eBay Photo Requirements: Size, Picture Policy and Backgrounds

eBay's picture policy has one hard size rule, at least 500 pixels on the longest side, and a short list of things you cannot add to a photo: borders, text, artwork, marketing material and watermarks. It does not require a white background. White is eBay's advice, not its rule.

This guide goes through eBay's own pages on photos: the picture policy, the help page on adding pictures, the Seller Center photo tips and the older export.ebay.com guide. It covers what each one says about size, file limits, backgrounds and stock photos, which shots to take, and where a clean background is worth the effort. All pages were checked in October 2026, on both ebay.com and ebay.co.uk, and the rules read the same in the US and the UK. If you sell on several marketplaces, our white background rules for Amazon, eBay, Etsy and Walmart compares them side by side. This post covers eBay only, in more depth.

The rules at a glance

The picture policy is the binding document. The help and Seller Center pages are guidance, and in a few places they give different numbers. The table shows each number with the page it comes from.

Two of these numbers differ between eBay pages. The export guide recommends 800 to 1,600 pixels on the long side and says the uploader takes images up to 7 MB, while the current help page says about 1600 by 1600 and 12 MB. eBay does not say which page is current, so plan for the help page's numbers and keep files under 7 MB to satisfy both.

What the picture policy bans

eBay's picture policy is short. It says "Photos must be at least 500 pixels on the longest side," requires at least one photo per listing, and lists these as not allowed:

• "Photos that don't accurately represent the item"
• "Placeholder images used to convey messages"
• "Stock photos for used, damaged, or defective items"
• "Photos with added borders"
• "Photos with added text, artwork or marketing material"
• "Watermarks of any type, including those used for ownership attributions"

The UK picture policy has the same list. Note the word "added." The export guide says a border is fine when it is a natural part of the photo, such as the edge of a square item shot against a neutral backdrop. What is banned is a frame, caption, "Free shipping" banner or logo placed on the image afterwards.

eBay's wording covers ownership watermarks explicitly, so a small corner logo meant to stop copying is still a violation. Seller Center adds a second reason to leave photos clean: text, artwork, logos and watermarks "can prevent your images from showing up in third-party search results."

Does eBay require a white background?

No. The picture policy does not mention background color. The guidance on eBay's other pages is consistent but soft:

• The help page says "White backgrounds are generally best," asks for an uncluttered space against a neutral backdrop, and says a darker background may work better for shiny or reflective items like jewelry.
• Seller Center asks you to shoot "against a white/neutral background" and calls a plain white background "always a safe choice."
• The export guide suggests white or neutral, and says "a dark backdrop may be better" for reflective items.

So a clean light gray, a plain wooden table, or black velvet under a silver ring are all within eBay's rules. There is no RGB value to hit, unlike Amazon's 255, 255, 255.

eBay also gives you the tools itself. Its help page describes a Background button in the photo editor that replaces the background with solid white, and Seller Center describes a background removal tool in the eBay app with color, studio and AI-generated scenes. For AI scenes, Seller Center says to "only use this option for a few photos, and make sure the background doesn't distract from your item." eBay is fine with an edited background. What it cares about is the item.

Stock photos: new versus used

The policy bans "Stock photos for used, damaged, or defective items." The help page says the same in plainer words: you cannot use a catalog or stock photo if you list the item as used. That covers any item listed as used, and anything damaged or sold for parts. The buyer has to see the actual item, with its actual wear.

For new items the policy says nothing either way, so a manufacturer image is not banned by this rule. It still has to accurately represent the item, and it cannot carry added text or logos. In practice, your own photo of the sealed box or the item with its tags attached tells a buyer more than a catalog shot. The export guide also says not to break seals or remove tags just to take the photo.

The export guide also says catalog images are acceptable, but not as the main photo for used items, except in the Books, Movies, Music and Video Game categories. The current picture policy does not mention that exception, so do not rely on it without checking your listing form.

What happens if your photos break the policy

The picture policy lists the possible actions as "Removing the listing or other content, issuing a warning, restricting activity or account suspension." It does not say which breach leads to which action, or when photos are reviewed.

Two quieter costs are stated on eBay's pages. The help page says added badges, logos and watermarks can affect your listing's placement in search results. It also says close-ups of flaws help set buyer expectations and prevent returns.

The shots to take

eBay's pages agree on a basic set: the whole item first, then every side, the details, the labels, the flaws and something for scale. In their words, Seller Center says to show "all sides of the item, including full-view and closeups of textures, tags, labels and other key details" and to "Include closeups of blemishes, damage, or wear." The help page says the main photo should show the whole item face-on, and to add a coin or ruler when the size is not clear.

A few practical points, with what eBay states and what it leaves to you:

• Lighting. The pages differ. Seller Center says to shoot in bright overhead lighting without flash or filters. The help page says to avoid flash or overhead lighting to cut glare. Seller Center files its tip under "Use natural lighting," and both pages agree on no flash.
• Steadiness. The help page suggests a tripod, or the camera on a flat surface with the shutter timer.
• Variants and bundles. For a single item, show only the variant you are selling. For a bundle, the help page says the main photo should show everything in it.
• Size labels and measurements. Seller Center asks for tags and labels. For clothing, a flat measurement with a tape answers the first question most buyers send. eBay does not ask for it; it is our suggestion.
• Serial and model numbers. eBay's pages do not mention serial numbers. A readable model label on electronics answers compatibility questions before they are asked.
• Fashion. The export guide suggests a model, dress form or mannequin, close-ups of trims and hardware, and the inside of bags and shoes.

Pick what you are selling and its condition, and the planner below lays out an ordered shot list within eBay's 24-photo limit. Shots marked "eBay" come from eBay's own pages; "Tip" marks our suggestions. The size check tests one photo against the numbers in the table above.

When a clean background helps

eBay does not require one, but a plain background earns its place in three situations.

The first photo in search results. The help page says the first photo appears next to your title in search results, and Seller Center says to make it your best shot, centered and fully visible. A product on a plain background reads clearly at thumbnail size, where a busy carpet or kitchen counter does not.

A store that looks consistent. If you list dozens of similar items before the holiday rush, the same plain background on every first photo makes your store page look organized. It is a choice, not a rule.

Photos you also use elsewhere. If the same item goes on Amazon, Walmart or Etsy, a white-background first photo can cover several marketplaces at once. The cross-marketplace guide lists which ones demand pure white.

A clean background does not help the flaw close-ups, label shots or measurement shots. Those should look like what they are: honest photos of the item as it is.

How to make a clean first photo with WipeMark

eBay's own Background button works inside the listing form. WipeMark is an alternative when you want a full-size file you keep and can reuse on other marketplaces, with Restore and Erase brushes to fix the edges yourself. It is free, needs no account and adds no watermark.

1. Shoot the whole item face-on on a plain surface, in soft daylight, without flash. Leave some space around it so nothing is cut off.
2. Open the product photo background remover and add the photo. JPG, PNG and WebP are supported. The cut-out takes about 15 seconds. Your browser sends a reduced copy, at most 1024 px, for the cut-out, and nothing is stored.
3. Check the edges. Use the Restore brush to bring back any part of the item that was cut away, such as a strap, a shoelace or a thin handle. Use Erase only for leftover background. Do not touch the item's surface.
4. Set the background. Pick white, or any solid color, from the background options. The white background photo page covers the white-only route. Leave transparency off; a solid background is what you want on eBay.
5. Download full size. The download keeps your original resolution, up to 25 megapixels, so a phone photo stays well above eBay's 1600 px recommendation.
6. Crop. WipeMark does not crop automatically. Use eBay's crop tool or your phone's editor to get a square with the item filling roughly 80-90% of the frame, the range the export guide gives.
7. Upload it as photo 1, then add the rest of your set as shot, flaws and all.

For the angle shots, the room behind the item can stay. If something distracting sits beside the item, such as a cable, a coffee cup or a pet's tail at the edge of the frame, the object remover can take it out. Use it only on clutter around the item, never on marks, tears or damage on the item itself.

A quick check before you list

Before the Black Friday rush on 27 November, run each listing through this list:

• Photo 1 shows the whole item, centered, on a plain background.
• Every photo is at least 500 px on the longest side, and ideally about 1600 px.
• No borders, captions, logos, badges or watermarks on any photo.
• Used items have no stock or catalog photos, and every flaw has its own close-up.
• Labels, sizes and model numbers are readable.
• Something in one photo shows the scale.

The numbers here were checked in October 2026. If your listing form says something different, the listing form wins.