Image Specifications
eBay Picture Size & Photo Requirements
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Quick answer
eBay photos must be at least 500 px on the longest side, and eBay recommends about 1600 × 1600 px. You can add up to 24 photos per listing, each up to 12 MB.
- Minimum: 500 px on the longest side
- Recommended: about 1600 × 1600 px
- Up to 24 photos per listing, 12 MB each
- Formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, BMP, WEBP, HEIC or AVIF
- No borders, added text, artwork or watermarks of any kind
- Used items need real photos, not stock images
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Resize a batch to these specs, free →9
Image slots
1
Required
15
Rejection reasons
13
Tips
Image Slots
Required
Gallery / Main Image (Photo 1)
RequiredWhite or plain light neutral background strongly recommended. Not strictly mandated for most categories, but it is the norm for new items and catalog-matched products.
Minimum 500 px on the longest side; 1600 px enables full-screen zoom. Shows the actual item being sold, front-facing, whole item in frame. No borders, watermarks of any kind (including ownership watermarks), logos or added text. This image is the search result thumbnail and is displayed as a square, so non-square images get padded.
Optional
Close-Up / Detail Shots
OptionalAny clean, non-distracting background. The detail should dominate the frame.
Use for textures, stitching, hallmarks, ports, buttons, fabric weave, or engravings. Must be sharp at full zoom.
Condition / Flaw Documentation
OptionalPlain background; use angled lighting so scratches, scuffs, and dents are visible.
Effectively required for used, refurbished, and for-parts items. Every flaw mentioned in the description should be photographed. Arrows or circles drawn on the image count as added artwork; point to the flaw with a finger or pen tip in the shot instead.
Labels, Tags, Model and Serial Numbers
OptionalNo requirement; legibility is what matters.
Text that physically exists on the product (brand tags, care labels, rating plates) is fine. Partially obscure full serial numbers on high-value electronics if you are worried about cloning, but keep model numbers readable.
Alternate Angles (Back, Sides, Top, Bottom)
OptionalMatch the main image background for a consistent gallery. Plain backgrounds preferred.
Show every side a buyer would inspect in person. Underside and back shots cut down on 'not as described' returns.
Lifestyle / In-Use
OptionalReal environment allowed. Keep it uncluttered so it is obvious which item is for sale.
Never use as the main photo. If props appear, state in the description that they are not included, or buyers will open cases for missing items.
What's Included / Accessories and Packaging
OptionalPlain background, all items laid out flat with space between them.
Show exactly what ships: cables, manuals, box, inserts. If the original box is missing or damaged, show that too.
Variation Images (Color, Pattern, etc.)
OptionalSame background and lighting as the main image so the variations look comparable.
In multi-variation listings, photos can be tied to one variation attribute (usually color). The photo swaps when the buyer picks that option, so each image must match its variation exactly.
Size / Scale Reference
OptionalPlain background with a physical ruler, tape measure, or common object in frame.
Dimensions cannot be typed onto the photo. Lay a real tape measure across the item instead. Very useful for clothing, art, and collectibles.
Rejection Reasons
Hard Reject
Image below 500 pixels on the longest side
eBay blocks uploads under 500 px. Shoot or export at 1600 px on the longest side to get zoom and avoid this entirely.
Borders or frames added to the photo
Any added border, colored frame, or decorative edge violates the picture policy. Export the raw cropped image with no edges.
Added text, logos, or marketing overlays
Text like 'FREE SHIPPING', 'NEW', prices or feature callouts is not allowed, and neither are watermarks of any type, including ownership watermarks.
Stock or catalog photos used for a used item
Used, refurbished, and for-parts items need photos of the actual item. Stock images are only acceptable for brand-new items, and even then real photos convert better.
Photos copied from another seller or brand site
Taking another seller's photos gets reported and removed fast, and brand owners file VeRO reports for copyrighted images. Shoot your own.
Contact info, URLs, or off-eBay references
Phone numbers, emails, website addresses, or social handles in a photo violate the off-eBay transaction policy. Check that shop signage or business cards are not in the background.
No photo uploaded
Every listing needs at least one photo. A placeholder or 'image coming soon' graphic does not count and will be flagged.
Offensive, adult, or prohibited content
Nudity, violent imagery, or prohibited items visible in the frame will get the listing removed. Watch reflections and backgrounds in mirror or glass shots.
Photo does not match the item being sold
Showing a different color, model, or condition than what ships leads to 'not as described' cases and listing removal. Re-shoot when inventory changes.
Warning
Blurry or out-of-focus images
Not an automatic block, but blurry photos tank conversion and invite returns. Tap to focus and use a stable surface or tripod.
Dark, yellow, or color-cast lighting
Indoor bulbs push everything yellow and make colors inaccurate, which causes returns. Use daylight-balanced light and set white balance.
Cluttered or distracting background
Messy backgrounds make the item look less valuable and confuse buyers about what is included. Use a plain sweep or wall.
Product too small in the frame
If the item fills less than about 70% of the frame, it looks tiny in the square search thumbnail. Crop in tight on the main image.
Non-square main image
Wide or tall images get letterboxed in search results and look smaller than competitors. Crop the main photo to 1:1.
Heavy filters or editing that misrepresent the item
Saturation boosts and beauty filters change how the item looks and lead to disputes. Edit for exposure and white balance only.
Optimization Tips
- 01
Upload at 1600 px on the longest side. That is the threshold for eBay's full-screen zoom, and buyers on used and collectible items zoom constantly before buying.
- 02
Use as many of the 24 free slots as the item justifies. For used items, 8 to 12 photos covering every side, flaw, and label usually cuts buyer questions and returns noticeably.
- 03
Shoot next to a large window on an overcast day, with a white foam board on the opposite side to fill shadows. It beats cheap LED kits for most small items.
- 04
Build a cheap sweep with a sheet of white poster board curved from the wall down onto the table. No horizon line means cleaner photos and easier background cleanup.
- 05
The eBay mobile app has a built-in background removal tool that swaps the background to white. It works well on solid objects but struggles with clear glass, fur, and fine chains, so check the edges.
- 06
Photograph flaws with raking light: put the light low and to the side so scratches and dents throw shadows. Buyers trust sellers who show the bad along with the good.
- 07
Order your photos the way a buyer inspects in person: front, back, sides, details, labels, flaws, then what's included. The first image is the only one in search, so make it the cleanest shot.
- 08
For clothing, shoot flat lays and on-hanger or mannequin shots, plus a tape measure across pit-to-pit and length. Measurement photos cut sizing returns more than any size chart.
- 09
Turn off your phone's portrait mode and beauty filters. They blur edges and smooth textures, which reads as hiding something on used goods.
- 10
Keep the background and lighting identical across a batch of similar listings. A consistent look in your store makes you look like an established seller and speeds up shooting.
- 11
If you list via API or a third-party tool with self-hosted images, the URLs must be HTTPS. Plain HTTP links fail to import.
- 12
Add a short video through the eBay app or Seller Hub for items where function matters, like electronics powering on or a watch movement running. It answers questions photos cannot.
- 13
Wipe down the item and use a lint roller before shooting. Dust and fingerprints show up badly at 1600 px zoom, especially on black plastic and glass.
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