Steam Emoticons & Backgrounds Guide
Last updated: December 2024 • 10 min read
Every badge you craft on Steam rewards you with random emoticons and profile backgrounds from that game. These collectible items can be used to customize your profile, sold on the marketplace, or converted to gems. Understanding how these rewards work helps you decide which badges to craft and how to build a valuable collection.
What You'll Learn
- • How Badge Rewards Work - Drop rates and mechanics
- • Emoticons Explained - Using and collecting emoticons
- • Profile Backgrounds - Types, values, and collecting
- • Marketplace Economics - What sells and what doesn't
- • Collecting Strategies - Building themed collections
- • Getting Specific Items - Targeting particular backgrounds/emoticons
How Badge Rewards Work
When you craft a badge, Steam randomly rewards you with items from that game's pool of emoticons and backgrounds. Understanding the reward system helps set realistic expectations for collecting.
Badge Crafting Reward Structure
Regular Badge (100 XP)
- • Guaranteed: 1 random emoticon from the game
- • Random Chance: 1 random profile background (approximately 30-40% chance)
- • Random Chance: 1 random profile item (rare, ~5-10% chance)
Background drops are NOT guaranteed. You might craft 3 badges and get 0 backgrounds.
Foil Badge (100 XP)
- • Guaranteed: 1 random emoticon (same pool as regular badge)
- • Better Chance: Higher probability of background drop (~50-60%)
- • Bonus: Foil badge looks more impressive on profile
Foil badges cost 8-12x more but give same XP. Only craft for collecting, not leveling.
Badge Levels (Crafting 5x)
- • Each game's badge can be crafted 5 times (Levels 1-5)
- • Each craft gives new random rewards from the same pool
- • Duplicates are common - might get same emoticon multiple times
- • Crafting all 5 levels doesn't guarantee complete collection
Typical Game Collections
Most games have:
- • 6-15 emoticons in their collection
- • 10-20 profile backgrounds (including animated ones)
- • Animated backgrounds are rarer and more valuable
- • Special items: Some games have profile frames, mini-profile backgrounds, etc.
To collect every item from one game, you'd need to craft 20-40+ badges (due to duplicates).
Steam Emoticons Explained
Emoticons are small icons you can use in Steam chat, comments, and discussions. They're similar to emoji but specific to Steam games and themes.
How to Use Emoticons
In Steam Chat:
Click the emoticon button in chat window → Select from your collection → Emoticon appears in message
In Comments/Forums:
Type the emoticon code manually (e.g., :steamhappy:) → Code converts to image when posted
Finding Emoticon Codes:
Inventory → Emoticons tab → Hover over emoticon to see its code name
Emoticon Value & Market
Common Emoticons ($0.03-0.10)
From popular, frequently-crafted badges. Abundant supply keeps prices low. Usually convert to 10-40 gems.
Rare Emoticons ($0.15-0.50)
From less popular games or event badges. Limited supply makes them moderately valuable. Good for selling or keeping.
Event/Limited Emoticons ($1-10+)
From special events like Winter/Summer Sales, Steam Awards. Can't be obtained after event ends. Increase in value over time.
Delisted Game Emoticons ($0.50-5+)
From games removed from Steam. No new badges can be crafted, so supply is fixed. Prices increase as existing copies are converted to gems or kept.
💡 Emoticon Strategy:
- • Common duplicates: Convert to gems (better than $0.03 market sale)
- • Rare/Event emoticons: Keep or sell on market - value may increase
- • Personal favorites: Keep emoticons from games you love for chat use
- • Complete sets: Collecting all emoticons from one game makes a nice display in inventory
Profile Backgrounds Deep Dive
Profile backgrounds are large images that cover your entire Steam profile page. They're the most visible and valuable badge rewards.
Types of Backgrounds
Static Backgrounds
Standard, non-moving images. Most common type of background.
Market Value:
- • Common games: $0.03-0.10
- • Popular/Pretty: $0.15-0.50
- • Limited/Event: $0.50-2.00
- • Rare/Delisted: $1-10+
Animated Backgrounds ⭐
Moving/animated images with subtle motion effects. Much rarer than static backgrounds.
Market Value:
- • Common animated: $0.50-2.00
- • Popular animated: $2-8
- • Event animated: $5-20
- • Rare animated: $10-50+
Animated backgrounds are 5-15x more expensive than static ones from the same game.
