What are Shopify's image size limits?
As of October 2026, Shopify's Help Center lists these limits for product and collection images. A file over 20 MB cannot be added.
| Limit | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum file size | Under 20 MB |
| Maximum dimensions | 5000 × 5000 px, or 25 megapixels |
| Recommended square product image | 2048 × 2048 px |
| Images uploaded for themes | 20 MB and 20 megapixels |
| Accepted formats | JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, HEIC, SVG; TIFF and BMP are converted to JPEG or PNG |
| Largest width the CDN delivers | 5760 px, never larger than the original |
What does Shopify's CDN already do with my images?
Themes request images through the image_url Liquid filter with a width, such as 800 px for a product card. Shopify resizes the image on the fly, caches it on its CDN and picks the format each browser supports (WebP or AVIF where possible), so a shopper on a phone never downloads your 2048 px master. It never enlarges an image beyond its original dimensions. Shopify's own help even says images do not need to be compressed before upload. For format details, see WebP for Shopify.
Why compress Shopify images if the CDN optimizes them?
Because the CDN handles delivery, compressing before upload mostly helps you rather than your shoppers. It is still worth a minute:
- Faster uploads and imports. A 12 MB phone photo uploads slowly, and a product import with hundreds of them takes much longer than with 400 KB files.
- Consistent sizes. Uploading every product at the same 2048 × 2048 px keeps the collection grid aligned and zoom sharp, instead of a mix of 800 px and 4000 px files.
- Apps and feeds work from your file. Sales channels, product feeds, review apps and exports start from the image you uploaded or a large version of it.
- No camera metadata. Compressing in the browser strips EXIF data such as GPS location before the file leaves your computer.
Do not over-compress, though. Shopify's CDN re-encodes the images it delivers, so an upload already squeezed to quality 50 gets compressed a second time and shows artifacts. Quality 80–85 leaves enough detail for that second pass.
How do I compress product photos for Shopify?
- Crop every product photo to the same aspect ratio in your editor; square (1:1) is the safest choice for most themes.
- Open Compress JPG and drop the photos, up to 100 at a time. Nothing is uploaded until you upload to Shopify yourself.
- Turn on Limit width and enter 2048. Smaller photos are left at their size.
- Set Quality to 80–85, or choose Target size and type 500 KB.
- Download the files and add them in Products, on the product's Media section.
Guidelines for JPEG photos at quality 80–85. Check your theme's documentation for its exact crops.
| Image | Upload size | Target file size |
|---|---|---|
| Product photo (square) | 2048 × 2048 px | 200–500 KB |
| Collection image | 1600–2048 px wide | 150–400 KB |
| Full-width banner or slideshow | 2400–3200 px wide | 300–600 KB |
| Separate mobile banner | 1080–1600 px wide | 150–300 KB |
| Blog featured image | 1600–2000 px wide | 150–300 KB |
| Logo | 2× its displayed width, PNG or SVG | Under 50 KB |
What size should a Shopify banner or slideshow image be?
It depends on the theme, because banners are cropped differently on desktop and mobile. Full-width sections request large versions on wide, high-density screens: Shopify's free Dawn theme lists banner widths up to 3840 px. An upload around 2400–3200 px wide covers most laptops and desktop monitors while staying under 600 KB as a JPEG. Keep the subject near the center so mobile crops do not cut it, and if your theme offers a separate mobile image, upload a portrait version around 1080–1600 px wide. Upload each banner once at full size: the theme requests the smaller widths for phones and tablets itself.
Should I upload JPEG, PNG or WebP to Shopify?
Use JPEG for product photos and banners: a photo saved as PNG is several times heavier with no visible gain. Keep PNG (or SVG) for logos, icons and graphics that need transparency, and compress them with Compress PNG, which keeps transparency. WebP uploads work too, but since the CDN already serves WebP or AVIF to shoppers, converting your masters is optional; convert product photos to WebP covers when it helps.