DPI means dots per inch. It is an image resolution term used mainly for printing. However, dpi is also important for digital visuals, like ecommerce product images. But PPI plays a more crucial role than DPI for overall image quality and resolution. Nevertheless, you can’t ignore the importance of DPI for online product images. A product photo with a higher dpi value means it has a higher resolution. The image will be clearer and crispier due to higher dots per inch. This article gives you a complete guideline on image DPI requirements for ecommerce product photos.
What Is Image DPI in Digital Images?
DPI is an image resolution term used for digital images and printing materials. It measures the image quality. DPI slightly affects the sharpness and clarity level of a photo.
An image with high dpi has a higher resolution. There are more details and smooth edges in the visual. The colors and gradients appear more accurate. In contrast, an image with too low dpi causes blurriness or pixelation.
Why Does Image DPI Matter for E-commerce?
Ecommerce product photos must have higher sharpness and finer details. DPI plays a key role in controlling these attributes. Sharp and clear images build trust. It attracts online shoppers to purchase the item.
Online product images with a standard dpi value look professional. It also supports better zoom functionality. Customers can inspect the product’s details closely.
Major Ecommerce Platforms DPI Standard Guidelines
Around 80%-90% of ecommerce product photos have an image resolution of 72×72 dpi, 6%-8% have 96×96 dpi, and 3%-5% have 300×300 dpi.
Most brands prefer maintaining a balance between image quality and file size. The following are the dpi standard guidelines for major ecommerce platforms.
Amazon
Amazon has strict product image requirements. Your product photos must be at least 72 dpi. But the best recommendation option is 300 dpi to ensure better visual clarity. The visual will look sharper, richer in detail, and more vibrant.
Etsy
There is a clear and detailed image policy for Etsy. 72 dpi is enough for screen viewing. But aim for keeping 1000 pixel wide images for best quality digital images. Plus, keep the image size within 1 MB to ensure fast loading speed.
Alibaba
Alibaba prefers accurate and professional product images. 72-DPI-image-resolution is enough for Alibaba. But the image size should not exceed 3MB.
Shopify
Shopify ecommerce product photos must be professional and appealing. Images should have a minimum of 72-96 dpi. But there is no limit for maximum dpi. It can be 300 dpi or more. However, a too-high dpi will slow down the loading speed.
eBay
eBay encourages sellers to upload product images with 300 dpi for optimal visual quality and detail. It also ensures better zoom functionality. This is especially important as the system may reduce the dpi value automatically for optimization.
Walmart
Walmart suggests users keep 300 dpi for primary images and 72 dpi for swatch images. Photos will appear crisp and clear on various devices. Plus, it ensures consistent brand elements, like color scheme, logo, etc.
Facebook & Instagram
There is no maximum limit for the dpi value on Facebook. But the standard option is 300 dpi. If your product photos have any text, the image size should be 400 dpi.
DPI Optimization for Different Product Categories
There are no hard and fast rules regarding specific dpi value for different ecommerce products. But most experts follow these below-mentioned dpi values for various categories of products.
| Product Type | DPI Value | Why Needed? |
| Jewelry & Watches | 1200+ dpi | to showcase intricate details and craftsmanship quality |
| Electronics | 800-1000 dpi | to display key features and build materials |
| Textiles & Fabrics | 600-800 dpi | to reveal weave patterns and fabric texture |
| Art & Collectibles | 1000-1200 dpi | to highlight fine details, authenticity, and scale |
| Clothing & Fashion | 400-600 dpi | to exhibit style, fitting, color, and stitching |
| Home Goods & Furniture | 300-500 dpi | to display size, material, and texture |
| Beauty & Cosmetics | 400-600 dpi | to showcase texture, color, and packaging details |
| Sports & Outdoor Equipment | 300-500 dpi | to highlight key features and material quality |
| Industrial & B2B Products | 200-250 dpi | to reveal technical specifications and functionality |
| Commodity Products | 150-200 dpi | to get info on uniformity, labeling, and packaging |
Tips for Better DPI Optimization in Ecommerce Product Photos
- JPEG, PNG, and WebP are the best image formats to upload ecommerce product images in better DPI-optimized versions.
- Use 300 dpi to process RAW format images.
- Set up the highest native resolution of your digital camera while capturing product images.
- Prime lenses and high-quality zoom lenses are the best choices to achieve higher dpi in ecommerce photos.
- Use soft, diffused lighting in ecommerce product photography to maintain better DPI and take high-resolution images.
- Avoid upsampling product images too much using software Photoshop. It may cause pixelation or blurry images.
- Consider downsampling product images to lower DPI to decrease file size and speed up processing.
Final Words
DPI doesn’t affect the image quality and resolution of product photos as significantly as PPI does. However, it is still important to maintain a balance between the file size and quality. In addition, you can’t overlook the optimal loading speed for your ecommerce site. We have already discussed the standard dpi value for various types of ecommerce platforms and different categories of products. If you are not an expert in formatting the image dpi requirements for ecommerce product photos, hire a professional ecommerce image editing service provider.
