Complete Amazon Image Requirements Guide 2026

If you're selling on Amazon in 2026, your product images can make or break your success. Amazon processes millions of product images every day, and they're ruthless about enforcing their requirements. A single non-compliant image can get your listing suppressed, costing you visibility and sales.

This guide covers everything you need to know about Amazon's image requirements in 2026, including the technical specs, common mistakes, and how to create images that not only meet Amazon's standards but actually convert browsers into buyers.

Why Amazon Image Requirements Matter More Than Ever

Amazon's algorithm has gotten smarter about image quality. In 2026, listings with high-quality, compliant images get priority in search results. Meanwhile, non-compliant images can trigger automatic listing suppression, sometimes without warning.

Here's what's at stake: according to Amazon's own data, products with zoom-enabled images see up to 10% higher conversion rates. But to enable zoom, you need to meet specific size requirements. Miss those specs and you're leaving money on the table.

The good news? Once you understand the requirements, creating compliant images becomes straightforward. Let's break down exactly what Amazon requires.

Main Image Requirements: The Non-Negotiables

Your main image is the most important photo in your listing. It appears in search results, on the product detail page, and in Amazon ads. Amazon has strict requirements for main images because they want to maintain a consistent, trustworthy shopping experience.

Pure White Background

This is the rule that trips up most sellers. Your main image must have a pure white background with RGB values of exactly 255, 255, 255. Not off-white. Not cream. Not light gray. Pure white.

Why so strict? Amazon wants a uniform look across all product pages. When customers browse search results, they should see products clearly without distracting backgrounds.

Here's how to check: open your image in any photo editor and use the eyedropper tool on the background. If the RGB values aren't 255, 255, 255, Amazon might reject it. Even RGB 250, 250, 250 can cause issues.

Product Coverage

Your product must fill at least 85% of the image frame. This means minimal empty space around your product. Amazon wants customers to see products clearly, and too much white space makes products look small and less appealing.

There's one exception: books, DVDs, CDs, and digital media should fill 100% of the frame with no white space around them.

What's Not Allowed in Main Images

Amazon is crystal clear about what you can't include in your main image:

• No text, logos, or watermarks of any kind. This includes "Best Seller" badges, "New" labels, or your brand logo overlaid on the image. The only exception is if text or logos are actually part of the physical product itself.
• No props, accessories, or additional objects unless they're essential to showing the product. If you're selling a phone case, you can't show the phone inside it in your main image.
• No hands, models, or mannequins. Your product should appear to float against that white background. The exception here is clothing, which must be shown either on a live model or laid flat.
• No packaging unless the packaging is the actual product you're selling. If you're selling a toy, don't show it in the box.
• No multiple products unless you're selling them as a set. If your listing is for one water bottle, don't show three different colors in the main image.

Technical Specifications: Getting the Details Right

Image Dimensions

Amazon requires images to be at least 1000 pixels on the longest side. This is the absolute minimum to enable the zoom function, which is crucial for conversion.

But here's the thing: 1000 pixels is barely enough. Amazon recommends 2000 pixels or larger on the longest side, and for good reason. Higher resolution images look better, zoom in more smoothly, and perform better in search results.

The maximum allowed is 10,000 pixels on the longest side. Most sellers find that 2000-2500 pixels hits the sweet spot between quality and file size.

File Format and Size

Amazon accepts four file formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, and TIFF. JPEG is the preferred format because it balances quality and file size well.

Your file size must not exceed 10 MB. If you're shooting at 2000 pixels, you'll rarely hit this limit unless you're using uncompressed formats.

Aspect Ratio

While Amazon doesn't mandate a specific aspect ratio, the most common is 1:1 (square). You'll notice that most products on Amazon use square images because they display consistently across desktop, mobile, and app interfaces.

A 3:4 ratio also works well and is Amazon's recommended aspect ratio for certain categories. The key is consistency - if you're going to use 3:4, use it for all your images.

Secondary Images: More Flexibility, More Opportunity

You can upload up to nine total images per product listing (one main image plus eight secondary images). These additional images give you much more creative freedom.

What You Can Do with Secondary Images

Unlike your main image, secondary images can include:

• Colored or textured backgrounds that complement your product. A skincare product might look great on a marble countertop. A camping tent could be shown in a forest setting.
• Text overlays and infographics. Use these to highlight dimensions, features, materials, or benefits. Just keep the text clear and readable on mobile devices.
• Lifestyle photography showing your product in use. These images help customers visualize owning and using your product.
• Multiple angles and detail shots. Show your product from the front, back, top, and sides. Include close-ups of important features, textures, or materials.
• Comparison charts or size references. Show your product next to common objects to give customers a sense of scale.

