Amazon Main Image Requirements (2026)
The main image is the only picture most shoppers see before they decide whether to click. It has two jobs: pass Amazon's rules, and stand out in a grid of near-identical white squares. This guide covers both.
The rules at a glance
| Requirement | What Amazon expects |
|---|---|
| Background | Pure white: RGB 255, 255, 255. Off-white from editing (250, 250, 250) can be flagged. |
| Frame fill | The product should fill about 85% of the image. |
| Size | At least 1,000 pixels on the longest side so zoom works. We deliver at 2,000 × 2,000 or larger. |
| File format | JPEG preferred; PNG, TIFF and non-animated GIF are accepted. Keep files under 10 MB. |
| Text and graphics | None. No text, logos, badges, watermarks, borders or colour blocks. |
| What's shown | The actual product, accurately, and only what the buyer receives. No props that aren't included. |
Amazon updates these rules, and some categories (apparel, jewellery and a few others) have their own. Check the product image requirements in Seller Central for your category before you upload.
Why compliant isn't enough
Every listing on page one passes the same rules. That's the problem. When ten white squares sit side by side, compliance is the entry ticket, not the advantage. The thumbnail earns the click, and on a phone that thumbnail is roughly 200 pixels wide.
So we design main images for that size first, then check them at full zoom.
What wins the click
Fill the frame, then fill it again
Most main images are too small, not too big. A product floating in white space reads as tiny in search. Push it to the edge of the 85% guideline, and crop the canvas to the product's shape rather than defaulting to a centred square.
Pick the angle that shows the most product
A three-quarter view shows the front, one side and the depth in a single frame. A flat front view hides the thing that makes a product look substantial. For a pickleball paddle that means the face and the edge guard. For a supplement pouch, the front label and the gusset.
Show exactly what's in the box
If the listing is a pack of three, show three. If it ships with a case, show the case. Quantity is often the first thing a shopper checks, and the main image is allowed to answer it without text.
Make the material look real
Texture is what separates a premium product from a cheap one at thumbnail size: brushed metal, soft-touch plastic, matte paper. That's why lighting matters more than retouching. We build most main images as photorealistic 3D renders in Blender, which gives full control over light and angle without shipping samples.
Design against the search page, not in isolation
Before designing, screenshot page one for your main keyword. If every competitor shoots front-on, a three-quarter angle stands out. If every pack is white, your colour does the work. Contrast is decided by the neighbours.
Common reasons main images get flagged
- Off-white background: a shadow or colour correction pushes the white below 255.
- Text or badges: “New”, “Best seller”, a logo sticker added in Photoshop.
- Props not included: a mug of coffee next to a coffee grinder that doesn't come with one.
- Product too small: lots of white space and a product that fills half the frame.
- Inaccurate images: a render or photo that doesn't match the product the buyer receives.
Main image checklist
- Background measures exactly 255, 255, 255 in an eyedropper.
- Product fills around 85% of the frame.
- Longest side is at least 1,000 pixels (ideally 2,000+).
- No text, logos, badges or borders added.
- Shows only what the buyer receives, in the right quantity.
- Still readable when you shrink it to 200 pixels wide.
- Looks different from the top five results for your main keyword.
Frequently asked questions
Amazon asks for an accurate, realistic image of the actual product. Photorealistic 3D renders are widely used when they match the real product exactly. Illustrations, drawings and obvious mock-ups are not acceptable for the main image.
No. Text, logos, badges, watermarks and borders are not allowed on the main image. Your logo can appear only if it is printed on the product or its packaging. Save text and callouts for the secondary images and A+ Content.
At least 1,000 pixels on the longest side so the zoom feature works. We recommend 2,000 × 2,000 pixels or larger, saved as a JPEG under 10 MB.
Yes. The main image needs a pure white background (RGB 255, 255, 255). Lifestyle scenes and coloured backgrounds belong in the secondary images.