seconds.
Which file formats does Telegram Ads accept?
JPG and PNG for images, MP4 for video. GIF and other formats are not part of the official sponsored message specs.
Do Mini App ads use the same sizes as channel ads?
No. These ads are sold by third-party networks and come as push-style, interstitial banner, interstitial video and embedded banner formats, each with its own text limits and asset requirements. Check the network’s cabinet for exact dimensions.
Why was my ad rejected?
The usual causes are broken formatting, shortened or multiple links, misleading claims, an empty or non-working destination, a language mismatch or a prohibited category such as gambling. Fix the issue and resubmit; any edit to text, link or media triggers a new review.
Conclusion: Sizes and Specs for 2026
The specs are simple once you separate the formats: 160 characters and one button for official sponsored messages, optional 16:9 media with a CPM premium, network-specific formats in TMAs, and regular post limits in channels. Check the text rules first, because that is where most ads fail review.
Ready to find a traffic source for your next campaign? On AffRoom you can compare ad networks by format and vertical, read honest reviews and grab exclusive promo codes for your first campaigns.






