Guide to Shopify Image Sizes

Choosing the correct Shopify image sizes is important for ensuring the best user experience.

In Shopify, image size matters more than you might think. Image size you use will have an effect on page load speed, zooming functionality, and how well your Shopify store look on different devices.

In this article, we will share everything you need to know about Shopify image sizes. We’ll cover why Shopify image size matters, specify recommended image dimensions and file sizes, provide image optimization and responsiveness tips, as well as how to organize visuals to draw conversions.

Shopify recommended image sizes

Following Shopify image size, aspect ratio, and file format recommendations can help save resources and ensure good site performance, consistency, and user experience. Here are the general Shopify image size recommendations:

• Maximum image size: 4472 x 4472 pixels
• Recommended square image size: 2048 x 2048 pixels
• Image file size: up to 20 MB
• Image resolution: 72 dpi

And here is an overview of the most commonly used Shopify image sizes for specific image types:

Now, let's review the main image size recommendations in detail

Product image size

Shopify product image size can be 20 megapixels or up to 4472 x 4472 px. The file size should not exceed 20 MB. For square images, Shopify recommends a 2048 x 2048 px size.

Make sure you maintain a similar aspect ratio for all product images to ensure consistency and structure. The best ratio options are 1:1 (square) or 3:1 (rectangular).

Collection image size

Shopify collection image size can be up to 4472 x 4472 px. The file size shouldn’t exceed 20 MB.

Make sure that your collection images are always square (same width and height) and the same or similar size. Having the same dimension and ratio images makes your site look more structured.

As for the Shopify collection header image, the size is usually 1600 x 1600 px. However, it can vary depending on your chosen theme.

A Shopify collection header image size is ususally 1600 x 600 pixes, but might vary depending on the theme.

Banner image size

Most Shopify professionals suggest 2048 x 2048 px as the best Shopify banner image size. However, banner size requirements can vary based on your site’s theme. Choosing the right dimensions will help your image have the most impact across all browsers and devices.

The height of the banner will determine how much screen it covers. A banner with 600 pixels in height will take up pretty much all of the above-the-fold space the website visitors see upon entering. Meanwhile, a 400-pixel height will leave some room for other elements of the page.

Another way of thinking about Shopify banner image size is in aspect ratio. The best aspect ratio for hero or banner images is 16:9, which means they should be landscape. The first number suggests how wide your image should be, and the second one refers to its height.

Another way of thinking about Shopify banner image size is in aspect ratio. The best aspect ratio for hero or banner images is 16:9, which means they should be landscape. The first number suggests how wide your image should be, and the second one refers to its height.

Slideshow image size

Shopify slideshow images should be landscape. The best size for this type of image is 1600 x 500 pixels. However, dimensions between 1200-2000 x 400-600 px are also good.

The precise aspect ratio will determine how much above-the-fold space there is for other elements of the page.

Mobile and desktop devices will crop slideshow images differently, so make sure:

• The subject of your shots is centered
• The details of your image are large enough to see on mobile
• The slideshow images are optimized for page speed

The more similar your images are, the better the overall design will be. Align all your slide pictures in size or at least ratio.

Each theme can also have special recommendations on what image sizes it suggests for the best look. Check out the information available, and see what they say. Developers know what works for sure, so it’s a good guide to follow.

Logo image size

The best Shopify logo image size is a square image of 200 x 200 pixels. This is much smaller than Shopify’s 450 x 250 px limit and ensures the logo doesn’t become distorted anywhere on the website. Plus, logo file sizes that are too large can adversely impact page loading time.

A square logo with a 1:1 ratio is a safe choice that works with all themes, everywhere on the page.

Just like with other images, logo size can also depend on your Shopify store theme. For example, the Turbo Shopify theme suggests using a 400 x 100 px logo image for the main menu, 100 x 50 px for mobile, and 250 x 200 px for the footer.

So, we recommend checking the theme’s documentation to see what size to choose.

Image with text overlay size

The recommended size for images with text overlay, like background, featured blog, or even some banner images, is around 1800 x 1000 px (9:5 ratio).

However, the size of images with text overlay highly depends on your chosen theme and specific image type, so make sure to refer to the theme recommendations.

