diff --git a/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md b/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md
index 512863c41..2966b2ec4 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ Friendly reminder, we have a [bug bounty program](https://hackerone.com/tendermi
 - P2P Protocol
 
 - Go API
+    - [evidence] [\#5499](https://github.com/tendermint/tendermint/pull/5449) `MaxNum` evidence consensus parameter has been changed to `MaxBytes` (@cmwaters)
 
 - Blockchain Protocol
 
diff --git a/config/toml.go b/config/toml.go
index 260eda7cd..0dce3e6dc 100644
--- a/config/toml.go
+++ b/config/toml.go
@@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ var testGenesisFmt = `{
 		"evidence": {
 			"max_age_num_blocks": "100000",
 			"max_age_duration": "172800000000000",
-			"max_num": 50
+			"max_bytes": "1048576"
 		},
 		"validator": {
 			"pub_key_types": [
diff --git a/consensus/reactor_test.go b/consensus/reactor_test.go
index eb8591848..ce08daab4 100644
--- a/consensus/reactor_test.go
+++ b/consensus/reactor_test.go
@@ -167,11 +167,11 @@ func TestReactorWithEvidence(t *testing.T) {
 		// mock the evidence pool
 		// everyone includes evidence of another double signing
 		vIdx := (i + 1) % nValidators
+		ev := types.NewMockDuplicateVoteEvidenceWithValidator(1, defaultTestTime, privVals[vIdx], config.ChainID())
 		evpool := &statemocks.EvidencePool{}
 		evpool.On("CheckEvidence", mock.AnythingOfType("types.EvidenceList")).Return(nil)
-		evpool.On("PendingEvidence", mock.AnythingOfType("uint32")).Return([]types.Evidence{
-			types.NewMockDuplicateVoteEvidenceWithValidator(1, defaultTestTime, privVals[vIdx], config.ChainID()),
-		})
+		evpool.On("PendingEvidence", mock.AnythingOfType("int64")).Return([]types.Evidence{
+			ev}, int64(len(ev.Bytes())))
 		evpool.On("Update", mock.AnythingOfType("state.State")).Return()
 		evpool.On("ABCIEvidence", mock.AnythingOfType("int64"), mock.AnythingOfType("[]types.Evidence")).Return(
 			[]abci.Evidence{})
diff --git a/evidence/doc.go b/evidence/doc.go
index 5d823952d..d521debd3 100644
--- a/evidence/doc.go
+++ b/evidence/doc.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ All evidence is proto encoded to disk.
 Proposing
 
 When a new block is being proposed (in state/execution.go#CreateProposalBlock),
-`PendingEvidence(maxNum)` is called to send up to the maxNum number of uncommitted evidence, from the evidence store,
+`PendingEvidence(maxBytes)` is called to send up to the maxBytes of uncommitted evidence, from the evidence store,
 prioritized in order of age. All evidence is checked for expiration.
 
 When a node receives evidence in a block it will use the evidence module as a cache first to see if it has
diff --git a/evidence/mocks/state_store.go b/evidence/mocks/state_store.go
deleted file mode 100644
index cdda2ce9a..000000000
--- a/evidence/mocks/state_store.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,52 +0,0 @@
-// Code generated by mockery v2.1.0. DO NOT EDIT.
-
-package mocks
-
-import (
-	mock "github.com/stretchr/testify/mock"
-	state "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/state"
-
-	types "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
-)
-
-// StateStore is an autogenerated mock type for the StateStore type
-type StateStore struct {
-	mock.Mock
-}
-
-// LoadState provides a mock function with given fields:
-func (_m *StateStore) LoadState() state.State {
-	ret := _m.Called()
-
-	var r0 state.State
-	if rf, ok := ret.Get(0).(func() state.State); ok {
-		r0 = rf()
-	} else {
-		r0 = ret.Get(0).(state.State)
-	}
-
-	return r0
-}
-
-// LoadValidators provides a mock function with given fields: height
-func (_m *StateStore) LoadValidators(height int64) (*types.ValidatorSet, error) {
-	ret := _m.Called(height)
-
-	var r0 *types.ValidatorSet
-	if rf, ok := ret.Get(0).(func(int64) *types.ValidatorSet); ok {
-		r0 = rf(height)
-	} else {
-		if ret.Get(0) != nil {
-			r0 = ret.Get(0).(*types.ValidatorSet)
-		}
-	}
-
-	var r1 error
-	if rf, ok := ret.Get(1).(func(int64) error); ok {
-		r1 = rf(height)
-	} else {
-		r1 = ret.Error(1)
-	}
-
-	return r0, r1
-}
diff --git a/evidence/pool.go b/evidence/pool.go
index 9db7048c7..87ae46e3d 100644
--- a/evidence/pool.go
+++ b/evidence/pool.go
@@ -64,19 +64,16 @@ func NewPool(evidenceDB dbm.DB, stateDB sm.Store, blockStore BlockStore) (*Pool,
 		logger:        log.NewNopLogger(),
 		evidenceStore: evidenceDB,
 		evidenceList:  clist.New(),
-		evidenceSize:  0,
-		pruningHeight: state.LastBlockHeight,
-		pruningTime:   state.LastBlockTime,
 	}
 
 	// if pending evidence already in db, in event of prior failure, then check for expiration,
 	// update the size and load it back to the evidenceList
-	pool.removeExpiredPendingEvidence()
-	evList, err := pool.listEvidence(baseKeyPending, -1)
+	pool.pruningHeight, pool.pruningTime = pool.removeExpiredPendingEvidence()
+	evList, _, err := pool.listEvidence(baseKeyPending, -1)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	atomic.AddUint32(&pool.evidenceSize, uint32(len(evList)))
+	atomic.StoreUint32(&pool.evidenceSize, uint32(len(evList)))
 	for _, ev := range evList {
 		pool.evidenceList.PushBack(ev)
 	}
@@ -85,12 +82,15 @@ func NewPool(evidenceDB dbm.DB, stateDB sm.Store, blockStore BlockStore) (*Pool,
 }
 
 // PendingEvidence is used primarily as part of block proposal and returns up to maxNum of uncommitted evidence.
-func (evpool *Pool) PendingEvidence(maxNum uint32) []types.Evidence {
-	evidence, err := evpool.listEvidence(baseKeyPending, int64(maxNum))
+func (evpool *Pool) PendingEvidence(maxBytes int64) ([]types.Evidence, int64) {
+	if atomic.LoadUint32(&evpool.evidenceSize) == 0 {
+		return []types.Evidence{}, 0
+	}
+	evidence, size, err := evpool.listEvidence(baseKeyPending, maxBytes)
 	if err != nil {
 		evpool.logger.Error("Unable to retrieve pending evidence", "err", err)
 	}
-	return evidence
+	return evidence, size
 }
 
 // Update pulls the latest state to be used for expiration and evidence params and then prunes all expired evidence
@@ -330,6 +330,7 @@ type info struct {
 	Time             time.Time
 	Validators       []*types.Validator
 	TotalVotingPower int64
+	ByteSize         int64
 }
 
 // ToProto encodes into protobuf
@@ -381,6 +382,7 @@ func infoFromProto(proto *evproto.Info) (info, error) {
 		Time:             proto.Time,
 		Validators:       vals,
 		TotalVotingPower: proto.TotalVotingPower,
+		ByteSize:         int64(proto.Evidence.Size()),
 	}, nil
 
 }
@@ -489,31 +491,32 @@ func (evpool *Pool) removePendingEvidence(evidence types.Evidence) {
 	}
 }
 
