eBay & Etsy Listing Photos

Updated October 2026

This is the page we wish we'd had when we started selling. Most listing photo problems come down to missing shots, not bad photography. Here's the list we work through for every item.

The shot list

1. The main photo. The whole item on a plain background, filling most of the frame. It's the thumbnail people see in search, so make it your best shot.
2. All the sides. Front, back, both sides, top and bottom. Buyers will ask if you skip one.
3. Labels and markings. Brand tags, model numbers, size tags, hallmarks, maker's marks. You may want to cover part of any serial number.
4. Every flaw, up close. Scratches, chips, stains, worn corners. It feels like you're talking the buyer out of it. In our experience, it's what keeps returns and complaints down.
5. Something for scale. A ruler or tape measure, or the item in your hand. Put the measurements in the description too.
6. What's in the box. One photo of everything that ships, laid out together.
7. Proof it works. For electronics, show it powered on.

eBay's rules

eBay wants photos at least 500 pixels on the longest side, and recommends larger (1600 pixels or more) so buyers can zoom. Any modern phone photo is far bigger than that. eBay's picture policy also restricts added borders, text and watermarks, and limits stock photos for used items. Policies change, so check eBay's picture policy now and then.

On Etsy

Etsy buyers like to see an item's character, so a styled photo (in use, or in a room) works well after a clean first shot. Check how your first photo looks as a thumbnail, because Etsy crops it. Size recommendations are in Etsy's Help Center if you search "listing photos."

Save time by batching

We set up once and shoot a dozen items in a row, finishing each item's full list before moving to the next. Before each item, snap a photo of a scrap of paper with its name or SKU. Later, when you're scrolling through 150 photos, you'll know where each one starts.

Keeping the same background and framing for similar items has a side benefit, too. Your store looks put together.