Blog image size

The best Shopify blog image size is 1800 x 1000 pixels (9:5 ratio). For pictures within the content, it’s recommended to go for 1000 x 350 px.

Same as with other Shopify images, the size of a featured blog image cannot exceed 4472 x 4472 px and 20 MB in file size, or the platform will downsize it for you.

Shopify background image size

The recommended Shopify background image size is 1920 x 1080 pixels (16:9 ratio). This is a safe option that ensures your background works on any device. Plus, the size of your files shouldn’t exceed 3 MB to avoid performance issues.

The Shopify image size limits still apply, so you can’t exceed 4472 x 4472 px. Remember, smaller images load faster. To reduce file size on your hefty background images, use an image optimization app such as TinyIMG for automatic size compressions.

Keep in mind that background image sizes will differ depending on a theme. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to see what sizes are recommended by the developers.

Why should you focus on image sizes for your Shopify store?

You’ve spent hours perfecting your product pictures and they look incredible. But what if your customers see overstretched or strangely cropped photos? Even worse - what if the customers leave the page before even seeing those photos because your website loads super slowly?

Paying sufficient attention to Shopify image sizes gives you these benefits:

• Enhances user experience. When your images are optimized to be seen across all devices in a non-blurry, non-stretched manner, online shoppers are able to visualize the products better, understand their specifications, and get a virtual look and feel. This enhances their overall shopping experience.
• Faster page load time. When your images and their sizes are optimized, they don’t make any of your web pages heavy. No matter how many images you add to a page. This helps ensure that your page load speed is well within 3 seconds; which is just how much the consumer is willing to wait. If you need to make your website faster, read and use other Shopify store speed optimization tips.
• Overall SEO improvement. When your images are optimized, page load speed is impressive, it adds to your overall SEO efforts. It indicates to the search engine that your website has what online shoppers are looking for, helping you rank higher.

You can achieve all that quite easily if you follow the best Shopify image optimization practices and use the correct Shopify image sizes.

Why are default Shopify theme images not good enough?

A number of brands start their online store using a popular or free Shopify theme. Now while these themes are editable, they come with some pre-existing images in certain sizes that the developer at the moment felt did justice to the design.

Most themes come with a default image ratio of 1:2. But that does not mean you edit your product images to fit their size and ratio. That should completely be based on the products you’re selling and what ratio best helps you bring it to the forefront in an image.

As a golden rule, follow the best Shopify image sizes to offer an enticing browsing experience to your store visitors. But don’t ever go reverse, compromising on your images to fit into a theme you bought.

You can also make use of some of the best Shopify apps like TinyIMG to help you optimize the images for the theme’s best performance.

Now that you know all about the recommended Shopify image sizes, let's move on to the next step. The image formats.

Best image formats for Shopify

Take a look at the most commonly used image file formats in Shopify stores and why they’re popular:

• JPG/ JPEG - one of the most commonly used image file formats thanks to its small file size and good color range. Easy compression also lets you reduce the file size, but still strike a balance between image quality and file size. JPG is the recommended image format for Shopify product photos.
• PNG - a great choice for logos and graphics, letting you retain good image quality on various file sizes. It also supports transparency, giving store owners more freedom to make custom designs. The only downside of this image format is that the file sizes of complex images can be very large because of the lossless compression.
• GIF - the most popular format to add animated images that will be universally recognized by all browsers. Shopify image format makes the initially massive GIFs smaller by compressing and reducing product images to 256 colors only.

Shopify accepts a number of other image formats, like TIFF or HEIC, but they are not widely used. Also, to ensure better page speed, Shopify serves WebP images in browsers supporting this format

Shopify image types to include

There are a few most commonly used types of Shopify images that are an essential part of any store. Here are the image types you should include:

1. Product images. Every eCommerce store has simple product images. They’re meant to give visitors a clear look at the products. That’s why they’re usually presented in a white background.
2. Contextual images. Together with product images, you should also include creative images of the product in use. It improves customer experience by allowing visitors to visualize the product in real life and how it would benefit them.
3. Product videos. Including engaging videos gives visitors a more realistic view of your product. Similar to contextual images, you can use them to demonstrate real-life benefits and features of your product.
4. Collection images. Creating collections with consistent images helps users find selections of products they’re interested in, such as seasonal trends or themed assortments.
5. Slideshow images. These are images that transition and are usually used on the homepage. They often include a call-to-action button or links, which is a great way to promote products, events, or current sales.

