The Google Shopping Product Image Guide
Google Merchant Center requires product images of at least 500 x 500 px and recommends around 1500 x 1500 px, with a new size requirement beginning January 31, 2027. Images may not exceed 64 megapixels or 16 MB, and the product should fill 75% to 90% of the frame.
By Sneha, Marketplace & India Writer · · Last updated:
Key facts
- At least 500 x 500 pixels required; around 1500 x 1500 pixels or above recommended; a new size requirement begins January 31, 2027.
- No image larger than 64 megapixels and no file larger than 16 MB.
- Best practice is product fill of no less than 75%, but not more than 90%, of the full image.
- JPEG and WebP are recommended; PNG, GIF, BMP and TIFF are accepted, all inside the 16 MB file cap.
- No promotional overlays, CTAs, prices, shipping text, condition labels, barcodes or QR codes, watermarks, added brand or retailer logos, borders, or single-colour squares; exceptions exist for Hardware 632, Vehicles & Parts 888 and Software 313.
- Generative-AI images must retain their IPTC DigitalSourceType metadata, even though the file itself is capped at 16 MB.
Clean, accurate product representation
The core requirement across shopping feed images is that the photo accurately represents the actual product being sold — the exact color, the actual packaging, no substituted stock photography. A feed image showing a different color variant or a staged scene unrelated to the literal product creates a mismatch between expectation and delivery that drives returns and complaints.
No promotional overlays or watermarks
Shopping feed images generally shouldn't include promotional text, pricing badges, watermarks, or borders overlaid on the photo — that kind of promotional content belongs in the ad copy or landing page, not baked into the product image itself. An image cluttered with a 'Sale' banner or logo watermark reads as lower quality and can conflict with feed policy.
Background and framing conventions
A clean, uncluttered background — often white or a simple neutral setting — helps the product stand out clearly in a shopping results grid where it's displayed alongside many competing listings at small size. The product should be clearly identifiable and appropriately sized within the frame, not so small that a shopper can't make out key details in a thumbnail view.
Consistency with the product page
The feed image should match what a shopper sees when they click through to the actual product page — using a noticeably different photo in the feed than what's on the landing page creates a jarring mismatch that undermines trust, even if both images are individually fine.
| Requirement | Google Merchant Center | Amazon | Shopify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum size | At least 500 x 500 pixels | 500 px on the longest side; below 500 px cannot be uploaded | No minimum published |
| Recommended size | Around 1500 x 1500 pixels or above | 1,000+ px, which is also what enables zoom | 2048 x 2048 px for square product images |
| Maximum size | 64 megapixels | 10,000 px on the longest side | 5000 x 5000 px, or 25 megapixels |
| Maximum file size | 16 MB | Not stated by Amazon | Under 20 MB |
| Product fill | No less than 75%, but not more than 90%, of the full image | Show the product as 85% of the image | Not published |
| Background | Not specified | Pure white, RGB color values: 255, 255, 255 | Not published |
| Formats | JPEG and WebP recommended; PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF accepted | JPEG, TIFF, PNG, non-animated GIF; JPEG recommended | PNG best, then JPEG; also TIFF, BMP, GIF, SVG, HEIC, WebP |
Benefits
Fewer feed policy issues from promotional overlays or inaccurate imagery
Higher shopper trust from feed-to-landing-page consistency
Better small-thumbnail legibility in a crowded shopping results grid
How It Works
1
Upload the exact product variant you're listing.
2
Fluxx.work generates a clean, accurate image with no overlays or promotional text.
3
Use the same image consistently across your feed and landing page.
Best Practices
- check_circleKeep feed images free of any promotional text, badges, or watermarks
- check_circleMatch the exact variant color and style being advertised
- check_circleKeep the feed image consistent with what's shown on the product landing page
Common Mistakes
- cancelAdding promotional badges or pricing text directly onto the product image
- cancelShowing a different color variant in the feed image than what's being sold
- cancelUsing a feed image that doesn't match the actual product landing page photo
- cancelOverly busy backgrounds that hurt legibility at small thumbnail size
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Founder, Fragrance Brand · Dubai, UAE
“Metal finish and stone detail survive a zoom now, which is what our listings actually needed. We stopped reshooting pieces that came back soft.”
Omar S.
Marketing Director, Jewellery · Abu Dhabi, UAE
“The textures and lighting are so realistic that customers tell us they can almost feel the product. We reshoot far less than we used to.”
Sneha P.
Founder, Coffee Brand · Coorg, India
“The AI-contextual backgrounds just work. It reads the product and picks the right aesthetic. We've stopped paying for stock photo subscriptions.”
Priya S.
Founder, Skincare Brand · Mumbai, India
Frequently Asked Questions
What size should a Google Shopping product image be?
At least 500 x 500 pixels, with around 1500 x 1500 pixels or above recommended and a new size requirement beginning January 31, 2027. Files must be no larger than 16 MB and images no larger than 64 megapixels.
Can I put a sale badge or price on a Google Shopping image?
No. Google prohibits promotional overlays, CTAs, prices, shipping text, condition labels, barcodes and QR codes, watermarks, and added brand or retailer logos, plus borders and single-colour squares. Some categories (632, 888 and 313) have exceptions.
How much of the image should the product fill on Google Shopping?
Best practice is no less than 75%, but not more than 90%, of the full image. That is a narrower band than Amazon's 85% product fill target, and both rules push you away from a tiny product floating in a large frame.
Do AI-generated product images need special metadata for Google Shopping?
Yes. Generative-AI images must retain their IPTC DigitalSourceType metadata, so if you strip other metadata on export, leave that field in place. The 500 x 500 px minimum and 16 MB file cap still apply.
What background colour does Google Merchant Center require?
Google Merchant Center does not specify a background colour, unlike Amazon's pure white RGB 255,255,255 requirement. Instead, keep the product cleanly separated and inside the 75–90% fill range, with no borders.
How many images can I add to a Google Shopping feed?
Google Merchant Center does not state a maximum number of additional images, so there is no published cap to design around. Amazon also publishes no cap but recommends at least 6 additional images plus 1 video.
Why Fluxx.work
Fluxx.work keeps generated images free of promotional clutter and true to the exact product variant, which is exactly what shopping feed policies expect.