Best Practices for Secondary Images

Think about the customer journey. What questions do customers have when considering your product? Your secondary images should answer those questions visually.

For a backpack, you might include:

1. Image 2: Back view showing the strap system
2. Image 3: Interior shot showing compartments
3. Image 4: Infographic with dimension arrows
4. Image 5: Lifestyle shot of someone wearing it
5. Image 6: Close-up of the water-resistant material
6. Image 7: Comparison showing it next to a laptop

Each image should serve a purpose. Don't just upload seven slightly different angles of the same view.

Special Requirements by Category

Some product categories have additional image requirements beyond the general rules.

Apparel and Accessories

Clothing must be shown on live models or laid completely flat. Mannequins, dress forms, and hangers are not allowed in main images (though they're okay in secondary images).

Models should be photographed against that pure white background, with no shadows visible. The clothing item should be clearly visible and not obscured by the model's pose.

Shoes must be shown in a side view for the main image, with the entire shoe visible. You can show other angles in secondary images.

Jewelry

Jewelry images need to show fine details clearly, which means high-resolution images are even more important. Many successful jewelry sellers use images larger than 2000 pixels to allow for serious zoom.

The jewelry should be the focus with minimal styling. While you can show jewelry on a model in secondary images, your main image should typically show the piece by itself.

Electronics

Electronics must show the actual product, not illustrations or mockups. All ports, buttons, and features should be clearly visible.

If you're selling accessories like phone cases, you cannot show the phone in your main image. The case must be shown by itself against a white background.

Health and Personal Care

Products like supplements, vitamins, and personal care items must show the actual packaging as customers will receive it. You can't use enhanced or digitally perfected versions that don't match the real product.

Any claims on your packaging must comply with FDA regulations, and Amazon is increasingly strict about reviewing these during the image approval process.

Common Amazon Image Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Even experienced sellers make these mistakes. Here's what to watch out for:

The "Almost White" Background

Your image editing software might show a background that looks white, but the RGB values are actually 248, 250, 252. Amazon's automated system will catch this and may suppress your listing. Always check the actual RGB values, not just how it looks on screen.

Inconsistent Image Styles

Your main image is professional, then your secondary images are phone snapshots with terrible lighting. This inconsistency makes your brand look amateurish. Maintain a consistent quality and style across all images.

Too Much Text in Infographics

Secondary images can include text, but cramming paragraphs onto an image makes it unreadable on mobile devices (where most shopping happens). Keep text large, brief, and scannable.

Ignoring Mobile Display

Over 70% of Amazon shopping happens on mobile devices. If your images look great on desktop but are too detailed to see on a phone, you're losing sales. Always check how your images display on mobile before uploading.

Using Low-Resolution Images

Uploading images under 1000 pixels is an instant rejection. But even 1000 pixels isn't enough for a great customer experience. The zoom function is clunky, and customers can't see details. Aim for at least 1600 pixels, preferably 2000 or more.

Cut-Off Products

Sometimes in trying to fill 85% of the frame, sellers crop too aggressively and cut off parts of the product. The entire product must be visible in your main image.

Adding Prohibited Text

Phrases like "Best Seller," "Amazon's Choice," "#1 Rated," or anything that looks like an Amazon badge will get your image rejected. Even if your product genuinely is a bestseller, you can't say so in the image.

How to Create Compliant Amazon Images

Creating images that meet all these requirements might seem daunting, but there are several approaches depending on your budget and skills.

DIY Photography

If you're comfortable with a camera, you can shoot your own product photos. You'll need:

• A good camera or recent smartphone with a high-quality camera. Modern iPhones and Android flagships can produce Amazon-quality images.
• A light box or white backdrop. This ensures that pure white background Amazon requires. Light boxes range from $30 to $200 depending on size.
• Good lighting. Natural light works, but LED photography lights give you consistent, controllable results. Avoid overhead lighting that creates harsh shadows.
• Photo editing software to fine-tune the white background, adjust exposure, and resize images to Amazon's specs.

Professional Photographers

Hiring a professional product photographer typically costs $25 to $100 per product, sometimes more for complex items. This is worth it for hero products or if you have a large catalog and need consistency.

Professional photographers know exactly how to light products, remove backgrounds properly, and deliver images that meet Amazon's technical requirements.

AI-Powered Solutions

This is where tools like Prontoshoot come in. AI-powered product photography platforms can generate professional Amazon images at a fraction of the cost of traditional photography.

