The six requirements
These are the rules Google enforces on every product image:
Common Scenarios:
- Size: minimum 100 x 100 px; 2500 x 2500 px recommended for zoom. Below that, images may be disapproved.
- No watermark or logo overlay on the product itself.
- No promotional text, borders or frames around the image.
- Background: white or transparent preferred; busy backgrounds are accepted only for apparel.
- Format: JPG, PNG, GIF or WebP; no SVG or HTML pages.
- URL: must be crawlable and return the image directly, not a redirect or a page.
Validate image URLs before the feed
ShopTools' image checker validates every image URL in your CSV - flags dead links, non-image responses and http:// sources - so feed disapproval happens in the audit, not after submission.
Features:
- URL validation: Flags dead links and non-image responses
- HTTPS upgrade: Converts http:// sources to https://
- Alt text check: Reports missing alt attributes in the same pass
Audit your catalog
- Export your products with image URLs.
- Check each URL resolves and returns an image, not an error page.
- Spot-check for watermarks and promotional overlays.
- Replace violating images, then re-upload the feed.
Before and after
- Before: Image: 80 x 80 px product photo (below 100 px minimum) After: Image: 1200 x 1200 px clean product shot
- Before: Image: photo with 'SALE' text banner across it After: Image: clean product photo, no overlay
Who needs this checklist
- Stores running Google Shopping feeds: Image compliance is a feed approval gate
- Agencies managing merchant feeds: Audit images across many client stores
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the minimum image size for Google Shopping?
- 100 x 100 px minimum. Google recommends 2500 x 2500 px so shoppers can zoom in product details.
- Can I use watermarked images?
- No - watermarks, logos and promotional overlays on the product image lead to disapproval.
- Does background matter?
- White or transparent is preferred. Busy backgrounds are accepted for apparel only.
- How does ShopTools help?
- It validates every image URL in your CSV before you submit the feed - dead links and http sources are caught in the audit.