Short answer
Etsy recommends listing photos at least 2000 pixels wide and tall, and the first photo should be at least 635 pixels in both dimensions to avoid showing up lower in search. Supported formats are JPG, GIF, PNG, SVG, and HEIC; animated GIFs and transparent PNGs aren't supported. A square 2000 × 2000 px JPG in sRGB, under about 1 MB, is a safe default. Every listing also needs at least one unedited photo of the actual item against a real background.
Etsy image requirements at a glance
These are the values in Etsy's current help articles. Etsy separates recommendations from requirements, so this list does too. Check the linked Etsy page before a time-sensitive launch, because platform guidance can change.
- Recommended sizeAt least 2000 pixels in width and height (a recommendation, not an upload requirement).
- First photoAt least 635 pixels in width and height to avoid showing up lower in search.
- Supported formats.jpg, .gif, .png, .svg, and .heic.
- Not supportedAnimated GIFs and transparent PNGs. Transparent areas appear black on Etsy.
- File sizeImages larger than 1 MB may not finish uploading, especially on a slow connection.
- OrientationA horizontal or square first photo works best in cropped thumbnails.
- ColorIf colors look wrong after upload, convert the image to the sRGB color profile.
- Per listingUp to 20 photos and 2 videos.
Required: one unedited photo of the actual item
Etsy's AI-use update requires every listing to include at least one photo of the actual item against a real background that hasn't been edited or changed in any way. Some exceptions apply to print-on-demand, digital, customized, and made-to-order items, so check Etsy's Listing Image Requirements policy for your item. Every other photo must still show the item the buyer receives, without hiding flaws or making it look different. Outside the required unedited photo, Etsy allows editing tools, including AI, to adjust lighting or color, crop or resize, or change backgrounds. If a listing doesn't meet these rules and a buyer opens a case because the item is materially different, you may have to refund the buyer.
- Make the first photo the clearest, most realistic view of the item buyers will receive.
- If you used AI to edit any photos, Etsy suggests saying so in the listing description.
- AI-generated patterns, recipes, and instructions are no longer allowed, and their result photo must show a real result.
- In California, from 1 January 2027 (SB 1050), listing images that prominently feature an AI-generated person may need a clear disclosure.
The safe default: 2000 × 2000 px square JPG
If you want one setting that works for almost every listing, export a square JPG at 2000 × 2000 pixels in sRGB and compress it to roughly 1 MB or less. Square images avoid surprises in thumbnail crops, 2000 pixels meets Etsy's recommendation and supports zoom, and JPG is supported everywhere. Use a higher JPG quality setting for products with fine texture, such as fabric weave or engraved jewelry, and check the result at full size before uploading.
Make the first photo identify the product
The first photo is the thumbnail in Etsy search, category pages, and ads. Choose a photo where the product fills most of the frame and is recognizable at small sizes. A wide room scene where the product is small may upload fine but read poorly as a thumbnail. Keep a little space around the product so the crop doesn't cut off edges, and use Etsy's thumbnail adjustment to preview the square crop after uploading.
File format: export, don't rename
Export into a supported format from your editor rather than renaming a file extension. If your phone saves HEIC files, Etsy accepts them, but many other tools and marketplaces don't, so JPG is the most portable choice. For a product cut out on a transparent background, flatten it onto a solid background before uploading; Etsy shows transparent areas as black. Google Search supports JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, SVG, BMP, and AVIF for images on your own site, which matters if you also sell on a WooCommerce or other storefront.
Resolution: you can't add detail by enlarging
Start from the largest, sharpest original you have. Enlarging a small photo to 2000 pixels makes the file bigger but does not recover label text, stitching, or surface texture that the camera never captured. If your original is small, reshoot it. Most current phone cameras capture far more than 2000 pixels, so a well-lit phone photo is usually enough.
- Compare the export with the original at 100% zoom, especially lettering, edges, and texture.
- Keep an uncompressed original so you can re-crop without compressing twice.
- Use descriptive filenames, such as speckled-ceramic-mug-front.jpg, for your own organization and your own website.
Audit the full set before publishing
Additional photos should answer different buyer questions rather than repeat the first one. Check that every photo shows the same product in the same finish, that scale cues are backed by confirmed measurements, and that nothing in a styled scene could be mistaken for an included item. Use only images you have the rights to publish. In Lystiva, exports are prepared at your chosen destination's sizes. When you send to a connected Etsy shop, Lystiva puts one of your accepted, unedited Source photos first and won't send a listing whose only photos are generated; the draft is still yours to review and publish.
Questions sellers ask
Does Etsy require an unedited photo?
Yes. Etsy now requires at least one unedited photo of the actual item against a real background, with some exceptions for print-on-demand, digital, customized, and made-to-order items. Other photos can be edited, including with AI, as long as they accurately show the item.
What is the best photo size for Etsy?
A square image at least 2000 × 2000 pixels. Etsy recommends 2000 pixels or more in width and height, and the first photo should be at least 635 pixels in both dimensions.
What file types does Etsy accept for listing photos?
JPG, GIF, PNG, SVG, and HEIC. Animated GIFs and transparent PNGs aren't supported; transparent areas appear black.
Why are my Etsy photos uploading with the wrong colors?
The image may use a wide-gamut color profile. Etsy suggests converting it to sRGB before uploading.
What is the maximum file size for Etsy photos?
Etsy notes that images larger than 1 MB may not finish uploading, especially on slower connections. Compress large files before uploading.
Should Etsy photos be square?
The first photo should be square or horizontal so the thumbnail crop keeps the product visible. Square images are the simplest default for the whole set.
Sources
Requirements change. These are the official pages this guide was checked against, so you can confirm the current rule yourself.