Mini Profile Backgrounds
Smaller backgrounds for your mini profile (the popup when hovering over your name). Separate from main profile background.
Generally cheaper than full backgrounds ($0.05-0.30 typically). Less visible so less demand.
What Makes a Background Valuable?
✅ Visual Appeal
Beautiful artwork, vibrant colors, popular characters. Subjective but high-demand backgrounds command premium prices.
✅ Animation
Animated backgrounds are automatically worth 5-10x more. Motion catches attention and shows profile investment.
✅ Scarcity
Limited event backgrounds, delisted games, or games where few badges are crafted. Low supply = higher prices.
✅ Game Popularity
Backgrounds from beloved games (Portal, Half-Life, Dark Souls) sell for more than unknown games even if artwork quality is similar.
❌ Oversupply
Backgrounds from frequently-crafted cheap badges (Team Fortress 2, Free games) have massive supply, keeping prices at minimum ($0.03).
Collecting Strategies
Different collecting goals require different strategies. Here's how to approach building your collection based on your objectives.
Complete Game Sets
Goal: Collect every emoticon and background from your favorite game(s).
- • Craft badges for that game until you get all drops (might take 15-40 crafts)
- • Buy missing items on market (usually cheaper than crafting 20+ badges hoping for drops)
- • Track collection in inventory - check off items as you get them
- • Display complete collections using inventory showcases
Themed Collections
Goal: Build collection around a theme (fantasy, sci-fi, horror, anime style, etc.).
- • Browse market for backgrounds matching your theme
- • Sort by art style rather than game
- • Animated backgrounds make thematic profiles more impressive
- • Match background with complementary profile artwork and showcases
Investment Collecting
Goal: Buy undervalued items that will increase in value over time.
- • Target event badges during the event (prices lowest, will increase after)
- • Buy animated backgrounds from unpopular games ($0.50-1.00 now, might be $3-5 in 2 years)
- • Watch for games getting delisted - backgrounds will appreciate after removal
- • Hold items for 1-3 years before selling for profit
Budget Collecting
Goal: Build large collection without spending much money.
- • Keep all drops from badge crafting (free)
- • Buy $0.03-0.05 items on market during sales
- • Trade duplicate emoticons/backgrounds with other collectors
- • Focus on quantity over quality - impressive having 500+ items
Getting Specific Items You Want
Found a background or emoticon you want? Here are the most efficient ways to get it.
Acquisition Methods (Ranked by Efficiency):
1. Buy on Steam Market (Fastest)
Search for the exact item on market and buy it directly. Costs $0.03-10+ depending on rarity.
Best For: Specific items you want immediately, items under $5
2. Trade with Other Users (Cheaper)
Find users who have the item and trade your duplicates for it. Saves money but takes time to find traders.
Best For: High-value items ($5+), when you have valuable items to trade
3. Craft Badges and Hope (Gambling)
Craft badges for that game repeatedly and hope for the drop. Very inefficient for specific items.
Best For: When you want multiple items from the same game, or if the item is very expensive on market
4. Wait for Event/Booster Drops (Free but Slow)
If you own the game, wait for booster pack drops and hope to get the item. Could take months or never happen.
Best For: Patient collectors, common items not worth buying
Cost-Benefit Analysis Example:
Scenario: You want a specific animated background worth $5 on market
Option A: Buy on market = $5, instant
Option B: Craft badges until drop = 15-30 badges × $0.40 each = $6-12, takes hours
Option C: Trade = Free if you have valuable duplicates, takes days to find trader
Conclusion: For items under $10, buying on market is usually most efficient.
Common Questions
Can I preview what a background looks like on my profile?
Not officially, but you can view the full-size image by clicking on it in the market or inventory. Third-party sites like SteamDB show profile previews for some backgrounds.
Do I lose backgrounds if I stop using them?
No, backgrounds stay in your inventory permanently. You can change backgrounds anytime and previously used backgrounds remain available.
Should I sell or keep event backgrounds?
Keep event backgrounds from Winter/Summer Sales. They can't be obtained after the event ends and typically increase 50-300% in value over 1-2 years. Common backgrounds ($0.03) are fine to sell immediately.
Why are some emoticons/backgrounds from the same game worth different amounts?
Visual appeal matters. Within the same game, backgrounds with better artwork or fan-favorite characters sell for 2-10x more than less appealing ones. Animated versions are always worth more than static ones.
Start Building Your Collection
Craft badges to earn emoticons and backgrounds while leveling up your Steam profile.