seller
- What changed
- Technical and content rules for Amazon product images
- When
- Updated October 2026
- Who it affects
- Every seller and brand owner listing products on Amazon
- What to do
- Audit your main images first, then rebuild secondary slots by shopper question
Key takeaways
- Main images need a pure white RGB 255, 255, 255 background with the product filling 85% of the frame.
- Upload at least 1,000 pixels on the longest side so zoom works; 2,000 pixel squares are a safe default.
- Use secondary images to answer shopper questions: size, use, contents, materials and comparisons.
Main image pass check
- Background exactly RGB 255, 255, 255
- Product fills at least 85% of the frame
- 1,000 px or more on the longest side
- Real photo of the product for sale
- No text, logos, badges or watermarks
- Only items included in the box
- JPEG, sRGB, layers flattened
Amazon image requirements at a glance
Amazon checks images when you upload them and again over time. A main image that breaks the rules can get the listing suppressed from search, so it is worth getting right before launch. The core specs below are confirmed by Amazon staff in the Seller Forums; always check the image guide in Seller Central for your category, because some categories add their own rules.
- Main image background: pure white, RGB 255, 255, 255
- Product fills at least 85% of the frame on the main image
- Minimum size: 500 pixels on the longest side
- Recommended: 1,000 pixels or more on the longest side, which turns on zoom
- No required aspect ratio, though square images display most consistently
- Formats: JPEG (preferred), TIFF, PNG and non animated GIF
What are the main image rules on Amazon?
The main image is the photo shoppers see in search results, so Amazon is strict about it. It must show the actual product for sale, not an illustration of it, on a pure white background. A light grey studio sweep that looks white to your eye usually is not RGB 255, 255, 255, so most photos need editing to pass.
The main image must not include text, logos, borders, color blocks, watermarks or other graphics on or around the product. Amazon staff have also said lifestyle scenes are generally not allowed as the main image. Show only what is in the box: accessories that are not included do not belong in the main shot.
- Real photo of the product, not a drawing or mockup
- No text, badges, logos or watermarks
- No props or items that are not included
- Whole product visible and in focus
- Product fills at least 85% of the frame
Image size, resolution and file format
Amazon accepts images from 500 pixels on the longest side, but at that size shoppers cannot zoom. Amazon staff recommend 1,000 pixels or more on the longest side to enable zoom, and many brands upload 2,000 by 2,000 pixel squares so detail holds up on large screens. Use sRGB color for consistent display, flatten layers and keep compression low.
Very large files can be rejected, so check the current file size cap in Seller Central before uploading high resolution TIFFs. JPEG is the safest choice for most products.
How to name image files for bulk upload
If you upload images in bulk, Amazon reads the file name to match each image to a product and a slot. The name starts with the product identifier, usually the ASIN, then a period, then a variant code, then the file extension. For example, a main image is named with the ASIN followed by .MAIN.jpg, and the first additional image uses .PT01.jpg. Leave out spaces and dashes so the upload tool can read the name.
What should go in each secondary image?
Secondary images can use colored backgrounds, lifestyle scenes, text and graphics. Treat them as a visual answer to the questions shoppers ask before buying, in the order they ask them. Read your reviews and your competitors' one star reviews to find those questions.
- Slot 2: key benefit infographic with three or four short callouts
- Slot 3: size and scale, with dimensions and a hand or room for reference
- Slot 4: product in use, showing the target customer
- Slot 5: what is in the box
- Slot 6: materials, ingredients or close up detail
- Slot 7: comparison with your other sizes or models
- Video: a short demo answering the top objection
Main vs secondary images
| Main image | Secondary images | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Pure white only | Any color or scene |
| Text and graphics | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Lifestyle scenes | Not allowed | Encouraged |
| Product fill | At least 85% | Flexible |
| Main job | Win the click | Win the sale |
Mobile first image design
Most Amazon shoppers browse on phones, where images are small and text is hard to read. Use large type, no more than a handful of words per callout, and high contrast. Preview every secondary image at phone size before you upload it. If you cannot read the text at a glance, neither can the shopper.
Images also matter for discovery. Amazon's visual search matches camera views against catalog photos, which we explain in image search on Amazon. Clean, accurate photos from several angles help your product match those searches.
Common reasons Amazon rejects or suppresses images
Most image problems come from the main image. If a listing is suppressed, the Fix Your Products page in Seller Central usually names the issue. Correct the image, upload it again, and allow time for the change to show.
- Background that is off white, grey or shadowed
- Text, badges or logos added to the main image
- Product too small in the frame
- Image below the minimum size
- Image showing a different variation from the one listed
- Unclear or pixelated photos
How images connect to the rest of the listing
Images, title and A+ Content should tell the same story. If your title now has to fit the Amazon title character limit, images carry even more of the detail that used to sit in the title. Brand owners can extend that story below the fold with premium A+ content and a brand story on Amazon.
PPC Spider's Amazon product photography service plans each image slot from review and search term data, then tests main images to lift click through rate. A free Amazon audit flags images that break the rules or underperform.
Sources
- Amazon Seller Forums: staff reply on image size, background and 85% fill requirements (sellercentral.amazon.com/seller-forums/discussions/t/a40898ca-7fe7-43e2-bb35-7965bbb003d4)
- soona: The complete guide to Amazon image requirements in 2026 (soona.co/image-resizer/amazon-image-size-specs)
We run these playbooks on client accounts every day. Start with a free audit.
Get a free audit