Conversion tips for Shopify photos

While focusing on optimizing your store visuals, remember the power of promotional materials such as posters. They can significantly enhance brand visibility both online and offline. If you’re looking to get a professional poster design, tailor-made templates offer an easy and quick solution without compromising quality.

Now that we have size and format figured out, let’s see how to make sure your Shopify visuals serve your conversions:

1. Include a variety of images. It is important to include images that highlight your product features, show them in use, display your offers and discounts, and so on.
2. Create a personal angle. Add a hint of your branding to your images for memorability. Unless you’re very short on budget, try to avoid stock images for commercial use that might end up being used on a number of other sites.
3. Show the product in use. The images on your store should help your visitors visualize how they can make use of the product in real life. Include images of real people wearing or using your product.
4. Use consistent editing for all your images. To give your store visitors a consistent experience across all pages, remember to edit your image size and aesthetics in a similar fashion. If you have too many photos and little editing skills, trust this process to experts providing product retouching services.
5. Make images responsive. Your images should work well across all devices. We focus a lot on this in our guide to Shopify responsive images. Having a Shopify app like TinyIMG can do the trick.
6. A/B test your images to find what works for you. Continuously experiment with different types of images on your store and measure their impact on sales closely.

How to add images to your Shopify store?

Adding images to your Shopify store is very simple. Here are the steps you need to take:

1. Go to Shopify admin, click the product, collection, web page, or blog post where you want to add an image
2. From the rich text editor, place your cursor where you want the image to be displayed
3. Click Insert image
4. Click Upload file
5. Select the image you want to upload and then choose an image size
6. Add image alt text to ensure the search engine knows what it is about
7. Click Insert image to add it to the content

Making an impression with the right Shopify images!

We know it sounds like a lot of effort to tailor your Shopify image sizes so much. But when it comes to offering online shoppers a seamless experience, images have a bigger role to play than you expected!

And of course, we can’t forget the search engines. Keeping your images optimized at all times will also ensure your store ranks for the right searches, driving high purchase intent shoppers to your site.

Curious to read more? Check out these articles:

• Strategies to increase your Shopify store traffic
• Best Shopify apps for your store success
• Best Shopify apps for SEO

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Frequently asked questions

Does Shopify have image size requirements?

Yes, Shopify allows uploading images up to 4472 x 4472 px, and the file size has to be under 20MB. However, this doesn’t mean that this is the best size. These are just the maximum parameters that Shopify allows. The recommended size for square Shopify product images is 2048 x 2048 px.

Does Shopify automatically resize images?

Yes, Shopify can automatically resize your images to ensure fast loading time. However, this only happens if your images don’t meet their set size parameters. That’s why it’s better to choose the proper size and file format of images before you upload them to Shopify. You can do that with any online image resizing tool or an app like TinyIMG.

Does Shopify automatically compress images?

Yes, Shopify automatically compresses images, but you may lose image quality. If you wish to keep the best picture quality, you need to manually compress images before uploading them to Shopify. Even better, use an image resizer app such as TinyIMG that automatically compresses images.

How to make images smaller for Shopify?

You can make Shopify images smaller by using an online image resizing tool. Upload your images to a tool or app like TinyIMG and choose the size you want. Then, click the Resize button and download your images.

Why properly sized images are blurry on my Shopify store?

If your images are properly sized but still blurry, this may be caused by Shopify’s compression algorithm. It may be reducing image file sizes in order to enhance loading times. That’s why it’s important to also consider choosing the right file format or using a high-quality image compression app like TinyIMG.

About the author

Nikoleta Kokleviciute

Nikoleta is a Marketing Manager at TinyIMG, an app for image and SEO optimization for Shopify merchants. Nikoleta loves diving deep into digital marketing, eCommerce, social media trends, and creating content that benefits its readers!