| Requirement | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended size | At least 2000 px on the shortest side | This is what enables the zoom view. |
| Best practice | 2000 × 2000 px, 1:1 square | Displays in search without being cropped. |
| Larger uploads | 3000 × 3000 px | Gives sharper zoom on high-density screens. |
| Maximum file size | 10 MB per image | Files over 1 MB can fail on slow connections — compress sensibly. |
| Photos per listing | Up to 10 | |
| Formats | JPG, PNG, GIF | |
| Colour space | sRGB | Convert before uploading. |
| Requirement | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Videos per listing | 1 | |
| Length | 5–15 seconds | |
| Maximum file size | Up to 100 MB |
Etsy generates the search thumbnail automatically from your first listing photo, as a square centre-crop.
That means anything sitting near the top or bottom edge of a portrait image — a hem, a hood, a hanging detail, your carefully placed product name — is simply cut away in the place where the buying decision actually gets made. You never see it happen from inside the listing editor, because the listing page shows the full image.
The fix
Make the first photo a 1:1 square. With a square upload nothing is cropped: what you see is exactly what appears in search. Keep the remaining nine photos in whatever ratio suits the product.
Etsy has stated that buyers are more likely to purchase when a shop displays square photos — which is consistent with the mechanism above rather than a coincidence.
Ten photo slots is generous compared with most marketplaces, and listings that fill them convert better. A sequence that works for apparel and accessories:
The hard limit is 10 MB per image, but the practical constraint is different: uploads above roughly 1 MB start failing on slower connections, and Etsy sellers frequently blame the platform for what is really a timeout.
A 2000 × 2000 px JPEG saved at quality 85 typically lands under 500 KB with no visible loss. That is the target — comfortably sharp, comfortably fast, comfortably inside every limit.
Etsy recommends at least 2000 px on the shortest side, which enables the zoom view. The best practice is 2000 × 2000 px square, and 3000 × 3000 px gives sharper zoom on high-density screens. The maximum file size is 10 MB per image.
Etsy generates the search thumbnail as a square centre-crop of your first listing photo. Anything near the top or bottom edge of a portrait image is cut off in search results. Uploading a 1:1 square first photo prevents any cropping.
Up to 10 photos per listing, plus one video of 5 to 15 seconds and up to 100 MB.
JPG, PNG and GIF, in the sRGB colour space. A 2000 × 2000 px JPEG at quality 85 usually comes in under 500 KB, which uploads reliably.
We produce on-model and packshot imagery to marketplace specification — correct ratio, correct background, consistent across every SKU. Send one flat product photo and see a finished frame before you commit.
Request a free test shot