Shopify image over 25 megapixels: how to resize it and upload
Shopify accepts product images up to 5000 x 5000 px, which is 25 megapixels, and under 20 MB. If your image is over either limit, resize it until it fits and upload it again. The limit is about pixels, not file size, so a small file can still be too big: a photo straight from a modern camera can be more than 25 megapixels even when it is only a few megabytes.
Check your image's size in pixels
- Mac: open the image in Preview, then choose Tools > Show Inspector. The pixel size is listed there.
- Windows: right-click the file, choose Properties, then open the Details tab and read the width and height.
Multiply width by height. If the result is more than 25,000,000, it is over the limit. For example:
| Size | Megapixels | Fits? |
|---|---|---|
| 5000 x 5000 | 25.0 | Yes, right at the limit |
| 6000 x 4000 | 24.0 | Yes |
| 6240 x 4160 | 26.0 | No |
| 8000 x 6000 | 48.0 | No |
Resize it
Any image editor can do this: open the image, choose resize or export at a smaller size, keep the aspect ratio locked, and save a copy. Don't resize the original, and don't enlarge a smaller image, because that adds pixels without adding detail.
Which size to aim for
For square product images Shopify recommends 2048 x 2048 px, which usually displays best and is far below the limit. Shopify's guide names PNG as the best file type for most product images, with JPEG next. If you use a consistent aspect ratio across a collection, the featured images display at the same size on collection pages.
The same limit applies to the Files page
Images uploaded in Content > Files have the same limits: 20 MB and 25 MP. If an app asks you to pick an image and refuses a big one, resize it first.
Importing by CSV
During a CSV import Shopify downloads each image from its URL. An image that is over the limits can't be attached, so resize it at its source before you import. See CSV import not importing images.