-// listEvidence lists up to maxNum pieces of evidence for the given prefix key.
-// If maxNum is -1, there's no cap on the size of returned evidence.
-func (evpool *Pool) listEvidence(prefixKey byte, maxNum int64) ([]types.Evidence, error) {
-	var count int64
+// listEvidence retrieves lists evidence from oldest to newest within maxBytes.
+// If maxBytes is -1, there's no cap on the size of returned evidence.
+func (evpool *Pool) listEvidence(prefixKey byte, maxBytes int64) ([]types.Evidence, int64, error) {
+	var totalSize int64
 	var evidence []types.Evidence
 	iter, err := dbm.IteratePrefix(evpool.evidenceStore, []byte{prefixKey})
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("database error: %v", err)
+		return nil, totalSize, fmt.Errorf("database error: %v", err)
 	}
 	defer iter.Close()
 	for ; iter.Valid(); iter.Next() {
-		if count == maxNum {
-			return evidence, nil
-		}
-		count++
-
 		evInfo, err := bytesToInfo(iter.Value())
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+			return nil, totalSize, err
+		}
+
+		totalSize += evInfo.ByteSize
+
+		if maxBytes != -1 && totalSize > maxBytes {
+			return evidence, totalSize - evInfo.ByteSize, nil
 		}
 
 		evidence = append(evidence, evInfo.Evidence)
 	}
 
-	return evidence, nil
+	return evidence, totalSize, nil
 }
 
 func (evpool *Pool) removeExpiredPendingEvidence() (int64, time.Time) {
@@ -534,7 +537,8 @@ func (evpool *Pool) removeExpiredPendingEvidence() (int64, time.Time) {
 			if len(blockEvidenceMap) != 0 {
 				evpool.removeEvidenceFromList(blockEvidenceMap)
 			}
-			// return the time with which this evidence will have expired so we know when to prune next
+
+			// return the height and time with which this evidence will have expired so we know when to prune next
 			return evInfo.Evidence.Height() + evpool.State().ConsensusParams.Evidence.MaxAgeNumBlocks + 1,
 				evInfo.Time.Add(evpool.State().ConsensusParams.Evidence.MaxAgeDuration).Add(time.Second)
 		}
diff --git a/evidence/pool_test.go b/evidence/pool_test.go
index 53e9e9ba2..40949ef89 100644
--- a/evidence/pool_test.go
+++ b/evidence/pool_test.go
@@ -32,7 +32,10 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 
 const evidenceChainID = "test_chain"
 
-var defaultEvidenceTime = time.Date(2019, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+var (
+	defaultEvidenceTime           = time.Date(2019, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	defaultEvidenceMaxBytes int64 = 1000
+)
 
 func TestEvidencePoolBasic(t *testing.T) {
 	var (
@@ -52,10 +55,12 @@ func TestEvidencePoolBasic(t *testing.T) {
 
 	pool, err := evidence.NewPool(evidenceDB, stateStore, blockStore)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+	pool.SetLogger(log.TestingLogger())
 
 	// evidence not seen yet:
-	evs := pool.PendingEvidence(10)
+	evs, size := pool.PendingEvidence(defaultEvidenceMaxBytes)
 	assert.Equal(t, 0, len(evs))
+	assert.Zero(t, size)
 
 	ev := types.NewMockDuplicateVoteEvidenceWithValidator(height, defaultEvidenceTime, privVals[0], evidenceChainID)
 
@@ -78,12 +83,14 @@ func TestEvidencePoolBasic(t *testing.T) {
 	next := pool.EvidenceFront()
 	assert.Equal(t, ev, next.Value.(types.Evidence))
 
-	evs = pool.PendingEvidence(10)
+	evs, size = pool.PendingEvidence(defaultEvidenceMaxBytes)
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, len(evs))
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(357), size) // check that the size of the single evidence in bytes is correct
 
 	// shouldn't be able to add evidence twice
 	assert.Error(t, pool.AddEvidence(ev))
-	assert.Equal(t, 1, len(pool.PendingEvidence(10)))
+	evs, _ = pool.PendingEvidence(defaultEvidenceMaxBytes)
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, len(evs))
 
 }
 
@@ -183,12 +190,15 @@ func TestEvidencePoolUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 	assert.Equal(t, expectedByzVals, byzVals)
-	assert.Equal(t, 1, len(pool.PendingEvidence(10)))
+	evList, _ := pool.PendingEvidence(defaultEvidenceMaxBytes)
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, len(evList))
 
 	pool.Update(state)
 
 	// a) Update marks evidence as committed so pending evidence should be empty
-	assert.Empty(t, pool.PendingEvidence(10))
+	evList, evSize := pool.PendingEvidence(defaultEvidenceMaxBytes)
+	assert.Empty(t, evList)
+	assert.Zero(t, evSize)
 
 	// b) If we try to check this evidence again it should fail because it has already been committed
 	err = pool.CheckEvidence(types.EvidenceList{ev})
@@ -293,7 +303,6 @@ func TestCheckEvidenceWithLightClientAttack(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestRecoverPendingEvidence(t *testing.T) {
 	height := int64(10)
-	expiredEvidenceTime := time.Date(2018, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
 	val := types.NewMockPV()
 	valAddress := val.PrivKey.PubKey().Address()
 	evidenceDB := dbm.NewMemDB()
@@ -301,21 +310,24 @@ func TestRecoverPendingEvidence(t *testing.T) {
 	state, err := stateStore.Load()
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	blockStore := initializeBlockStore(dbm.NewMemDB(), state, valAddress)
+	// create previous pool and populate it
 	pool, err := evidence.NewPool(evidenceDB, stateStore, blockStore)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	pool.SetLogger(log.TestingLogger())
 	goodEvidence := types.NewMockDuplicateVoteEvidenceWithValidator(height,
 		defaultEvidenceTime, val, evidenceChainID)
 	expiredEvidence := types.NewMockDuplicateVoteEvidenceWithValidator(int64(1),
-		expiredEvidenceTime, val, evidenceChainID)
+		defaultEvidenceTime, val, evidenceChainID)
 	err = pool.AddEvidence(goodEvidence)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	err = pool.AddEvidence(expiredEvidence)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// now recover from the previous pool at a different time
 	newStateStore := &smmocks.Store{}
 	newStateStore.On("Load").Return(sm.State{
-		LastBlockTime:   defaultEvidenceTime.Add(49 * time.Hour),
-		LastBlockHeight: height + 12,
+		LastBlockTime:   defaultEvidenceTime.Add(25 * time.Minute),
+		LastBlockHeight: height + 15,
 		ConsensusParams: tmproto.ConsensusParams{
 			Block: tmproto.BlockParams{
 				MaxBytes: 22020096,
@@ -323,14 +335,15 @@ func TestRecoverPendingEvidence(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			Evidence: tmproto.EvidenceParams{
 				MaxAgeNumBlocks: 20,
-				MaxAgeDuration:  1 * time.Hour,
-				MaxNum:          50,
+				MaxAgeDuration:  20 * time.Minute,
+				MaxBytes:        1000,
 			},
 		},
 	}, nil)
 	newPool, err := evidence.NewPool(evidenceDB, newStateStore, blockStore)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, 1, len(newPool.PendingEvidence(10)))
+	evList, _ := newPool.PendingEvidence(defaultEvidenceMaxBytes)
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, len(evList))
 	next := newPool.EvidenceFront()
 	assert.Equal(t, goodEvidence, next.Value.(types.Evidence))
 
@@ -356,7 +369,7 @@ func initializeStateFromValidatorSet(valSet *types.ValidatorSet, height int64) s
 			Evidence: tmproto.EvidenceParams{
 				MaxAgeNumBlocks: 20,
 				MaxAgeDuration:  20 * time.Minute,
-				MaxNum:          50,
+				MaxBytes:        1000,
 			},
 		},
 	}
diff --git a/evidence/reactor_test.go b/evidence/reactor_test.go
index d21ab52b5..8b05ab0fd 100644
--- a/evidence/reactor_test.go
+++ b/evidence/reactor_test.go
@@ -106,14 +106,17 @@ func _waitForEvidence(
 	pools []*evidence.Pool,
 ) {
 	evpool := pools[poolIdx]
-	for len(evpool.PendingEvidence(uint32(len(evs)))) != len(evs) {
+	var evList []types.Evidence
+	currentPoolSize := 0
+	for currentPoolSize != len(evs) {
+		evList, _ = evpool.PendingEvidence(int64(len(evs) * 500)) // each evidence should not be more than 500 bytes
+		currentPoolSize = len(evList)
 		time.Sleep(time.Millisecond * 100)
 	}
 
