# Which files work, and size limits

> The file types a Chirp can read, how each is read, and how big files and Chirps can be.

Source: https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/knowledge/file-types  
Plans: Essentials, Creator, Business, Academy  
Last checked: 2026-10-27

When you're done, you know which files to give your Chirp and how big they can be.

**Who this is for:** anyone adding knowledge files to a Chirp.

![The drop zone, listing the accepted files (PDF, Word, Excel, TXT, Markdown, CSV, TSV, JSON, HTML, XML, YAML), up to 20 files and the largest size each.](https://mjmtbasmrtksluvlnema.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/help-media/web-optimized/knowledge/file-types/SS-KNOW-015-01__file-types__essentials__detail__v01.webp?v=6f34679080)

## Files that work

| File | How it's read |
|---|---|
| PDF (.pdf) | The text, page by page, so answers can mention the page. Scanned PDFs (pictures of pages) have no text and are turned away, and so are PDFs with a password. |
| Word (.docx) | The text. Pictures are left out. |
| Excel (.xlsx) | Each sheet in turn. When every cell of the first row holds a heading (text, not a number), each row is read with them, like "Price: 12; Size: large". Otherwise cells are read one after another. |
| Text (.txt), Markdown (.md) | As written. |
| CSV (.csv), TSV (.tsv) | As written, row by row. A passage from the middle of the file doesn't carry the column headings, so an Excel file with headings often answers better. |
| JSON, XML, YAML (.json, .xml, .yaml, .yml) | As written. |
| Web pages (.html, .htm) | The text, without scripts and styles. |

**Not accepted:** older Word and Excel files (.doc, .xls), PowerPoint, .rtf, and pictures. Save them as
PDF, .docx or .xlsx first. A PDF with some scanned pages is accepted, but those pages add no text.

## How big

- **Per file:** the drop zone shows your plan's limit, such as "25 MB each", measured on the file you
  upload. To start with: Essentials 25 MB, Creator 50 MB, Academy 50 MB, Business 100 MB.
- **Per Chirp:** up to 20 files.
- **In total:** your account's knowledge storage: see
  [Knowledge storage and your plan's limit](https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/knowledge/storage).
- **Very long text:** a file with more text than a Chirp can use is turned away with "This file has more
  text than a Chirp can use. Split it into smaller files."

Your plan's current limits are also on the **Pricing** page.

## Tips for files that answer well

- One topic per file, with clear headings, works better than one huge file.
- Use the words your visitors use. A Chirp with lots of text searches its files by words: see
  [How a Chirp uses its files](https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/knowledge/knowledge-mode).
- Text beats pictures of text. A screenshot of a price list inside a Word file isn't read.