Short answer: Upload photos at least 2000 pixels on each side, keep files under about 1 MB, and make your first photo landscape or square with the product centered and space around it, so it crops cleanly into Etsy’s different thumbnail shapes.
Etsy’s photo numbers
| Spec | Etsy guidance |
|---|---|
| Recommended size | At least 2000 px width and height |
| First photo minimum | 635 x 635 px, or it may rank lower in search |
| File size | Images over 1 MB may not finish uploading |
| Formats | .jpg, .gif, .png, .svg, .heic (no animated .gif or transparent .png) |
| Shape | First photo landscape or square; Etsy found square images led to more purchases in its 2023 Shop Home test |
Thumbnail checklist
- Product centered with space on all sides, so square, portrait and landscape crops all work.
- Shoot wider than you think. You can crop in later; you cannot add missing edges.
- Product fills the frame enough to read at thumbnail size on a phone.
- One clear subject. Props should support, not compete.
- Show scale or use in a later photo: earrings on an ear, a print on a wall, a mug in a hand.
- Keep later photos the same shape as the first one.
A quick test
Open your shop on your phone and search for your main keyword. Can you spot your item in one second? Can you tell what it is without reading the title? If not, start with the first photo.
FAQ
What size should Etsy listing photos be?
Etsy recommends at least 2000 pixels for width and height, with files kept under about 1 MB.
What is the minimum size for the first Etsy photo?
635 x 635 pixels. Smaller first photos may rank lower in search.
Should Etsy photos be square?
The first photo should be landscape or square. In a 2023 test Etsy found square images led to more purchases on Shop Home, so frame your product so a square crop works.
Not sure what to fix first? Send us your shop link for a free mini audit. We email you the top issues in priority order. No password needed.
Sources
- Etsy Help: Requirements and Best Practices for Images
- Etsy Community: Updates to size and ratio for listing images
Handmade Coach is an independent consultancy and is not affiliated with Etsy, Inc. Etsy updates its guidance often; check the linked Etsy pages for the latest version.