-	reapedEv := evpool.PendingEvidence(uint32(len(evs)))
 	// put the reaped evidence in a map so we can quickly check we got everything
 	evMap := make(map[string]types.Evidence)
-	for _, e := range reapedEv {
+	for _, e := range evList {
 		evMap[string(e.Hash())] = e
 	}
 	for i, expectedEv := range evs {
diff --git a/evidence/verify_test.go b/evidence/verify_test.go
index 016a867dc..e344cd496 100644
--- a/evidence/verify_test.go
+++ b/evidence/verify_test.go
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ func TestVerifyLightClientAttack_Lunatic(t *testing.T) {
 	err = pool.CheckEvidence(evList)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
-	pendingEvs := pool.PendingEvidence(2)
+	pendingEvs, _ := pool.PendingEvidence(state.ConsensusParams.Evidence.MaxBytes)
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, len(pendingEvs))
 
 	pubKey, err := newPrivVal.GetPubKey()
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ func TestVerifyLightClientAttack_Equivocation(t *testing.T) {
 	err = pool.CheckEvidence(evList)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
-	pendingEvs := pool.PendingEvidence(2)
+	pendingEvs, _ := pool.PendingEvidence(state.ConsensusParams.Evidence.MaxBytes)
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, len(pendingEvs))
 
 	pubKey, err := conflictingPrivVals[0].GetPubKey()
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ func TestVerifyLightClientAttack_Amnesia(t *testing.T) {
 	err = pool.CheckEvidence(evList)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
-	pendingEvs := pool.PendingEvidence(2)
+	pendingEvs, _ := pool.PendingEvidence(state.ConsensusParams.Evidence.MaxBytes)
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, len(pendingEvs))
 
 	pubKey, err := conflictingPrivVals[0].GetPubKey()
diff --git a/node/node_test.go b/node/node_test.go
index 101699cce..65a972fc7 100644
--- a/node/node_test.go
+++ b/node/node_test.go
@@ -234,9 +234,9 @@ func TestCreateProposalBlock(t *testing.T) {
 	state, stateDB, privVals := state(1, height)
 	stateStore := sm.NewStore(stateDB)
 	maxBytes := 16384
-	maxEvidence := 10
+	maxEvidenceBytes := int64(maxBytes / 2)
 	state.ConsensusParams.Block.MaxBytes = int64(maxBytes)
-	state.ConsensusParams.Evidence.MaxNum = uint32(maxEvidence)
+	state.ConsensusParams.Evidence.MaxBytes = maxEvidenceBytes
 	proposerAddr, _ := state.Validators.GetByIndex(0)
 
 	// Make Mempool
@@ -260,8 +260,10 @@ func TestCreateProposalBlock(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// fill the evidence pool with more evidence
 	// than can fit in a block
-	for i := 0; i <= maxEvidence; i++ {
+	var currentBytes int64 = 0
+	for currentBytes <= maxEvidenceBytes {
 		ev := types.NewMockDuplicateVoteEvidenceWithValidator(height, time.Now(), privVals[0], "test-chain")
+		currentBytes += int64(len(ev.Bytes()))
 		err := evidencePool.AddEvidenceFromConsensus(ev, time.Now(), state.Validators)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 	}
diff --git a/proto/tendermint/types/params.pb.go b/proto/tendermint/types/params.pb.go
index 0b0773250..5c9eff877 100644
--- a/proto/tendermint/types/params.pb.go
+++ b/proto/tendermint/types/params.pb.go
@@ -179,11 +179,10 @@ type EvidenceParams struct {
 	// mechanism for handling [Nothing-At-Stake
 	// attacks](https://github.com/ethereum/wiki/wiki/Proof-of-Stake-FAQ#what-is-the-nothing-at-stake-problem-and-how-can-it-be-fixed).
 	MaxAgeDuration time.Duration `protobuf:"bytes,2,opt,name=max_age_duration,json=maxAgeDuration,proto3,stdduration" json:"max_age_duration"`
-	// This sets the maximum number of evidence that can be committed in a single block.
-	// and should fall comfortably under the max block bytes when we consider the size of
-	// each evidence (See MaxEvidenceBytes). The maximum number is MaxEvidencePerBlock.
-	// Default is 50
-	MaxNum uint32 `protobuf:"varint,3,opt,name=max_num,json=maxNum,proto3" json:"max_num,omitempty"`
+	// This sets the maximum size of total evidence in bytes that can be committed in a single block.
+	// and should fall comfortably under the max block bytes.
+	// Default is 1048576 or 1MB
+	MaxBytes int64 `protobuf:"varint,3,opt,name=max_bytes,json=maxBytes,proto3" json:"max_bytes,omitempty"`
 }
 
 func (m *EvidenceParams) Reset()         { *m = EvidenceParams{} }
@@ -233,9 +232,9 @@ func (m *EvidenceParams) GetMaxAgeDuration() time.Duration {
 	return 0
 }
 
-func (m *EvidenceParams) GetMaxNum() uint32 {
+func (m *EvidenceParams) GetMaxBytes() int64 {
 	if m != nil {
-		return m.MaxNum
+		return m.MaxBytes
 	}
 	return 0
 }
@@ -398,42 +397,41 @@ func init() {
 func init() { proto.RegisterFile("tendermint/types/params.proto", fileDescriptor_e12598271a686f57) }
 
 var fileDescriptor_e12598271a686f57 = []byte{
-	// 545 bytes of a gzipped FileDescriptorProto
-	0x1f, 0x8b, 0x08, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x02, 0xff, 0x6c, 0x53, 0x4f, 0x6f, 0xd3, 0x30,
-	0x1c, 0xad, 0xd7, 0xb2, 0xb5, 0xbf, 0xae, 0xeb, 0x64, 0x21, 0x51, 0x86, 0x96, 0x94, 0x1c, 0xd0,
-	0x24, 0xa4, 0x44, 0x82, 0x03, 0x62, 0x97, 0x89, 0xc0, 0x34, 0x10, 0xea, 0x84, 0x22, 0xe0, 0xb0,
-	0x4b, 0xe4, 0xb4, 0x26, 0x8b, 0x56, 0xc7, 0x51, 0x6c, 0x57, 0xed, 0xb7, 0xe0, 0xb8, 0xe3, 0x2e,
-	0x48, 0x7c, 0x04, 0x3e, 0xc2, 0x8e, 0x3b, 0x72, 0x02, 0xd4, 0x5e, 0xf8, 0x18, 0x28, 0x4e, 0x4d,
-	0xff, 0x6c, 0xb7, 0xe4, 0xf7, 0x7b, 0xef, 0xd9, 0xef, 0x3d, 0x19, 0xf6, 0x25, 0x4d, 0x07, 0x34,
-	0x67, 0x49, 0x2a, 0x3d, 0x39, 0xc9, 0xa8, 0xf0, 0x32, 0x92, 0x13, 0x26, 0xdc, 0x2c, 0xe7, 0x92,
-	0xe3, 0xdd, 0xc5, 0xda, 0xd5, 0xeb, 0xbd, 0xfb, 0x31, 0x8f, 0xb9, 0x5e, 0x7a, 0xc5, 0x57, 0x89,
-	0xdb, 0xb3, 0x62, 0xce, 0xe3, 0x21, 0xf5, 0xf4, 0x5f, 0xa4, 0xbe, 0x78, 0x03, 0x95, 0x13, 0x99,
-	0xf0, 0xb4, 0xdc, 0x3b, 0x97, 0x1b, 0xd0, 0x7e, 0xcd, 0x53, 0x41, 0x53, 0xa1, 0xc4, 0x07, 0x7d,
-	0x02, 0x7e, 0x09, 0xf7, 0xa2, 0x21, 0xef, 0x5f, 0x74, 0x50, 0x17, 0x1d, 0x34, 0x9f, 0xed, 0xbb,
-	0xeb, 0x67, 0xb9, 0x7e, 0xb1, 0x2e, 0xd1, 0x7e, 0xed, 0xfa, 0x97, 0x5d, 0x09, 0x4a, 0x06, 0xf6,
-	0xa1, 0x4e, 0x47, 0xc9, 0x80, 0xa6, 0x7d, 0xda, 0xd9, 0xd0, 0xec, 0xee, 0x6d, 0xf6, 0xf1, 0x1c,
-	0xb1, 0x22, 0xf0, 0x9f, 0x87, 0x8f, 0xa1, 0x31, 0x22, 0xc3, 0x64, 0x40, 0x24, 0xcf, 0x3b, 0x55,
-	0x2d, 0xf2, 0xf8, 0xb6, 0xc8, 0x67, 0x03, 0x59, 0x51, 0x59, 0x30, 0xf1, 0x11, 0x6c, 0x8d, 0x68,
-	0x2e, 0x12, 0x9e, 0x76, 0x6a, 0x5a, 0xc4, 0xbe, 0x43, 0xa4, 0x04, 0xac, 0x48, 0x18, 0x96, 0x43,
-	0xa1, 0xb9, 0xe4, 0x13, 0x3f, 0x82, 0x06, 0x23, 0xe3, 0x30, 0x9a, 0x48, 0x2a, 0x74, 0x32, 0xd5,
-	0xa0, 0xce, 0xc8, 0xd8, 0x2f, 0xfe, 0xf1, 0x03, 0xd8, 0x2a, 0x96, 0x31, 0x11, 0xda, 0x76, 0x35,
-	0xd8, 0x64, 0x64, 0x7c, 0x42, 0x04, 0xee, 0xc2, 0xb6, 0x4c, 0x18, 0x0d, 0x13, 0x2e, 0x49, 0xc8,
-	0x84, 0xf6, 0x53, 0x0d, 0xa0, 0x98, 0xbd, 0xe3, 0x92, 0xf4, 0x84, 0xf3, 0x0d, 0xc1, 0xce, 0x6a,
-	0x22, 0xf8, 0x29, 0xe0, 0x42, 0x8d, 0xc4, 0x34, 0x4c, 0x15, 0x0b, 0x75, 0xb4, 0xe6, 0xcc, 0x36,
-	0x23, 0xe3, 0x57, 0x31, 0x3d, 0x55, 0x4c, 0x5f, 0x4e, 0xe0, 0x1e, 0xec, 0x1a, 0xb0, 0xe9, 0x76,
-	0x1e, 0xfd, 0x43, 0xb7, 0x2c, 0xdf, 0x35, 0xe5, 0xbb, 0x6f, 0xe6, 0x00, 0xbf, 0x5e, 0x58, 0xbd,
-	0xfc, 0x6d, 0xa3, 0x60, 0xa7, 0xd4, 0x33, 0x1b, 0xe3, 0x24, 0x55, 0x4c, 0xdf, 0xb5, 0xa5, 0x9d,
-	0x9c, 0x2a, 0xe6, 0x1c, 0x41, 0x7b, 0x2d, 0x73, 0xec, 0x40, 0x2b, 0x53, 0x51, 0x78, 0x41, 0x27,
-	0xa1, 0xce, 0xb3, 0x83, 0xba, 0xd5, 0x83, 0x46, 0xd0, 0xcc, 0x54, 0xf4, 0x9e, 0x4e, 0x3e, 0x16,
-	0xa3, 0xc3, 0xfa, 0x8f, 0x2b, 0x1b, 0xfd, 0xbd, 0xb2, 0x91, 0x73, 0x08, 0xad, 0x95, 0xbc, 0xb1,
-	0x0d, 0x4d, 0x92, 0x65, 0xa1, 0x69, 0xa9, 0xf0, 0x57, 0x0b, 0x80, 0x64, 0xd9, 0x1c, 0xb6, 0xc4,
-	0x3d, 0x83, 0xed, 0xb7, 0x44, 0x9c, 0xd3, 0xc1, 0x9c, 0xfa, 0x04, 0xda, 0x3a, 0x95, 0x70, 0xbd,
-	0x92, 0x96, 0x1e, 0xf7, 0x4c, 0x2f, 0x0e, 0xb4, 0x16, 0xb8, 0x45, 0x3b, 0x4d, 0x83, 0x3a, 0x21,
-	0xc2, 0xff, 0xf4, 0x7d, 0x6a, 0xa1, 0xeb, 0xa9, 0x85, 0x6e, 0xa6, 0x16, 0xfa, 0x33, 0xb5, 0xd0,
-	0xd7, 0x99, 0x55, 0xb9, 0x99, 0x59, 0x95, 0x9f, 0x33, 0xab, 0x72, 0xf6, 0x22, 0x4e, 0xe4, 0xb9,
-	0x8a, 0xdc, 0x3e, 0x67, 0xde, 0xf2, 0x93, 0x5c, 0x7c, 0x96, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0xfd, 0xb9, 0x46, 0x9b,
-	0x7a, 0xfe, 0xfc, 0x5f, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xff, 0xff, 0x53, 0x0a, 0x6c, 0x0d, 0xc9, 0x03, 0x00,
-	0x00,
+	// 537 bytes of a gzipped FileDescriptorProto
+	0x1f, 0x8b, 0x08, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x02, 0xff, 0x6c, 0x53, 0x31, 0x6f, 0xd3, 0x40,
+	0x18, 0xcd, 0xd5, 0xa5, 0x4d, 0xbe, 0x34, 0x4d, 0x75, 0x42, 0x22, 0x14, 0xd5, 0x0e, 0x1e, 0x50,
+	0x25, 0x24, 0x5b, 0x82, 0x01, 0xd1, 0xa5, 0xc2, 0x50, 0x15, 0x84, 0x82, 0x90, 0x05, 0x0c, 0x5d,
+	0xac, 0x73, 0x72, 0xb8, 0x56, 0x73, 0x3e, 0xcb, 0x77, 0x8e, 0x92, 0x7f, 0xc1, 0xd8, 0xb1, 0x23,
+	0xfc, 0x03, 0x7e, 0x42, 0xc7, 0x8e, 0x4c, 0x80, 0x92, 0x85, 0x9f, 0x81, 0x7c, 0xce, 0xe1, 0x38,
+	0x65, 0xf3, 0x7d, 0xdf, 0x7b, 0xef, 0xfc, 0xde, 0xd3, 0xc1, 0x81, 0xa4, 0xc9, 0x88, 0x66, 0x2c,
+	0x4e, 0xa4, 0x2b, 0x67, 0x29, 0x15, 0x6e, 0x4a, 0x32, 0xc2, 0x84, 0x93, 0x66, 0x5c, 0x72, 0xbc,
+	0x57, 0xad, 0x1d, 0xb5, 0xde, 0xbf, 0x1b, 0xf1, 0x88, 0xab, 0xa5, 0x5b, 0x7c, 0x95, 0xb8, 0x7d,
+	0x33, 0xe2, 0x3c, 0x1a, 0x53, 0x57, 0x9d, 0xc2, 0xfc, 0xb3, 0x3b, 0xca, 0x33, 0x22, 0x63, 0x9e,
+	0x94, 0x7b, 0xfb, 0x72, 0x03, 0xba, 0x2f, 0x79, 0x22, 0x68, 0x22, 0x72, 0xf1, 0x5e, 0xdd, 0x80,
+	0x9f, 0xc3, 0x9d, 0x70, 0xcc, 0x87, 0x17, 0x3d, 0xd4, 0x47, 0x87, 0xed, 0x27, 0x07, 0xce, 0xfa,
+	0x5d, 0x8e, 0x57, 0xac, 0x4b, 0xb4, 0xb7, 0x79, 0xfd, 0xd3, 0x6a, 0xf8, 0x25, 0x03, 0x7b, 0xd0,
+	0xa4, 0x93, 0x78, 0x44, 0x93, 0x21, 0xed, 0x6d, 0x28, 0x76, 0xff, 0x36, 0xfb, 0x64, 0x89, 0xa8,
+	0x09, 0xfc, 0xe3, 0xe1, 0x13, 0x68, 0x4d, 0xc8, 0x38, 0x1e, 0x11, 0xc9, 0xb3, 0x9e, 0xa1, 0x44,
+	0x1e, 0xde, 0x16, 0xf9, 0xa4, 0x21, 0x35, 0x95, 0x8a, 0x89, 0x8f, 0x61, 0x7b, 0x42, 0x33, 0x11,
+	0xf3, 0xa4, 0xb7, 0xa9, 0x44, 0xac, 0xff, 0x88, 0x94, 0x80, 0x9a, 0x84, 0x66, 0xd9, 0x14, 0xda,
+	0x2b, 0x3e, 0xf1, 0x03, 0x68, 0x31, 0x32, 0x0d, 0xc2, 0x99, 0xa4, 0x42, 0x25, 0x63, 0xf8, 0x4d,
+	0x46, 0xa6, 0x5e, 0x71, 0xc6, 0xf7, 0x60, 0xbb, 0x58, 0x46, 0x44, 0x28, 0xdb, 0x86, 0xbf, 0xc5,
+	0xc8, 0xf4, 0x94, 0x08, 0xdc, 0x87, 0x1d, 0x19, 0x33, 0x1a, 0xc4, 0x5c, 0x92, 0x80, 0x09, 0xe5,
+	0xc7, 0xf0, 0xa1, 0x98, 0xbd, 0xe1, 0x92, 0x0c, 0x84, 0xfd, 0x0d, 0xc1, 0x6e, 0x3d, 0x11, 0xfc,
+	0x18, 0x70, 0xa1, 0x46, 0x22, 0x1a, 0x24, 0x39, 0x0b, 0x54, 0xb4, 0xfa, 0xce, 0x2e, 0x23, 0xd3,
+	0x17, 0x11, 0x7d, 0x97, 0x33, 0xf5, 0x73, 0x02, 0x0f, 0x60, 0x4f, 0x83, 0x75, 0xb7, 0xcb, 0xe8,
+	0xef, 0x3b, 0x65, 0xf9, 0x8e, 0x2e, 0xdf, 0x79, 0xb5, 0x04, 0x78, 0xcd, 0xc2, 0xea, 0xe5, 0x2f,
+	0x0b, 0xf9, 0xbb, 0xa5, 0x9e, 0xde, 0xd4, 0x6d, 0x1a, 0x75, 0x9b, 0xf6, 0x31, 0x74, 0xd7, 0x72,
+	0xc7, 0x36, 0x74, 0xd2, 0x3c, 0x0c, 0x2e, 0xe8, 0x2c, 0x50, 0x99, 0xf6, 0x50, 0xdf, 0x38, 0x6c,
+	0xf9, 0xed, 0x34, 0x0f, 0xdf, 0xd2, 0xd9, 0x87, 0x62, 0x74, 0xd4, 0xfc, 0x7e, 0x65, 0xa1, 0x3f,
+	0x57, 0x16, 0xb2, 0x8f, 0xa0, 0x53, 0xcb, 0x1c, 0x5b, 0xd0, 0x26, 0x69, 0x1a, 0xe8, 0xa6, 0x0a,
+	0x8f, 0x9b, 0x3e, 0x90, 0x34, 0x5d, 0xc2, 0x56, 0xb8, 0x67, 0xb0, 0xf3, 0x9a, 0x88, 0x73, 0x3a,
+	0x5a, 0x52, 0x1f, 0x41, 0x57, 0x25, 0x13, 0xac, 0xd7, 0xd2, 0x51, 0xe3, 0x81, 0xee, 0xc6, 0x86,
+	0x4e, 0x85, 0xab, 0x1a, 0x6a, 0x6b, 0xd4, 0x29, 0x11, 0xde, 0xc7, 0xaf, 0x73, 0x13, 0x5d, 0xcf,
+	0x4d, 0x74, 0x33, 0x37, 0xd1, 0xef, 0xb9, 0x89, 0xbe, 0x2c, 0xcc, 0xc6, 0xcd, 0xc2, 0x6c, 0xfc,
+	0x58, 0x98, 0x8d, 0xb3, 0x67, 0x51, 0x2c, 0xcf, 0xf3, 0xd0, 0x19, 0x72, 0xe6, 0xae, 0x3e, 0xcb,
+	0xea, 0xb3, 0x7c, 0x77, 0xeb, 0x4f, 0x36, 0xdc, 0x52, 0xf3, 0xa7, 0x7f, 0x03, 0x00, 0x00, 0xff,
+	0xff, 0xfe, 0xe0, 0x3d, 0x9c, 0xcd, 0x03, 0x00, 0x00,
 }
 
