eBay Picture Requirements Explained (And How to Pass Them)

The rules, in one list

eBay's picture policy is short but enforced - listings that break it can be hidden from search or removed:

• Minimum 500px on the longest side; eBay recommends 1600px for zoom
• No added text, logos or promotional graphics on photos
• No watermarks - ownership watermarks were banned in 2018
• No borders or frames
• First photo on a plain, preferably white background
• Stock photos not allowed for used items - buyers must see the actual item

Why 1600px is the number to hit

At 1600px on the long side, eBay activates pinch-and-hover zoom. Zoom matters most for exactly what sells on eBay: used items where buyers inspect condition, scratches and labels before bidding. Listings that let buyers zoom get fewer 'more photos please' messages and fewer not-as-described returns.

Our free eBay Product Image Optimizer resizes photos to 1600x1600, cleans the background toward white, and flags leftover watermarks or text in one pass.

Used items: honesty photographs better than perfection

For pre-owned goods, photograph the flaws deliberately - the scratch, the worn corner, the missing button. A clear photo of a defect sets expectations, prevents disputes, and paradoxically increases buyer trust and bids. Shoot the actual item from every angle; eBay prohibits substituting catalog images for used goods, and buyers punish it with returns.

Backgrounds and light without a studio

A sheet of white poster board curved behind the item creates a seamless backdrop for under five dollars. Shoot near a window in indirect daylight, fill all available photo slots (12 on most categories - they are free), and wipe fingerprints off anything glossy. Five extra minutes per listing measurably reduces questions and raises final prices.

The compliance check before you list

Run through: longest side at least 1600px, no text or watermark anywhere, plain background on photo one, every photo shows the actual item, flaws documented, file is JPG or PNG. Pass those six checks and your pictures will never be the reason a listing underperforms.

Frequently asked questions