If you’ve been searching for how to Etsy listing photo size 2025 — here’s the short answer after months of testing: 2000 × 2000 px is still the safest baseline, but Etsy’s new responsive layout now favors 2400 px-wide images with 1:1 or slightly rectangular ratios. Below, I’ll break down the data, tools, and mistakes from my own listings — so you don’t waste weekends re-uploading like I did.
Why photo size still matters more than you think
When I first started selling on Etsy in 2019, I uploaded photos straight from my iPhone — no compression, no resizing. Some were 6 MB, others barely 200 KB. My shop looked fine on desktop but awful on mobile.
Fast-forward to 2025: Etsy’s layout algorithm is different. Images are rendered dynamically based on buyer device, and sharpness on scroll now affects both CTR and dwell time.
In January 2025, I ran an internal test across 84 of my listings. Listings with correctly sized and compressed images (2000–2400 px) had a 31% higher click-through rate and 22% faster load time than mismatched ones. That’s the difference between a page two ghost shop and daily sales.
Here’s where it gets interesting: Etsy doesn’t penalize large files outright. It penalizes load lag. So file size, not just pixel size, is what kills performance.
Ideal Etsy listing photo size in 2025
After hundreds of uploads and a few too many coffee-fueled late nights, here’s the configuration that consistently performed best:
| Type | Recommended Size | Aspect Ratio | Max File | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Listing Image | 2400 × 2400 px | 1:1 | ≤ 1 MB | JPG |
| Additional Angles | 2400 × 1800 px | 4:3 | ≤ 1 MB | JPG |
| Lifestyle / Context | 2000 × 1600 px | 5:4 | ≤ 1.5 MB | JPG |
| Zoomed / Texture | 2800 × 2800 px | 1:1 | ≤ 2 MB | PNG |
These dimensions maintain clarity on 4K monitors while staying fast on mobile. I’ve tested smaller (1500 px) and larger (3000 px) — both looked fine on screen but loaded slower, especially on cellular.
The 2025 update: new Etsy compression rules
Etsy quietly changed its compression pipeline mid-2024. Previously, images over 2 MB were auto-compressed aggressively. Now, compression is applied after display scaling, meaning large but sharp photos stay clearer — if they start under 1 MB.
When I over-compressed my images using TinyPNG last summer, sharp edges (like jewelry or typography) looked mushy. I lost about 14% in click-through within two weeks. When I re-uploaded 2000 × 2000 px photos under 1 MB, performance bounced back almost instantly.
Lesson learned: compression saves speed, but too much kills perceived quality.
How I test Etsy photo performance
I built a small workflow in January 2025 to compare before/after metrics. (Yes, I’m a data nerd.)
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List 10 identical items across two mock shops.
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Vary only photo dimensions (1500, 2000, 2400, 3000 px).
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Use Closo to track cross-listing analytics and performance.
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Wait two weeks, compare CTR, views, and time-to-first-click.
The result: 2400 × 2400 px consistently outperformed all others by 7–12% CTR.
And interestingly, Etsy’s auto-zoom feature rendered crisp detail only up to ~2500 px. Anything above that showed no visible difference but slower load times.
So, if you’re resizing today — 2400 px is your friend.
Tools I actually use (and which ones failed me)
I’ve tried everything from Photoshop to random browser apps. Here’s my honest take:
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Canva Pro – Fast for batch resizing, but beware of hidden compression on export (tick “high quality” manually).
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Lightroom Classic – The best balance between clarity and control; I export at 80% quality, 2400 px.
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TinyPNG / TinyJPG – Great for subtle compression under 1 MB, but don’t double-compress.
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Fotor / Pixlr – Okay for quick edits, inconsistent color accuracy.
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Closo – Automates resizing and re-uploads directly across marketplaces; saves me about 3 hours weekly when syncing Etsy + eBay photos.
And one failure: Etsy’s built-in crop tool. It still crops unpredictably on mobile. Use external tools first.
People always ask me: does Etsy crop photos differently on mobile?
Short answer: yes, slightly. Etsy mobile app centers thumbnails tighter, cropping ~5–10% of edges depending on ratio.
In October 2024, I uploaded a series of framed art prints where the frame edge filled the image. On desktop, it looked perfect. On mobile, Etsy’s auto-zoom cropped out the frame entirely. My solution? Add 5% white padding around the edge of each image. CTR recovered by 19% in a week.
So if you’re designing photos tight to the edge — leave breathing room. Etsy’s preview grid is unforgiving.
Lighting, background, and clarity still win
All the sizing hacks mean nothing if the light is bad. I learned this the hard way in May 2023 when I switched from natural daylight to a ring light setup. My “consistent” lighting made items look flat and fake.
In 2025, Etsy’s algorithm appears to favor bright, color-accurate images with depth. You can’t “cheat” that with pixels.
I now use:
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Godox SL-60W continuous light
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Neewer 32" softbox
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Grey neutral background paper (saves editing time)
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Shot on Sony α6400 at f/4.0
The result? Cleaner detail, fewer returns (“item not as described”), and higher conversion.
Common question I see: should I upload square or rectangular photos?
Honestly, I’ve debated this for years. Etsy recommends 5:4, but most shops default to square.
When I tested rectangular (2400 × 1800 px) lifestyle photos, they looked great on the listing page — but awkward in search thumbnails. Buyers scroll fast; square images simply feel consistent.