You upload a photo of your product (even a phone snapshot works), and the AI removes the background, creates that pure white Amazon requires, and can even generate multiple angles or show your product on models. The images meet all of Amazon's technical specifications automatically.

The cost per image is typically a few dollars, making it affordable to create compliant images for your entire catalog.

Checking Your Images Before Upload

Before you upload images to Amazon, run them through a validation check. You want to catch compliance issues before Amazon does.

Use the free Amazon Image Validator tool to check:

• File format and size
• Image dimensions
• Background color (is it truly pure white?)
• Aspect ratio
• Overall compliance

This takes 10 seconds per image and can save you from listing suppression headaches down the road.

What Happens When Images Don't Comply

If you upload a non-compliant image, one of several things can happen:

Immediate Rejection

Amazon's automated system may reject your image during upload. You'll see an error message explaining what's wrong - usually something technical like file size or dimensions.

Delayed Suppression

Sometimes non-compliant images slip through initially but get flagged later by Amazon's quality control team. Your listing might go live, then suddenly disappear from search results days or weeks later. You'll receive a notification that your listing is suppressed due to image quality issues.

Lower Search Rankings

Even if your listing isn't outright suppressed, poor quality images can hurt your search rankings. Amazon's A10 algorithm considers image quality as a ranking factor. Listings with high-quality, compliant images get preference in search results.

Reduced Conversions

Non-compliant images might technically be accepted but perform poorly. Images under 1000 pixels don't enable zoom. Poorly lit images make products look cheap. Inconsistent styling confuses customers. All of this leads to lower conversion rates and fewer sales.

Optimizing Beyond Compliance

Meeting Amazon's requirements is the baseline. To really stand out and drive sales, you need to go beyond the minimum standards.

Invest in High-Quality Photography

Amazon's recommendations are minimums. The top sellers on Amazon don't just meet the requirements - they exceed them. Their images are professionally lit, beautifully composed, and showcase products in the best possible way.

Tell a Visual Story

Use your full set of images to tell a complete story about your product. Start with a clean main image, then use secondary images to show use cases, features, benefits, and lifestyle applications.

Include Size References

One of the biggest reasons for returns is products being different sizes than customers expected. Include an image showing your product next to common objects (a credit card, a hand, a ruler) so customers know exactly what they're getting.

Even better, add professional measurement arrows directly to your product images. This eliminates any ambiguity about size. Learn how to create product images with measurement arrows using Prontoshoot's dimension tools.

Show Your Product in Context

Lifestyle images help customers imagine owning and using your product. Show that travel backpack on a hiking trail. Show that kitchen gadget being used to prep a beautiful meal. Show that decorative pillow on an actual couch.

Highlight Unique Features

If your product has features that set it apart from competitors, make sure those features are visible in your images. Use close-ups, callouts, or infographics to draw attention to what makes your product special.

Test and Iterate

Amazon allows you to A/B test images using their "Manage Your Experiments" feature. Try different main images and see which one gets better click-through rates. The data will tell you what customers respond to.

The Bottom Line

Amazon's image requirements exist for good reason: they create a consistent shopping experience and help customers make informed purchase decisions. But they're also your opportunity to stand out through high-quality visuals that not only comply with Amazon's rules but actively sell your products.

Getting your images right isn't optional. In 2026's competitive Amazon marketplace, compliant, high-quality product photography is essential for visibility, conversion, and success.

Start by ensuring every image meets Amazon's technical requirements. Use tools like the free Amazon Image Validator to check compliance before uploading. Then focus on making your images not just compliant, but compelling.

Whether you're shooting photos yourself, hiring a photographer, or using AI tools like Prontoshoot to generate professional images, the investment in quality product photography will pay off in higher rankings, better conversion rates, and ultimately more sales.

Remember: on Amazon, your images are often the only thing standing between a browser and a buyer. Make them count.

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Professional Photography Solutions by Category

Whatever you're selling on Amazon, we have specialized photography solutions to help your products stand out:

Popular Categories:

• Product Photography - White Background - Perfect for Amazon main images
• Jewelry Photography - Capture the sparkle and detail of fine jewelry
• Fashion & Apparel - Ghost mannequin photography for clothing
• Electronics Photography - Clean, professional tech product images
• Food & Beverage - Appetizing images that drive sales

Photography Styles:

• Studio White Background - Amazon-compliant main images
• Lifestyle Photography - Products in real-world settings
• Macro Detail Shots - Close-ups that highlight quality

Browse all photography solutions →

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Need help creating Amazon-compliant product images? Try Prontoshoot's AI-powered product photography platform - automatically generates images that meet all of Amazon's 2026 requirements.