eBay Image Optimization: Photo Requirements, Sizes & Listing Tips
eBay listings with high-quality photos sell faster and rank higher in Best Match search results. The platform allows up to 24 images per listing, but the first photo carries the most weight -- eBay's own seller data shows that the primary image drives roughly 90% of buyer click-through decisions. Getting your image dimensions, compression, and format right is the difference between a listing that sells and one that sits.
What Image Size Works Best on eBay?
For eBay listings, the minimum image size is 500 pixels on the longest side. Listings with images below this threshold receive a low-quality warning and rank lower in search results. The recommended size is 1600x1600 pixels, which activates the hover-zoom feature on desktop and pinch-to-zoom on mobile. Larger originals produce better results after eBay's server-side re-encoding.
| Image Type | Dimensions | Max File Size | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product (main) | 1600 x 1600 px | 12 MB | JPG, PNG, WebP |
| Gallery | 1600 x 1600 px | 12 MB | JPG, PNG, WebP |
| Minimum accepted | 500 x 500 px | 12 MB | JPG, PNG, GIF |
| Zoom-enabled | 1600 x 1600 px | 12 MB | JPG, PNG, WebP |
eBay accepts JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP, and HEIC formats. However, HEIC uploads (the default iPhone photo format) fail on certain browsers and older versions of the eBay listing tool. According to eBay's official image requirements, sellers should use JPG for maximum compatibility. If you shoot on iPhone, convert HEIC to JPG before uploading -- see our HEIC vs JPG comparison for details on the conversion process.
Common eBay Image Problems
Images Under 500px Trigger Search Penalties
eBay's Best Match algorithm factors in image quality. Listings with images below 500 pixels on the longest side receive a low-quality label that pushes them down in search results. This applies to all images in the listing, not just the primary photo. If any image falls below the threshold, the entire listing is affected. Always verify dimensions before uploading, especially when using photos from a supplier or manufacturer catalog.
First Image Cropped in Search Results
eBay search results display listing thumbnails in a square crop. If your primary image is not square (1:1 aspect ratio), eBay crops it automatically -- often cutting off the top and bottom of the product. Sellers lose control over which part of the image buyers see first. The fix: crop your main listing photo to a perfect square before uploading. Place the product centered in the frame with padding on all sides.
HEIC Upload Failures
iPhones save photos in HEIC format by default. While eBay lists HEIC as a supported format, the upload process fails on Firefox, some versions of Safari, and the legacy listing tool. Converting to JPG before uploading eliminates these failures. Tools like LighterImage accept HEIC files directly and output compressed JPGs ready for eBay.
Bulk Listing Tools Strip EXIF Data
Third-party bulk listing tools (Turbo Lister successors, InkFrog, SixBit) sometimes strip EXIF metadata during upload. This removes the orientation flag, causing portrait-mode photos to display sideways or upside-down on eBay. To prevent rotation issues, resize and compress images with a tool that preserves orientation data, or manually check image rotation before bulk uploading.
How eBay Re-Encodes Your Images
Every image uploaded to eBay passes through server-side processing. eBay re-encodes uploads at approximately quality 85 on the JPEG compression scale, regardless of the original file's settings. A 10MB raw photo and a 300KB compressed JPG produce near-identical results after eBay's processing pipeline.
This re-encoding behavior has two practical implications. First, uploading uncompressed files wastes bandwidth and time without improving the final image quality. Pre-compressing to 200-400KB reduces upload time from seconds to fractions of a second, with zero visible difference in the listing. Second, the mobile app applies even more aggressive compression than the desktop upload path. Photos that look acceptable on desktop can appear noticeably softer in the eBay mobile app. Uploading at 1600x1600 pixels gives the mobile re-encoder more data to work with, keeping details sharper after compression.
Creating Listing-Ready Images
- Shoot or resize images to 1600x1600 pixels. Set your camera or phone to capture images at 1600x1600 pixels or larger. If starting from existing photos, resize them to 1600x1600. This meets eBay's recommended dimensions and enables the zoom feature that buyers expect on product pages.
- Compress images before uploading. Run all listing photos through LighterImage to reduce file sizes by 50-80%. eBay re-encodes every upload at quality 85, so uploading a pre-compressed file prevents double compression that degrades detail. Aim for 200-400KB per image.
- Use a square crop with a clean background. Crop your main listing image to a 1:1 square ratio. eBay search results and the mobile app crop non-square images unpredictably, cutting off product details. Use a plain white or neutral background to avoid triggering stock photo detection.
- Convert HEIC files to JPG before uploading. If shooting with an iPhone, convert HEIC photos to JPG before uploading to eBay. HEIC uploads fail on some browsers and older versions of the eBay listing tool. Converting to JPG ensures compatibility across all upload methods.
Stock Photo Detection and Watermarks
Selling on eBay? Automated detection scans for stock photos and watermarked images. Listings with watermarks violate eBay's images and text policy and risk removal. The algorithm also flags images that appear across multiple sellers' listings. If you sell a popular product, take your own photos rather than reusing manufacturer images that dozens of other sellers already use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best image size for eBay listings?
The recommended image size for eBay listings is 1600x1600 pixels. This resolution enables the zoom feature on product pages, which eBay requires for Best Match search ranking. The minimum accepted size is 500x500 pixels, but images below 1600px lose the zoom icon and rank lower in search results.
Does eBay compress uploaded images?
Yes. eBay re-encodes every uploaded image at approximately quality 85, regardless of the original file's compression level. This means uploading a 10MB uncompressed photo produces the same result as uploading a 400KB pre-compressed version. Pre-compressing saves upload time and bandwidth without any quality penalty from eBay's processing.
Why do my eBay photos look blurry on mobile?
eBay's mobile app applies more aggressive compression than the desktop site. Photos that look sharp on desktop can appear soft on mobile. To counter this, upload images at 1600x1600 pixels with minimal pre-compression (quality 90+). The extra resolution gives the mobile app more data to work with after its compression pass, keeping details visible on smaller screens.
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