Twitch Panels Guide: Sizes, Ideas and Setup for 2026

Twitch panels are the information blocks on the About section of your channel. They do not appear inside OBS or over gameplay. Their job is different: help a new visitor understand who you are, when you stream and where to find useful links before they leave your page.

A good panel layout is fast to scan. A weak one looks like a long list of buttons with no order. This guide explains what to include, how to upload panels, the current Twitch limits and how to make them match the rest of your stream.

What Twitch panels do for a channel

A panel can contain an image, a clickable image link, a title and a short description. Twitch lets you edit them from the channel page while live, or from the About section while offline. You can also drag panels to reorder them after you create them.

Panels help you do four things:

• Give a new viewer a fast introduction to your channel.
• Make your schedule and community links easy to find.
• Explain support links clearly and respectfully.
• Carry the same visual identity from your stream screens to your channel page.

They are not a substitute for a good bio or a clear stream title. Think of them as supporting information that a viewer checks after deciding that your channel looks interesting.

Twitch panel size and file limits

For straightforward horizontal panels, 320 x 100 pixels is a practical working size and the size used by matching panels in NeonStreamLab collections. It keeps every panel aligned and readable.

Twitch's current editing guidance says panel images should remain under 1 MB and not exceed 320 pixels wide by 600 pixels high, otherwise Twitch resizes them. Its channel-page guidance also notes that image limits can vary by the panel surface, so keeping files light and testing the final appearance is the safest approach. Twitch's panel editor guide is the reference to check if the interface changes.

Use PNG for text-heavy or graphic panels. Keep the file clean, sharp and small. A 320 x 100 panel should not need a heavy file.

The best panels to add first

You do not need to publish every possible panel. Start with six to eight that answer a viewer's main questions.

Panel	What it should answer	Good placement
About Me	Who are you and what do you stream?	First
Schedule	When can viewers catch you live?	Near the top
Discord / Community	Where can regulars join between streams?	Near Schedule
Rules	What kind of community are you building?	Before support links
Socials	Where else can viewers follow you?	Mid-page
Support / Donate	How can someone support the stream?	After trust-building panels
Setup / Specs	What gear or games do you use?	Optional
FAQ	Answers to repeated questions	Optional

The order matters. Put helpful information first, then community links, then support. A new viewer should never see a donation panel before they know what your channel is about.

How to add Twitch panels

1. Open your Twitch channel page. If you are offline, go to the About section.
2. Turn Edit Panels on.
3. Click the + button to add a new panel.
4. Add the image, optional title, image link and short description.
5. Click Submit to save it.
6. Drag the panel into its final position.
7. Turn Edit Panels off and check how the completed layout reads as a visitor.

Twitch allows Markdown in the description field, but not HTML. Keep the text brief. The image and its destination should do most of the work.

Make panels useful, not decorative

A matching set looks professional, but it still needs to be understandable. A viewer should be able to guess what each panel does at a glance.

Use these rules:

• One action per panel. A Discord panel should take the viewer to Discord, not also ask them to follow three other accounts.
• Use clear labels. "Schedule" beats an abstract icon if a new viewer cannot decode it.
• Keep contrast high. Tiny pale text on a detailed background is difficult to read, especially on mobile.
• Repeat the visual language. Keep the same type treatment, border style and colors across the full set.
• Review the links. A beautiful panel leading to an expired invite creates a worse impression than no panel.

How matching panels fit a full overlay system

Panels work best when they are part of a complete stream identity. For example, the Ocean Twitch Overlay Pack includes 24 matching 320 x 100 panels alongside animated screens, alerts, webcam frames, a chatbox, banners and an OBS setup guide.

That does not mean you need to use all 24 panels. Choose the six to eight that reflect how your channel actually operates. The advantage of a full set is consistency: when a visitor moves from an underwater Starting Soon screen to your About page, the colors, framing and mood still make sense together.

The same principle works across any aesthetic. A dark anime channel can use a matching Discord, Rules and Schedule set; a cozy channel can make its About page feel warm and easy to scan. The theme changes, but the information hierarchy stays the same.

A simple panel plan for a new streamer

If you are building a channel from scratch, use this order:

1. About Me - one sentence about the games or format you stream.
2. Schedule - your usual days and time zone.
3. Discord - the community home.
4. Rules - short, friendly expectations.
5. Socials - only platforms you actively use.
6. Support - a clear link, with no pressure.
7. Setup - optional if your audience asks about gear.
8. Credits - optional if you want to credit artists, music or collaborators.

Start there. Add panels only when they solve a real viewer question.

The real 24-panel Ocean set. These are the 320 x 100 PNG panels supplied with the matching overlay pack.

Common Twitch panel mistakes

Using too many different styles

A neon panel, a cartoon donation button and a minimalist schedule card can all be individually nice, but together they make the channel feel unfinished. Pick one visual direction and carry it through.

Putting every link in one panel

A "Links" panel can work, but it is not always the clearest option. Separate Discord and schedule panels help viewers find the right action faster.

Making text too small

Panels are narrow. Large, simple labels outperform long copy. If the image needs a paragraph to make sense, move that context into the description instead.

Forgetting to test the offline page

A lot of visitors find a Twitch channel when it is not live. Check the About section while offline, not only during a stream. This is where your panels often make their first impression.

FAQ

What size should a Twitch panel be?

For a consistent horizontal set, 320 x 100 pixels is a practical design size. Twitch's panel editor says images should be under 1 MB and no larger than 320 pixels wide by 600 pixels high, or they may be resized automatically. Twitch Help

Do Twitch panels go in OBS?

No. Panels appear on your Twitch channel's About section. OBS is where you set up the visual elements that appear in the live video, such as scenes, webcam frames and alerts.

How many Twitch panels should I use?

Six to eight is a strong starting point. Add more only when each panel has a clear purpose and a working link.

Can I add links to Twitch panels?

Yes. Each panel can use an embedded image link, and its description can include Markdown links. Check every destination before publishing.

Should Twitch panels match my stream overlay?

Yes. Matching panels make the channel page feel connected to the screens, alerts and webcam frame viewers see on stream. Browse matching Twitch panel sets or full overlay packs to find a complete visual direction.

Build a channel page that feels intentional

Your Twitch panels are a small part of your presentation, but they help turn a viewer's curiosity into a reason to follow. Make the essential information easy to find, keep the layout consistent and update it when your schedule or links change.

If you are choosing a visual direction first, try the free Starting Soon Screen Maker. Then choose a matching collection when you are ready to carry that look across your stream and channel page.