eBay — Listing photo
No background rule. 1600px on the longest side unlocks zoom.
| Minimum longest side | 500 px |
|---|---|
| Recommended longest side | 1,600 px — below this, zoom does not engage |
| Ideal longest side | 1,600 px |
| Maximum longest side | 9,000 px |
| Maximum file size | 12 MB |
| Accepted formats | JPEG, PNG, TIFF, BMP, GIF, WEBP |
| Preferred format | JPEG |
| Aspect ratio | 1:1 (recommended, not enforced) |
| Background | No requirement |
| Minimum product fill | No requirement |
| Transparency | Not allowed — flatten onto white |
| Animation | Not allowed |
Why 1600 pixels is the number that matters
eBay accepts photos from 500 px, but 1,600 px on the longest side is the threshold where the zoom viewer switches on. Below it a buyer cannot inspect the item closely, and on a marketplace where a large share of inventory is used, being unable to inspect closely is a reason not to bid.
This is not a validation rule — nothing fails, nothing warns. A 900 px photo publishes perfectly and simply converts worse than the same photo at 1,600.
Borders, text and added artwork get photos removed
eBay's policy prohibits adding anything to the photograph itself: decorative borders, "FREE SHIPPING" banners, watermarks, seller logos, and promotional artwork. This is enforced more actively than most sellers expect, and it catches people importing listings from platforms where a branded frame is normal.
For used items there is a second rule with real consequences: the photo must be of the actual item. A manufacturer's stock image on a used listing is a policy problem and a dispute risk, because the buyer's expectation was set by an image of a different unit.
You have more slots than you are probably using
eBay allows up to 24 photos per listing, free. For used goods the marginal photo — the scuff, the serial number, the worn corner — reduces returns and disputes more reliably than any amount of copywriting.
What a pixel check cannot tell you
These rules need a human eye. The checker lists them rather than passing them silently, because a tool that reports a clean bill of health and then lets a listing get suppressed is worse than no tool at all.
- No added borders, text, or artwork over the photo
- Photos must be of the actual item for used goods
- Up to 24 photos per listing
Questions
What size should eBay photos be?
At least 500 px on the longest side to publish, and 1,600 px to enable the zoom viewer. There is no benefit to going far beyond that; 1,600 px square is a sensible target.
Does eBay require a white background?
No. eBay has no background requirement. A clean, uncluttered background helps the photo read at thumbnail size, but nothing is enforced.
Can I add a border or my logo to eBay photos?
No. Added borders, text, watermarks and artwork over the image are prohibited and are enforced. The photograph has to be the photograph.
Can I use a stock photo on eBay?
For new, branded items it is often acceptable. For used items the photo must show the actual unit you are selling — a stock image is both a policy problem and a common cause of disputes.
Other marketplaces
The rules differ more than people expect — a photo that passes on one channel can fail on another for reasons that have nothing to do with quality.
- Amazon product image requirements
- Walmart Marketplace image requirements
- Etsy listing image requirements
Sources
Specifications last verified . Amazon's own documentation is partly behind a Seller Central login, so where published sources conflict the permissive value is treated as the hard failure and the stricter one as a warning.