Amazon Product Image Technical Requirements: File Formats, Sizes, and Color Standards
Amazon's technical image requirements cover accepted file formats, minimum pixel dimensions for zoom eligibility, color mode standards, and banned proprietary formats that sellers must follow for product listings.
Overview
Amazon has specific technical requirements for product images that every seller must follow to get their listings live and performing well. Understanding these specifications — from file formats to color modes — helps ensure your images display correctly across all devices and qualify for features like zoom functionality.
Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know
- Main image is mandatory — Every product listing on Amazon must include at least one main image, with Amazon recommending a minimum of six images plus one video per product.
- JPEG is the preferred format — While Amazon accepts JPEG, TIFF, PNG, and non-animated GIF files, JPEG is the recommended format for best compatibility and performance.
- 1,000+ pixels enables zoom — Images must be at least 1,000 pixels on the longest side to activate the zoom function on product detail pages, which can significantly impact conversion rates.
- RGB color mode is essential — Although Amazon technically accepts CMYK, RGB is strongly preferred because CMYK images often display with noticeable color shifts on screens.
- Several common formats are banned — Amazon does not accept proprietary file formats such as PSD, EPS, BMP, PDF, and several others.
File Format and Size Requirements
Amazon accepts four image file formats: JPEG (.jpg or .jpeg), TIFF (.tif), PNG (.png), and non-animated GIF (.gif). Among these, JPEG is the clear recommendation from Amazon. Images must be a minimum of 72 dpi and at least 1,000 pixels on the longest side, though they cannot exceed 10,000 pixels on the longest side. For the best visual quality, sellers should submit images with minimal or no compression applied. When working with JPEG files specifically, always save at the highest quality setting and avoid repeatedly saving in JPEG format during editing, as each save cycle degrades image quality. For TIFF files, do not apply any file compression, and regardless of format, remove all layers from images before uploading.
Formats Amazon Will Reject
Sellers should be aware that Amazon will not accept images in proprietary or print-oriented file formats. The banned list includes EPS (Encapsulated PostScript), BMP (bitmap), PDF (Portable Document Format), PSD (Photoshop native files), and several application-specific formats such as CDR (CorelDRAW), FLA (Flash), PICT (Mac OS X default), and DOC files. Even if an image meets all other technical specifications, Amazon reserves the right to reject any image that does not comply with their content standards. This means sellers need to convert any working files into one of the four accepted formats before uploading.
Analysis & Recommendations
Why This Matters
Product images directly impact conversion rates and listing visibility. Images that fail to meet Amazon's technical standards can be rejected, delaying listings or degrading the shopping experience with color inaccuracies.
Key Takeaways
- Use JPEG format with RGB color mode for best results on Amazon
- Images must be at least 1,000 pixels on the longest side to enable zoom functionality
- Avoid CMYK color mode as it causes color shifts on web displays
- Never upload proprietary formats like PSD, EPS, or BMP — convert to accepted formats first
Recommended Actions
- →Audit your current product images to confirm they meet the 1,000-pixel minimum and use RGB color mode
- →Establish a workflow with your photographer or designer to deliver final files in JPEG/RGB format
- →Remove all layers and ICC color profiles from images before uploading to Seller Central
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