eBay listing image editing

eBay UK's photo guidance

Common edits

Many improvements come from a few simple edits: straightening a tilted photo, cropping out clutter so the item fills the frame, brightening a dark photo, correcting a colour cast from indoor lighting and resizing to the recommended dimensions. Applied consistently across a range, these make listings look professional and comparable without special equipment.

The main photo

eBay UK says the first photo you add is the main photo, appearing next to your title in search results, and that it should show the whole item face-on. It is the photo that decides whether a buyer clicks. Edit it with particular care: a clean background, the item centred and filling the frame, accurate colour and nothing added on top. eBay UK warns that graphics such as badges, logos, copyright notices or watermarks can affect a listing's placement in search results.

What not to edit

Example: photos taken under kitchen lights

Colour accuracy

Colour can be a reason for 'not as described' returns. When editing, compare the photo with the item in daylight and correct towards what you see, not towards a more attractive shade. Check edited photos on a phone as well as a computer, since screens differ.

Used items

eBay UK says you can't use a catalogue or stock photo if you're listing an item as used. Photos of the actual item, edited for clarity but not retouched, are required, and they need to show its condition honestly.

Editing in batches

For a range of similar items, set up the same crop, size and correction for every photo, so listings look consistent. Better still, improve how photos are taken, with consistent light and background, so fewer edits are needed. A simple setup, such as a window with indirect daylight and a plain board or sheet as a background, removes much of the need for colour correction and cropping. Keep your originals, too: if a buyer questions condition, the unedited photo can show exactly what the item looked like before listing.

Order of photos

After the main photo, arrange the rest so a buyer can follow them: other angles, then details such as labels and model numbers, then contents laid out together, then close-ups of any flaws. eBay UK says more photos highlighting all angles and imperfections help buyers feel confident. Number flaw photos in the description, such as 'see photo 7', so buyers can find them quickly.

File formats

eBay UK lists accepted formats including JPEG, PNG and HEIC, among others. Saving edited photos as JPEG at the recommended size keeps files well under the 12MB limit while preserving detail.