 func (this *ConsensusParams) Equal(that interface{}) bool {
@@ -524,7 +522,7 @@ func (this *EvidenceParams) Equal(that interface{}) bool {
 	if this.MaxAgeDuration != that1.MaxAgeDuration {
 		return false
 	}
-	if this.MaxNum != that1.MaxNum {
+	if this.MaxBytes != that1.MaxBytes {
 		return false
 	}
 	return true
@@ -730,8 +728,8 @@ func (m *EvidenceParams) MarshalToSizedBuffer(dAtA []byte) (int, error) {
 	_ = i
 	var l int
 	_ = l
-	if m.MaxNum != 0 {
-		i = encodeVarintParams(dAtA, i, uint64(m.MaxNum))
+	if m.MaxBytes != 0 {
+		i = encodeVarintParams(dAtA, i, uint64(m.MaxBytes))
 		i--
 		dAtA[i] = 0x18
 	}
@@ -993,8 +991,8 @@ func (m *EvidenceParams) Size() (n int) {
 	}
 	l = github_com_gogo_protobuf_types.SizeOfStdDuration(m.MaxAgeDuration)
 	n += 1 + l + sovParams(uint64(l))
-	if m.MaxNum != 0 {
-		n += 1 + sovParams(uint64(m.MaxNum))
+	if m.MaxBytes != 0 {
+		n += 1 + sovParams(uint64(m.MaxBytes))
 	}
 	return n
 }
@@ -1425,9 +1423,9 @@ func (m *EvidenceParams) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
 			iNdEx = postIndex
 		case 3:
 			if wireType != 0 {
-				return fmt.Errorf("proto: wrong wireType = %d for field MaxNum", wireType)
+				return fmt.Errorf("proto: wrong wireType = %d for field MaxBytes", wireType)
 			}
-			m.MaxNum = 0
+			m.MaxBytes = 0
 			for shift := uint(0); ; shift += 7 {
 				if shift >= 64 {
 					return ErrIntOverflowParams
@@ -1437,7 +1435,7 @@ func (m *EvidenceParams) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
 				}
 				b := dAtA[iNdEx]
 				iNdEx++
-				m.MaxNum |= uint32(b&0x7F) << shift
+				m.MaxBytes |= int64(b&0x7F) << shift
 				if b < 0x80 {
 					break
 				}
diff --git a/proto/tendermint/types/params.proto b/proto/tendermint/types/params.proto
index 897c07c17..0de7d846f 100644
--- a/proto/tendermint/types/params.proto
+++ b/proto/tendermint/types/params.proto
@@ -48,11 +48,10 @@ message EvidenceParams {
   google.protobuf.Duration max_age_duration = 2
       [(gogoproto.nullable) = false, (gogoproto.stdduration) = true];
 
-  // This sets the maximum number of evidence that can be committed in a single block.
-  // and should fall comfortably under the max block bytes when we consider the size of
-  // each evidence (See MaxEvidenceBytes). The maximum number is MaxEvidencePerBlock.
-  // Default is 50
-  uint32 max_num = 3;
+  // This sets the maximum size of total evidence in bytes that can be committed in a single block.
+  // and should fall comfortably under the max block bytes.
+  // Default is 1048576 or 1MB
+  int64 max_bytes = 3;
 }
 
 // ValidatorParams restrict the public key types validators can use.
diff --git a/state/execution.go b/state/execution.go
index 41ea8a9b0..2cb5857a1 100644
--- a/state/execution.go
+++ b/state/execution.go
@@ -100,10 +100,10 @@ func (blockExec *BlockExecutor) CreateProposalBlock(
 	maxBytes := state.ConsensusParams.Block.MaxBytes
 	maxGas := state.ConsensusParams.Block.MaxGas
 
-	evidence := blockExec.evpool.PendingEvidence(state.ConsensusParams.Evidence.MaxNum)
+	evidence, evSize := blockExec.evpool.PendingEvidence(state.ConsensusParams.Evidence.MaxBytes)
 
 	// Fetch a limited amount of valid txs
-	maxDataBytes := types.MaxDataBytes(maxBytes, state.Validators.Size(), len(evidence))
+	maxDataBytes := types.MaxDataBytes(maxBytes, evSize, state.Validators.Size())
 	txs := blockExec.mempool.ReapMaxBytesMaxGas(maxDataBytes, maxGas)
 
 	return state.MakeBlock(height, txs, commit, evidence, proposerAddr)
diff --git a/state/mocks/evidence_pool.go b/state/mocks/evidence_pool.go
index 0915c9966..bfd82e596 100644
--- a/state/mocks/evidence_pool.go
+++ b/state/mocks/evidence_pool.go
@@ -61,11 +61,11 @@ func (_m *EvidencePool) CheckEvidence(_a0 types.EvidenceList) error {
 }
 
