eBay photo size requirements
eBay's rules are looser than Amazon's but its minimum is a hard gate: photos below the threshold are rejected at upload, and photos merely at the threshold miss the feature that sells.
Minimum and recommended
eBay requires at least 500 pixels on the longest side. That is the hard floor — below it the upload is refused. But 500px is a bare compliance number, not a good one. eBay recommends 1600 pixels on the longest side, because that is what makes the zoom and enlarge view genuinely useful.
Upload 1600 × 1600 square and you clear both bars with room to spare. Square keeps thumbnails in search results predictable, which is where most buyers form their first impression.
Zoom is the whole point on a used-goods marketplace
A large share of eBay listings are pre-owned, and the buyer's central question is condition. They cannot handle the item, so zoom is the substitute. If your photos are 600px, a buyer trying to check for scratches, wear on an edge, or the state of a connector gets a blur — and a buyer who cannot verify condition either walks away or opens a case after delivery.
This makes photo resolution unusually load-bearing on eBay compared with a marketplace selling new goods. Photograph flaws deliberately and at high resolution. A clearly documented scratch loses you nothing on the sale price and protects you from a not-as-described dispute later.
What eBay blocks
eBay prohibits borders, added text and artwork over the image, and watermarks other than eBay's own. Stock or manufacturer photos are not allowed as the primary image for used items — the buyer needs to see the actual unit. Photos also should not include your contact details or promotional messages, which is a rule sellers trip over when reusing images from their own website.
Use a plain, uncluttered background. eBay does not require pure white the way Amazon does for the main image, but a busy background makes the item harder to read at thumbnail size, and thumbnails are what get clicked.
Use the free photo slots
eBay allows up to 24 photos per listing at no charge. Sellers routinely upload three. On a used item this is a straightforward mistake: every additional angle reduces the buyer's uncertainty, and reduced uncertainty is what converts. Cover the item from all sides, then add close-ups of every wear point, serial or model number, the connectors or fittings, and everything included in the box. If something is missing from the original packaging, photograph what is present so the absence is unambiguous.
Practical shooting notes
Natural indirect light near a window beats a phone flash, which flattens texture and blows out highlights on anything glossy. Keep the camera square to the item so the shape does not distort. Shoot at your phone's full resolution and size down for upload — never the reverse.
Frequently asked
What is the minimum photo size on eBay?
500 pixels on the longest side. Photos below that are rejected at upload. eBay recommends 1600 pixels on the longest side so the zoom and enlarge view is useful.
How many photos can I add to an eBay listing?
Up to 24 photos per listing at no additional charge. Using more of them reduces buyer uncertainty, which matters most on used items.
Can I use stock photos on eBay?
Not as the primary image for a used item. Buyers need to see the actual unit. eBay also prohibits borders, added text, artwork and non-eBay watermarks.
Resize a whole batch in one pass
Drop your photos in, pick the eBay preset, and download them correctly sized on a clean background. Free for batches up to 25, runs entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded.