Shopify Product Image Size, Format and Alt Text Requirements
Shopify's limits for product images (20 MB, 20 megapixels, 250 images per product), plus the recommended size, best formats and how to write alt text that helps SEO.
By Craftshift Team · · 3 min read
Shopify product images can be up to 20 MB and 20 megapixels each, with up to 250 images per product. For most stores, a square 2048 × 2048 px JPG or WEBP image under 5 MB is the best balance of quality and speed.
Shopify’s limits
| Limit | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum file size | 20 MB |
| Maximum resolution | 20 megapixels (for example, 5000 × 4000 px) |
| Images per product | 250 |
| Common formats | JPG, PNG, WEBP, GIF (Shopify also accepts HEIC) |
Files that exceed the size or resolution limit are rejected. Smart Bulk Image Upload resizes and re-encodes such images automatically during a bulk upload, and flags them in the preview before you start.
Recommended size
2048 × 2048 px is the size Shopify recommends for square product images. It is large enough for zoom on high-density screens, and Shopify automatically generates smaller responsive versions for each device.
Uploading much larger originals doesn’t make your store look better, since Shopify serves resized versions anyway, but it does slow down uploads.
Our recommendation: 2048–4096 px on the longest edge, sRGB colour, under 5 MB.
Choosing a format
| Format | Use it for |
|---|---|
| JPG | Photographs. Universal and compact. |
| WEBP | Photographs and graphics with smaller files than JPG at similar quality. |
| PNG | Graphics, logos and images that need transparency. Larger files for photos. |
| GIF | Simple animations only. |
Shopify converts images to modern formats when serving them to browsers that support them, so a well-compressed JPG is a safe default.
Aspect ratio and consistency
- Use the same aspect ratio for all product images. Square (1:1) is the most common and fits most themes.
- Keep the product centred with similar padding so collection grids look tidy.
- Use a consistent background across a collection.
Alt text: what to write
Alt text describes an image for screen readers and search engines. Good product alt text is short and specific:
- Do:
Linen shirt in blue, size M, front view - Don’t:
IMG_4821or a list of keywords
A practical rule is the product title plus the variant’s options, for example Linen Shirt / Blue / M. Smart Bulk Image Upload writes exactly that on every image it uploads, and shows you the value in the preview; other formats (option value only, metafield + title, custom suffix) can be configured.
Image order and variant images
- The first image in a product’s gallery is the featured image on collection pages.
- Each variant can have its own image, shown when a shopper selects that variant.
When you bulk upload with file names like SKU.jpg, SKU_1.jpg, SKU_2.jpg, the order follows the suffix and the first image of each variant becomes its variant image.
Checklist before a bulk upload
- Files under 20 MB and 20 megapixels (or let the app resize them)
- 2048–4096 px on the longest edge, sRGB
- Consistent aspect ratio across the catalog
- File names follow your SKUs:
SKU_1.jpg,SKU_2.jpg - Main image has the lowest number (or no suffix)
Summary
Stay under 20 MB and 20 megapixels, aim for 2048 × 2048 px, use JPG or WEBP, and write alt text from the product and variant title. To apply all of this to thousands of images at once, read Limits and troubleshooting or try Smart Bulk Image Upload free.