 // PendingEvidence provides a mock function with given fields: _a0
-func (_m *EvidencePool) PendingEvidence(_a0 uint32) []types.Evidence {
+func (_m *EvidencePool) PendingEvidence(_a0 int64) ([]types.Evidence, int64) {
 	ret := _m.Called(_a0)
 
 	var r0 []types.Evidence
-	if rf, ok := ret.Get(0).(func(uint32) []types.Evidence); ok {
+	if rf, ok := ret.Get(0).(func(int64) []types.Evidence); ok {
 		r0 = rf(_a0)
 	} else {
 		if ret.Get(0) != nil {
@@ -73,7 +73,14 @@ func (_m *EvidencePool) PendingEvidence(_a0 uint32) []types.Evidence {
 		}
 	}
 
-	return r0
+	var r1 int64
+	if rf, ok := ret.Get(1).(func(int64) int64); ok {
+		r1 = rf(_a0)
+	} else {
+		r1 = ret.Get(1).(int64)
+	}
+
+	return r0, r1
 }
 
 // Update provides a mock function with given fields: _a0
diff --git a/state/services.go b/state/services.go
index bf00b3fe0..e2f12b237 100644
--- a/state/services.go
+++ b/state/services.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ type BlockStore interface {
 
 // EvidencePool defines the EvidencePool interface used by State.
 type EvidencePool interface {
-	PendingEvidence(uint32) []types.Evidence
+	PendingEvidence(maxBytes int64) (ev []types.Evidence, size int64)
 	AddEvidence(types.Evidence) error
 	Update(State)
 	CheckEvidence(types.EvidenceList) error
@@ -54,7 +54,9 @@ type EvidencePool interface {
 // to the consensus evidence pool interface
 type EmptyEvidencePool struct{}
 
-func (EmptyEvidencePool) PendingEvidence(uint32) []types.Evidence       { return nil }
+func (EmptyEvidencePool) PendingEvidence(maxBytes int64) (ev []types.Evidence, size int64) {
+	return nil, 0
+}
 func (EmptyEvidencePool) AddEvidence(types.Evidence) error              { return nil }
 func (EmptyEvidencePool) Update(State)                                  {}
 func (EmptyEvidencePool) CheckEvidence(evList types.EvidenceList) error { return nil }
diff --git a/state/tx_filter.go b/state/tx_filter.go
index acc4aad8f..52d055966 100644
--- a/state/tx_filter.go
+++ b/state/tx_filter.go
@@ -8,10 +8,9 @@ import (
 // TxPreCheck returns a function to filter transactions before processing.
 // The function limits the size of a transaction to the block's maximum data size.
 func TxPreCheck(state State) mempl.PreCheckFunc {
-	maxDataBytes := types.MaxDataBytesUnknownEvidence(
+	maxDataBytes := types.MaxDataBytesNoEvidence(
 		state.ConsensusParams.Block.MaxBytes,
 		state.Validators.Size(),
-		state.ConsensusParams.Evidence.MaxNum,
 	)
 	return mempl.PreCheckMaxBytes(maxDataBytes)
 }
diff --git a/state/tx_filter_test.go b/state/tx_filter_test.go
index fa5392337..f5923b84b 100644
--- a/state/tx_filter_test.go
+++ b/state/tx_filter_test.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import (
 func TestTxFilter(t *testing.T) {
 	genDoc := randomGenesisDoc()
 	genDoc.ConsensusParams.Block.MaxBytes = 3000
-	genDoc.ConsensusParams.Evidence.MaxNum = 1
+	genDoc.ConsensusParams.Evidence.MaxBytes = 1500
 
 	// Max size of Txs is much smaller than size of block,
 	// since we need to account for commits and evidence.
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ func TestTxFilter(t *testing.T) {
 		tx    types.Tx
 		isErr bool
 	}{
-		{types.Tx(tmrand.Bytes(1680)), false},
-		{types.Tx(tmrand.Bytes(1853)), true},
+		{types.Tx(tmrand.Bytes(2154)), false},
+		{types.Tx(tmrand.Bytes(2155)), true},
 		{types.Tx(tmrand.Bytes(3000)), true},
 	}
 
diff --git a/state/validation.go b/state/validation.go
index 4bcf11721..779edf273 100644
--- a/state/validation.go
+++ b/state/validation.go
@@ -142,8 +142,8 @@ func validateBlock(evidencePool EvidencePool, state State, block *types.Block) e
 			block.Height, state.InitialHeight)
 	}
 
-	// Check evidence doesn't exceed the limit. MaxNumEvidence is capped at uint16, so conversion is always safe.
-	if max, got := int(state.ConsensusParams.Evidence.MaxNum), len(block.Evidence.Evidence); got > max {
+	// Check evidence doesn't exceed the limit amount of bytes.
+	if max, got := state.ConsensusParams.Evidence.MaxBytes, block.Evidence.ByteSize(); got > max {
 		return types.NewErrEvidenceOverflow(max, got)
 	}
 
diff --git a/state/validation_test.go b/state/validation_test.go
index a4b0667c8..8fa5f89b3 100644
--- a/state/validation_test.go
+++ b/state/validation_test.go
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ func TestValidateBlockEvidence(t *testing.T) {
 	evpool.On("ABCIEvidence", mock.AnythingOfType("int64"), mock.AnythingOfType("[]types.Evidence")).Return(
 		[]abci.Evidence{})
 
-	state.ConsensusParams.Evidence.MaxNum = 3
+	state.ConsensusParams.Evidence.MaxBytes = 1000
 	blockExec := sm.NewBlockExecutor(
 		stateStore,
 		log.TestingLogger(),
@@ -234,17 +234,19 @@ func TestValidateBlockEvidence(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for height := int64(1); height < validationTestsStopHeight; height++ {
 		proposerAddr := state.Validators.GetProposer().Address
-		maxNumEvidence := state.ConsensusParams.Evidence.MaxNum
+		maxBytesEvidence := state.ConsensusParams.Evidence.MaxBytes
 		if height > 1 {
 			/*
 				A block with too much evidence fails
 			*/
-			require.True(t, maxNumEvidence > 2)
 			evidence := make([]types.Evidence, 0)
-			// one more than the maximum allowed evidence
-			for i := uint32(0); i <= maxNumEvidence; i++ {
-				evidence = append(evidence, types.NewMockDuplicateVoteEvidenceWithValidator(height, time.Now(),
-					privVals[proposerAddr.String()], chainID))
+			var currentBytes int64 = 0
+			// more bytes than the maximum allowed for evidence
+			for currentBytes <= maxBytesEvidence {
+				newEv := types.NewMockDuplicateVoteEvidenceWithValidator(height, time.Now(),
+					privVals[proposerAddr.String()], chainID)
+				evidence = append(evidence, newEv)
+				currentBytes += int64(len(newEv.Bytes()))
 			}
 			block, _ := state.MakeBlock(height, makeTxs(height), lastCommit, evidence, proposerAddr)
 			err := blockExec.ValidateBlock(state, block)
@@ -257,14 +259,17 @@ func TestValidateBlockEvidence(t *testing.T) {
 		/*
 			A good block with several pieces of good evidence passes
 		*/
-		require.True(t, maxNumEvidence > 2)
 		evidence := make([]types.Evidence, 0)
+		var currentBytes int64 = 0
 		// precisely the amount of allowed evidence
-		for i := int32(0); uint32(i) < maxNumEvidence; i++ {
-			// make different evidence for each validator
-			_, val := state.Validators.GetByIndex(i)
-			evidence = append(evidence, types.NewMockDuplicateVoteEvidenceWithValidator(height, defaultEvidenceTime,
-				privVals[val.Address.String()], chainID))
+		for {
+			newEv := types.NewMockDuplicateVoteEvidenceWithValidator(height, defaultEvidenceTime,
+				privVals[proposerAddr.String()], chainID)
+			currentBytes += int64(len(newEv.Bytes()))
+			if currentBytes >= maxBytesEvidence {
+				break
+			}
+			evidence = append(evidence, newEv)
 		}
 
 		var err error
diff --git a/types/block.go b/types/block.go
index 749770768..f4942a243 100644
--- a/types/block.go
+++ b/types/block.go
@@ -273,12 +273,12 @@ func BlockFromProto(bp *tmproto.Block) (*Block, error) {
 // MaxDataBytes returns the maximum size of block's data.
 //
 // XXX: Panics on negative result.
-func MaxDataBytes(maxBytes int64, valsCount, evidenceCount int) int64 {
+func MaxDataBytes(maxBytes, evidenceBytes int64, valsCount int) int64 {
 	maxDataBytes := maxBytes -
 		MaxOverheadForBlock -
 		MaxHeaderBytes -
 		int64(valsCount)*MaxVoteBytes -
-		int64(evidenceCount)*MaxEvidenceBytes
+		evidenceBytes
 
 	if maxDataBytes < 0 {
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf(
@@ -292,18 +292,16 @@ func MaxDataBytes(maxBytes int64, valsCount, evidenceCount int) int64 {
 