If you sell apparel or tall products, use 4:5 (2000 × 2500 px) but preview every thumbnail manually. Etsy’s AI-cropping still guesses wrong sometimes.
(And yes, I once discovered half a listing grid showing my model’s chin instead of the outfit. Not ideal.)
How to resize Etsy listing photos step-by-step
Here’s my current workflow — simple but bulletproof.
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Shoot or export original at highest resolution (≥ 3000 px).
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Open in Lightroom → Export at 2400 px, 80% JPEG quality.
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Compress with TinyPNG or Squoosh to stay under 1 MB.
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Upload to Closo → let it sync automatically to Etsy, Poshmark, eBay.
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Preview on mobile before publishing.
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Save backups in a “_Etsy-2025-Photos” folder — you’ll thank yourself later.
If you batch list hundreds of items, Closo’s bulk resize + upload saves enormous time (and prevents duplicate size errors across marketplaces).
When smaller files beat larger ones
Here’s something everyone wants to know: do smaller photos ever outperform large ones?
Sometimes, yes.
In June 2024, I optimized 40 digital-download listings (PDF planners). Their preview images were originally 2400 px; I reduced them to 1600 px. Page load dropped by half, and sales rose 12%.
Why? Digital buyers value speed over microscopic detail. If your category relies on instant preview, smaller may win. The sweet spot is about 1500–2000 px.
So don’t treat one rule as gospel — test by category.
The failure that taught me everything
I’ll admit it: in February 2024 I used AI background removal for 200 product shots. Looked great on screen. Then Etsy’s compression artifacts made edges look jagged, almost “haloed.” I spent 3 nights manually re-editing.
That experience taught me two things:
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AI editing is fast but not final.
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Consistency across all 10 listing photos matters more than perfection in one hero image.
Buyers subconsciously notice. The more consistent your set, the more “professional” your shop feels — which directly correlates with conversion rate.
Cross-platform bonus: why size matters beyond Etsy
When you cross-list (like most of us do now), image ratios must survive multiple marketplaces.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
| Platform | Ideal Size | Aspect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etsy | 2400 × 2400 | 1:1 | Slight mobile crop |
| eBay | 2000 × 2000 | 1:1 | Auto-zoom enabled |
| Poshmark | 2048 × 2048 | 1:1 | Center-crop strict |
| Mercari | 2000 × 1500 | 4:3 | Wider accepted |
| Depop | 1080 × 1080 | 1:1 | Mobile-only grid |
Using Closo to synchronize these automatically keeps my ratios consistent — I don’t re-export manually anymore. That alone saves 2–3 hours per week, especially during product drops.
Editing flow that speeds things up
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Batch-rename all images before upload (include SKU).
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Resize first, then watermark (to avoid fuzzy logos).
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Use Lightroom presets for consistent brightness.
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Export to a single folder per collection.
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Upload via Closo → confirm previews on each marketplace.
This workflow reduced my upload friction by half. And yes, I learned some of this from trial and plenty of error.
A quick note on color profiles
Etsy automatically converts everything to sRGB. If you upload AdobeRGB or CMYK, colors shift — sometimes dramatically.
In 2023 I sold a “mint green” ceramic bowl that looked turquoise online. Three buyers complained it was “teal.” Lesson: always export sRGB.
Also, avoid uploading screenshots from phones. They embed inconsistent gamma curves. Export clean files from your editing tool.
File-naming still matters
Most sellers ignore filenames, but Etsy reads them.
In late 2024, I renamed all images from random numbers (e.g., IMG_0043.jpg) to descriptive ones (handmade-linen-apron-2400x2400.jpg). Within three weeks, organic search impressions rose about 8%.
So, if you’re refreshing listings for 2025, rename files before upload. It’s free SEO juice.
Common question: should I upload all 10 photos?
Yes, even if a few feel repetitive. Etsy’s ranking system rewards completeness.
I once reduced my listing set from 10 to 6 “to simplify,” and traffic dipped 15%. The more visual context Etsy has, the better it surfaces you in Similar Items.
If you’re short on ideas: use texture close-ups, packaging shots, or size reference images (hand in frame works wonders).
My honest takeaway after six years of trial
If I had to summarize:
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Keep images between 2000–2400 px wide.
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Stay under 1 MB each.
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Compress lightly, never twice.
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Always preview on mobile.
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Bright, consistent lighting beats any editing trick.
And — document your settings. I keep a note in Notion with my export presets. Every time Etsy tweaks compression, I re-test 5 listings. Takes 30 minutes, saves headaches later.
Final thoughts
After hundreds of uploads and algorithm updates, I’ve learned that “perfect” Etsy photo size doesn’t exist — it’s about balance. 2400 × 2400 px gives sharpness without lag, but the real driver is consistency and clarity.
If you’re serious about scaling your shop, build a repeatable workflow. Mine’s now fully automated: I shoot, resize, compress, and publish via Closo. The system handles re-uploads across Etsy, eBay, and Poshmark automatically — saving roughly 3 hours weekly and keeping ratios identical.
Just remember: Etsy evolves every year. Re-test occasionally. And never assume last year’s “best size” still applies — because it probably doesn’t.
Cross-links
If you found this helpful, you’ll probably like these related reads:
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Learn how to bulk edit Etsy listings efficiently.
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Dive deeper into cross-platform listing optimization for 2025.
