Marketplace photo tutorial
Etsy Listing Photo Size and Thumbnail Crop Guide
A photo can look well framed in your gallery and lose the handle of the product when Etsy displays the thumbnail. This guide follows Etsy's listing image guidance and uses a fictional pottery listing to explain how to prepare and check the first photo.
The quick steps
Start with an original photograph. Aim for at least 2,000 pixels in both dimensions, frame the first image in landscape or square with extra room around the product, and preview the thumbnail in Etsy before you save it.
1. Check the source dimensions
Open the original file's image information. Etsy recommends both dimensions reach 2,000 pixels and advises at least 635 pixels on both sides of the first photo to avoid a search disadvantage. A 2,400 × 2,100 original gives you more framing room than a small screenshot. If the original is soft, retake it with better light and focus.
2. Plan space around the actual item
For a fictional ceramic jug, keep the handle, lip and widest point inside the middle of the frame. Work on a duplicate on your canvas so the uncropped original is still available. Try a landscape framing and a square preview before committing to the export.
3. Check the smallest crop
Add the draft first photo to the listing and use Etsy's thumbnail adjustment and preview. Look for the jug's full handle, an upright horizon and a silhouette you can read at thumbnail size. If the handle disappears, back up the crop or use a wider original. A tightly cropped detail can move to a later gallery slot.
4. Inspect the uploaded result
Read the thumbnail in the context of nearby listings and check the full-size result after upload. Use an export format that Etsy accepts. If a file is slow to upload or fails, follow Etsy's current format and file-size guidance and inspect a compressed copy before you replace it.
Add a separate size or detail photo
Use the first image for recognition and another real photo to explain scale, finish or included pieces. A supporting dimensions graphic can help where the channel permits it. Keep the product photo and measured source visible during the layout so the graphic agrees with the item.
Use a crop checklist rather than a fixed margin
For the jug, check four visible points in every preview: the full handle, the top lip, the base and the widest edge. Leave extra space where the thumbnail crop removes the most. There is no universal padding value that makes every product shape work.
Keep a record of which file you uploaded and which thumbnail framing you approved. If a later edit changes the source crop, repeat the preview check instead of assuming the previous listing result still applies. Use a detail photo in another slot when a wider first image cannot show a small feature clearly.
Frequently asked questions
Is 2,000 pixels the upload minimum?
Etsy describes 2,000 pixels in both dimensions as a recommendation. Its first-photo guidance separately advises at least 635 pixels in both dimensions.
Do I have to use a square first image?
Etsy recommends landscape or square framing for the first photo. Use the preview to check how your specific subject appears in the different crops.
Compare crops with the original
Place a duplicate of your real product photo on a Ciyo canvas. Use separate preview frames and keep the original beside both crops.