 }
 
-// MaxDataBytesUnknownEvidence returns the maximum size of block's data when
+// MaxDataBytesNoEvidence returns the maximum size of block's data when
 // evidence count is unknown. MaxEvidencePerBlock will be used for the size
 // of evidence.
 //
 // XXX: Panics on negative result.
-func MaxDataBytesUnknownEvidence(maxBytes int64, valsCount int, maxNumEvidence uint32) int64 {
-	maxEvidenceBytes := int64(maxNumEvidence) * MaxEvidenceBytes
+func MaxDataBytesNoEvidence(maxBytes int64, valsCount int) int64 {
 	maxDataBytes := maxBytes -
 		MaxOverheadForBlock -
 		MaxHeaderBytes -
-		int64(valsCount)*MaxVoteBytes -
-		maxEvidenceBytes
+		int64(valsCount)*MaxVoteBytes
 
 	if maxDataBytes < 0 {
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf(
@@ -1073,8 +1071,9 @@ func DataFromProto(dp *tmproto.Data) (Data, error) {
 type EvidenceData struct {
 	Evidence EvidenceList `json:"evidence"`
 
-	// Volatile
-	hash tmbytes.HexBytes
+	// Volatile. Used as cache
+	hash     tmbytes.HexBytes
+	byteSize int64
 }
 
 // Hash returns the hash of the data.
@@ -1085,6 +1084,20 @@ func (data *EvidenceData) Hash() tmbytes.HexBytes {
 	return data.hash
 }
 
+// ByteSize returns the total byte size of all the evidence
+func (data *EvidenceData) ByteSize() int64 {
+	if data.byteSize == 0 && len(data.Evidence) != 0 {
+		for _, ev := range data.Evidence {
+			pb, err := EvidenceToProto(ev)
+			if err != nil {
+				panic(err)
+			}
+			data.byteSize += int64(pb.Size())
+		}
+	}
+	return data.byteSize
+}
+
 // StringIndented returns a string representation of the evidence.
 func (data *EvidenceData) StringIndented(indent string) string {
 	if data == nil {
@@ -1142,11 +1155,10 @@ func (data *EvidenceData) FromProto(eviData *tmproto.EvidenceData) error {
 			return err
 		}
 		eviBzs[i] = evi
+		data.byteSize += int64(eviData.Evidence[i].Size())
 	}
 	data.Evidence = eviBzs
 
-	data.hash = eviData.GetHash()
-
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/types/block_test.go b/types/block_test.go
index eb7d29237..8e2d65f96 100644
--- a/types/block_test.go
+++ b/types/block_test.go
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ func TestBlockMaxDataBytes(t *testing.T) {
 	testCases := []struct {
 		maxBytes      int64
 		valsCount     int
-		evidenceCount int
+		evidenceBytes int64
 		panics        bool
 		result        int64
 	}{
@@ -416,43 +416,41 @@ func TestBlockMaxDataBytes(t *testing.T) {
 		tc := tc
 		if tc.panics {
 			assert.Panics(t, func() {
-				MaxDataBytes(tc.maxBytes, tc.valsCount, tc.evidenceCount)
+				MaxDataBytes(tc.maxBytes, tc.evidenceBytes, tc.valsCount)
 			}, "#%v", i)
 		} else {
 			assert.Equal(t,
 				tc.result,
-				MaxDataBytes(tc.maxBytes, tc.valsCount, tc.evidenceCount),
+				MaxDataBytes(tc.maxBytes, tc.evidenceBytes, tc.valsCount),
 				"#%v", i)
 		}
 	}
 }
 
-func TestBlockMaxDataBytesUnknownEvidence(t *testing.T) {
+func TestBlockMaxDataBytesNoEvidence(t *testing.T) {
 	testCases := []struct {
-		maxBytes    int64
-		maxEvidence uint32
-		valsCount   int
-		panics      bool
-		result      int64
+		maxBytes  int64
+		valsCount int
+		panics    bool
+		result    int64
 	}{
-		0: {-10, 0, 1, true, 0},
-		1: {10, 0, 1, true, 0},
-		2: {845, 0, 1, true, 0},
-		3: {846, 0, 1, false, 0},
-		4: {1290, 1, 1, false, 0},
-		5: {1291, 1, 1, false, 1},
+		0: {-10, 1, true, 0},
+		1: {10, 1, true, 0},
+		2: {845, 1, true, 0},
+		3: {846, 1, false, 0},
+		4: {847, 1, false, 1},
 	}
 
 	for i, tc := range testCases {
 		tc := tc
 		if tc.panics {
 			assert.Panics(t, func() {
-				MaxDataBytesUnknownEvidence(tc.maxBytes, tc.valsCount, tc.maxEvidence)
+				MaxDataBytesNoEvidence(tc.maxBytes, tc.valsCount)
 			}, "#%v", i)
 		} else {
 			assert.Equal(t,
 				tc.result,
-				MaxDataBytesUnknownEvidence(tc.maxBytes, tc.valsCount, tc.maxEvidence),
+				MaxDataBytesNoEvidence(tc.maxBytes, tc.valsCount),
 				"#%v", i)
 		}
 	}
@@ -620,7 +618,7 @@ func TestBlockProtoBuf(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, err, tc.msg)
 			require.EqualValues(t, tc.b1.Header, block.Header, tc.msg)
 			require.EqualValues(t, tc.b1.Data, block.Data, tc.msg)
-			require.EqualValues(t, tc.b1.Evidence, block.Evidence, tc.msg)
+			require.EqualValues(t, tc.b1.Evidence.Evidence, block.Evidence.Evidence, tc.msg)
 			require.EqualValues(t, *tc.b1.LastCommit, *block.LastCommit, tc.msg)
 		} else {
 			require.Error(t, err, tc.msg)
@@ -653,6 +651,7 @@ func TestDataProtoBuf(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestEvidenceDataProtoBuf ensures parity in converting to and from proto.
 func TestEvidenceDataProtoBuf(t *testing.T) {
 	val := NewMockPV()
 	blockID := makeBlockID(tmhash.Sum([]byte("blockhash")), math.MaxInt32, tmhash.Sum([]byte("partshash")))
@@ -662,7 +661,7 @@ func TestEvidenceDataProtoBuf(t *testing.T) {
 	v2 := makeVote(t, val, chainID, math.MaxInt32, math.MaxInt64, 2, 0x01, blockID2, time.Now())
 	ev := NewDuplicateVoteEvidence(v2, v)
 	data := &EvidenceData{Evidence: EvidenceList{ev}}
-	_ = data.Hash()
+	_ = data.ByteSize()
 	testCases := []struct {
 		msg      string
 		data1    *EvidenceData
diff --git a/types/evidence.go b/types/evidence.go
index f6a8c560f..5b450f9e1 100644
--- a/types/evidence.go
+++ b/types/evidence.go
@@ -25,11 +25,6 @@ type Evidence interface {
 	String() string       // string format of the evidence
 }
 
-const (
-	// MaxEvidenceBytes is a maximum size of any evidence (including amino overhead).
-	MaxEvidenceBytes int64 = 444
-)
-
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 // DuplicateVoteEvidence contains evidence a validator signed two conflicting
@@ -365,20 +360,20 @@ func (err *ErrInvalidEvidence) Error() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("Invalid evidence: %v. Evidence: %v", err.Reason, err.Evidence)
 }
 
-// ErrEvidenceOverflow is for when there is too much evidence in a block.
+// ErrEvidenceOverflow is for when there the amount of evidence exceeds the max bytes.
 type ErrEvidenceOverflow struct {
-	MaxNum int
-	GotNum int
+	Max int64
+	Got int64
 }
 
 // NewErrEvidenceOverflow returns a new ErrEvidenceOverflow where got > max.
-func NewErrEvidenceOverflow(max, got int) *ErrEvidenceOverflow {
+func NewErrEvidenceOverflow(max, got int64) *ErrEvidenceOverflow {
 	return &ErrEvidenceOverflow{max, got}
 }
 
 // Error returns a string representation of the error.
 func (err *ErrEvidenceOverflow) Error() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("Too much evidence: Max %d, got %d", err.MaxNum, err.GotNum)
+	return fmt.Sprintf("Too much evidence: Max %d, got %d", err.Max, err.Got)
 }
 
 //-------------------------------------------- MOCKING --------------------------------------
diff --git a/types/evidence_test.go b/types/evidence_test.go
index 1afbf6a99..4982a7d90 100644
--- a/types/evidence_test.go
+++ b/types/evidence_test.go
@@ -27,37 +27,6 @@ func TestEvidenceList(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.False(t, evl.Has(&DuplicateVoteEvidence{}))
 }
 
-func TestMaxEvidenceBytes(t *testing.T) {
-	val := NewMockPV()
-	blockID := makeBlockID(tmhash.Sum([]byte("blockhash")), math.MaxInt32, tmhash.Sum([]byte("partshash")))
-	blockID2 := makeBlockID(tmhash.Sum([]byte("blockhash2")), math.MaxInt32, tmhash.Sum([]byte("partshash")))
-	maxTime := time.Date(9999, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
-	const chainID = "mychain"
-	ev := &DuplicateVoteEvidence{
-		VoteA: makeVote(t, val, chainID, math.MaxInt32, math.MaxInt64, math.MaxInt32, math.MaxInt64, blockID, maxTime),
-		VoteB: makeVote(t, val, chainID, math.MaxInt32, math.MaxInt64, math.MaxInt32, math.MaxInt64, blockID2, maxTime),
-	}
-
-	//TODO: Add other types of evidence to test and set MaxEvidenceBytes accordingly
-
-	testCases := []struct {
-		testName string
-		evidence Evidence
-	}{
-		{"DuplicateVote", ev},
-	}
-
-	for _, tt := range testCases {
-		pb, err := EvidenceToProto(tt.evidence)
-		require.NoError(t, err, tt.testName)
-		bz, err := pb.Marshal()
-		require.NoError(t, err, tt.testName)
-
-		assert.LessOrEqual(t, int64(len(bz)), MaxEvidenceBytes, tt.testName)
-	}
-
-}
-
 func randomDuplicateVoteEvidence(t *testing.T) *DuplicateVoteEvidence {
 	val := NewMockPV()
 	blockID := makeBlockID([]byte("blockhash"), 1000, []byte("partshash"))
diff --git a/types/params.go b/types/params.go
index 1466faa60..16c85aa55 100644
--- a/types/params.go
+++ b/types/params.go
@@ -19,9 +19,6 @@ const (
 
 	// MaxBlockPartsCount is the maximum number of block parts.
 	MaxBlockPartsCount = (MaxBlockSizeBytes / BlockPartSizeBytes) + 1
-
-	// Restrict the upper bound of the amount of evidence (uses uint16 for safe conversion)
-	MaxEvidencePerBlock = 65535
 )
 
 // DefaultConsensusParams returns a default ConsensusParams.
@@ -48,7 +45,7 @@ func DefaultEvidenceParams() tmproto.EvidenceParams {
 	return tmproto.EvidenceParams{
 		MaxAgeNumBlocks: 100000, // 27.8 hrs at 1block/s
 		MaxAgeDuration:  48 * time.Hour,
-		MaxNum:          50,
+		MaxBytes:        1048576, // 1MB
 	}
 }
 
@@ -98,23 +95,23 @@ func ValidateConsensusParams(params tmproto.ConsensusParams) error {
 	}
 
 	if params.Evidence.MaxAgeNumBlocks <= 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("evidenceParams.MaxAgeNumBlocks must be greater than 0. Got %d",
+		return fmt.Errorf("evidence.MaxAgeNumBlocks must be greater than 0. Got %d",
 			params.Evidence.MaxAgeNumBlocks)
 	}
 
 	if params.Evidence.MaxAgeDuration <= 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("evidenceParams.MaxAgeDuration must be grater than 0 if provided, Got %v",
+		return fmt.Errorf("evidence.MaxAgeDuration must be grater than 0 if provided, Got %v",
 			params.Evidence.MaxAgeDuration)
 	}
 
-	if params.Evidence.MaxNum > MaxEvidencePerBlock {
-		return fmt.Errorf("evidenceParams.MaxNumEvidence is greater than upper bound, %d > %d",
-			params.Evidence.MaxNum, MaxEvidencePerBlock)
+	if params.Evidence.MaxBytes > params.Block.MaxBytes {
+		return fmt.Errorf("evidence.MaxBytesEvidence is greater than upper bound, %d > %d",
+			params.Evidence.MaxBytes, params.Block.MaxBytes)
 	}
 
-	if int64(params.Evidence.MaxNum)*MaxEvidenceBytes > params.Block.MaxBytes {
-		return fmt.Errorf("total possible evidence size is bigger than block.MaxBytes, %d > %d",
-			int64(params.Evidence.MaxNum)*MaxEvidenceBytes, params.Block.MaxBytes)
+	if params.Evidence.MaxBytes < 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("evidence.MaxBytes must be non negative. Got: %d",
+			params.Evidence.MaxBytes)
 	}
 
 	if len(params.Validator.PubKeyTypes) == 0 {
@@ -174,7 +171,7 @@ func UpdateConsensusParams(params tmproto.ConsensusParams, params2 *abci.Consens
 	if params2.Evidence != nil {
 		res.Evidence.MaxAgeNumBlocks = params2.Evidence.MaxAgeNumBlocks
 		res.Evidence.MaxAgeDuration = params2.Evidence.MaxAgeDuration
-		res.Evidence.MaxNum = params2.Evidence.MaxNum
+		res.Evidence.MaxBytes = params2.Evidence.MaxBytes
 	}
 	if params2.Validator != nil {
 		// Copy params2.Validator.PubkeyTypes, and set result's value to the copy.
diff --git a/types/params_test.go b/types/params_test.go
index e266c2389..e6fbc4cad 100644
--- a/types/params_test.go
+++ b/types/params_test.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func TestConsensusParamsValidation(t *testing.T) {
 		8: {makeParams(1, 0, -10, 2, 0, valEd25519), false},
 		// test evidence params
 		9:  {makeParams(1, 0, 10, 0, 0, valEd25519), false},
-		10: {makeParams(1, 0, 10, 2, 1, valEd25519), false},
+		10: {makeParams(1, 0, 10, 2, 2, valEd25519), false},
 		11: {makeParams(1000, 0, 10, 2, 1, valEd25519), true},
 		12: {makeParams(1, 0, 10, -1, 0, valEd25519), false},
 		// test no pubkey type provided
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func makeParams(
 	blockBytes, blockGas int64,
 	blockTimeIotaMs int64,
 	evidenceAge int64,
-	maxEvidence uint32,
+	maxEvidenceBytes int64,
 	pubkeyTypes []string,
 ) tmproto.ConsensusParams {
 	return tmproto.ConsensusParams{
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ func makeParams(
 		Evidence: tmproto.EvidenceParams{
 			MaxAgeNumBlocks: evidenceAge,
 			MaxAgeDuration:  time.Duration(evidenceAge),
-			MaxNum:          maxEvidence,
+			MaxBytes:        maxEvidenceBytes,
 		},
 		Validator: tmproto.ValidatorParams{
 			PubKeyTypes: pubkeyTypes,
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ func TestConsensusParamsUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 				Evidence: &tmproto.EvidenceParams{
 					MaxAgeNumBlocks: 300,
 					MaxAgeDuration:  time.Duration(300),
-					MaxNum:          50,
+					MaxBytes:        50,
 				},
 				Validator: &tmproto.ValidatorParams{
 					PubKeyTypes: valEd25519,
diff --git a/types/part_set.go b/types/part_set.go
index b16fc583c..5e76b57fa 100644
--- a/types/part_set.go
+++ b/types/part_set.go
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ func (psh PartSetHeader) ValidateBasic() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// ToProto converts BloPartSetHeaderckID to protobuf
+// ToProto converts PartSetHeader to protobuf
 func (psh *PartSetHeader) ToProto() tmproto.PartSetHeader {
 	if psh == nil {
 		return tmproto.PartSetHeader{}