Amazon product photos from your phone: main-image rules
The Amazon main-image rules sellers trip over (pure white, about 85% fill, 1000 px for zoom, no text) and a simple phone workflow that meets them.
Updated 2026-10-22
Amazon is strict about the first picture of a listing, the main image. A photo that breaks the rules can be suppressed, and a listing without a working main image does not show up in search. The good news: you do not need a studio. A phone, a window and a few minutes are enough, as long as you know the rules.
The main-image rules, in short
| Rule | What Amazon asks for |
|---|---|
| Background | Pure white: RGB 255, 255, 255 |
| Fill | The product fills about 85% of the frame |
| Size | At least 1000 px on the longest side, so shoppers can zoom (larger, such as 2000 px, zooms better) |
| Content | Only the product that is sold: no text, logos, badges, watermarks, borders or props that are not included |
| Files | JPEG, PNG, TIFF or GIF (not animated); JPEG is the usual choice |
These are the rules Amazon states in Seller Central (Product image requirements) and in its staff answers on the Seller Forums. Some categories have their own rules (for example apparel and books), and Amazon changes details from time to time, so check the current page in Seller Central before you upload.
Shoot it right
- Use soft daylight: near a window, not in direct sun. Turn off the flash.
- Put the product on a plain, light surface. The background will be replaced, so it only needs to be calm.
- Hold the phone level with the product and step back a little, then zoom in slightly: less distortion than shooting up close.
- Take a few angles. Amazon allows more images after the main one, and they do not need a white background.
Make it compliant on the phone
STAR Seller Studio does the rule-checking for you. Its AI Autopilot cuts the product out, places it on pure white with a soft shadow, sizes it so the product fills the frame, and exports 2000 x 2000 px. The Amazon check in the app then shows each rule as passed or not, with a one-tap fix. The cut-out runs on your phone: the photo is not uploaded.
The same photo also comes out as a 4:3 Etsy picture, a square Shopify picture and an Instagram post, plus listing text written by your phone's AI (or the built-in writer on phones without it) from the facts you enter, and checked against them.
Common reasons a main image is rejected
- An off-white or grey background (a cut-out on light grey is not RGB 255).
- Text or a sale badge on the main image. Keep those for the other images.
- The product is too small in the frame, or cropped off the edge.
- Props or extra items that are not part of the offer.
Questions
Does the main image need to be exactly 2000 x 2000 px?
No. Amazon asks for at least 1000 px on the longest side for zoom. 2000 px is a common choice because zoom looks better; square is the usual shape.
Can the other images have a coloured background?
Yes. The white-background rule is for the main image. The other images can show the product in use, with text or details, within Amazon's content rules.
Is the photo uploaded when STAR cuts it out?
No. The cut-out, the studio and the writer run on the phone. Only the optional AI scenes send a photo, and the app asks first.