To photograph tools to sell, clean them, shoot on a plain light background in soft, diffused light (to stop glare on metal), and take a fixed set: the whole tool from the front and both sides, the model plate, every included part laid out, close-ups of wear, and the tool next to a tape measure for scale. Use 8 to 12 photos, square, at least 1600 px.
More on this topic: Product photography, every guide in one place.
Tool buyers are practical and suspicious in equal measure. They want to know exactly which model it is, whether the battery and charger are included, how worn the chuck or blade is, and whether the thing works. A dark photo of a drill on a garage floor answers none of that. This guide covers the setup, the shot list for hand tools, power tools and sets, how to stop glare on chrome, and the photo rules on eBay, Amazon and Facebook Marketplace.
- Clean first: wipe off grease and dust; buyers read dirt as neglect.
- Soft light, plain background: diffused window light or a light tent on white or light grey card stops glare on metal.
- Model plate in focus: it's how buyers check compatibility and value.
- Show what's included: battery, charger, case, bits, blades, laid out and counted.
- Show wear honestly: close-ups of blades, jaws, chucks, cords and any damage.
- Square, 1600 px or more: fits eBay, Facebook Marketplace and most stores.
What setup do you need to photograph tools?
A table near a large window, a sheet of white or light grey card curving up the wall behind, a white foam board to bounce light, and a phone on a small tripod. Large or heavy tools (saws, compressors, toolboxes) can go on the floor against a plain wall or garage door, shot from a slight height.
| Item | Why | Cheap option |
|---|---|---|
| Plain backdrop | Makes the tool shape easy to read | White or grey poster board |
| Diffused light | Prevents hot spots on chrome and steel | Window with a white sheet over it |
| Bounce card | Lifts shadows on the dark side | White foam board |
| Tripod | Sharp close-ups of model plates | Phone tripod or a stack of books |
| Tape measure or ruler | Scale for blades, bits and sockets | Your own tape, extended |
| Degreaser and cloth | Removes grease and fingerprints | Household degreaser, microfiber |
For a home setup that works for any product, see how to take product photos with your phone and how to build a DIY lightbox. Selling auto parts instead? See how to photograph car parts for eBay.
Which photos should a tool listing include?
Eight to twelve, in this order, so a buyer can judge model, completeness and condition without messaging you.
| # | Shot | What it answers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole tool, three-quarter front view, on plain background | What is it, and is it in good shape? |
| 2 | Left and right side | Any cracks, missing screws or melted plastic? |
| 3 | Model and rating plate, close and sharp | Exact model, voltage and version |
| 4 | Everything included, laid out flat | Battery, charger, case, bits: what do I get? |
| 5 | Working end close-up: chuck, blade, jaws, bit tip | How worn is it? |
| 6 | Battery and charger, with battery label visible | Capacity (Ah) and compatibility |
| 7 | Cord and plug, or battery contacts | Fraying, corrosion, damage |
| 8 | Tool beside a tape measure or in a hand | How big is it? |
| 9 | Any damage, close up, with a finger pointing | Honest condition |
| 10 | Tool running (or a short video), if it powers on | Does it work? |
To combine several items in one "what's included" image, the free product collage maker arranges them on one canvas. More on picking shots in how many product photos per listing.
The most common tool-listing dispute is a missing battery or charger. If they aren't included, take a photo of exactly what is, and say so in the description too.
How do you stop glare on chrome and metal tools?
Make the light source big and soft, and control what the metal reflects. Chrome and polished steel act like mirrors: they show whatever is around them, so a bright window becomes a white streak and a dark room becomes a black one.
- Diffuse the light: a white sheet over the window, or a light tent for small tools.
- Surround the tool with white card on both sides so the chrome reflects clean white, not your room.
- Turn the tool slightly until the bright streak sits along an edge instead of across a logo or scale marking.
- Avoid on-camera flash; it creates a hard hot spot on metal.
- For socket sets and wrenches, shoot straight down so size markings read clearly.
The same method works on any shiny product; see how to photograph reflective products. Black tool bodies need edge light to show their shape; our guide to photographing black products covers that.
How do you photograph power tools, hand tools and tool sets?
| Type | Key shots | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Cordless drills and drivers | Chuck close-up, battery label, clutch settings | Show whether the battery is included |
| Saws | Blade teeth close-up, blade size marking, guard | Keep fingers away from the blade in hand shots |
| Corded tools | Cord length and plug, rating plate | Fraying near the handle |
| Hand tools (wrenches, pliers) | Jaws and size stamps, straight on | Glare across the stamped sizes |
| Socket and bit sets | Open case, top-down, every slot filled or marked empty | Count pieces and match the title |
| Measuring tools | Scale markings sharp, calibration marks | Parallax: shoot straight on |
| Vintage tools | Maker's marks, patina, handle condition | Don't over-clean collectible patina |
For sets, photograph the case closed, then open from directly above, then a close-up of each row. Buyers check piece counts against the listing, so mark any empty slot.
What background should tool photos have?
White or light grey for the main photo, and a workbench or job-site scene for one lifestyle shot if you sell new tools. Light backgrounds make dark tool bodies stand out and are required for Amazon main images. For used tools on eBay or Facebook Marketplace, a clean plain background also looks more trustworthy than a cluttered garage.
- Amazon main image: pure white (RGB 255, 255, 255), product filling about 85% of the frame, nothing else in it.
- eBay and Facebook Marketplace: any plain background; real photos of used items, no stock images.
- Your own store: white for product grids, a workshop scene for banners.
If your photos were taken on a cluttered bench, AiArter's Amazon white background tool makes a pure white 2000×2000 main image for 4 credits, keeping the tool's real pixels. The background remover gives a transparent cut-out.
Turn a garage-floor photo of a tool into a clean, pure white main image. The tool itself isn't redrawn.
Make a white background7 days free · 50 credits · No credit cardWhat size should tool photos be on eBay, Amazon and Facebook Marketplace?
| Platform | Size | Photo count | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| eBay | At least 500 px; about 1600×1600 recommended | Up to 24 | No added text, borders or stock photos for used items |
| Amazon | At least 1,000 px longest side; 2000×2000 common | Main + secondary images | Main image pure white |
| Facebook Marketplace | Square or 4:3, at least 1080 px | Up to 10 | First photo is the thumbnail |
| Shopify | 2048×2048 recommended | Many | Keep every image the same ratio |
The free marketplace image resizer exports each size in your browser. Full rules in eBay photo requirements and Amazon product image requirements. Before posting, strip location data from garage photos with the free photo metadata remover.
Should you show the serial number?
Show the model number; you can blur most of the serial. The model plate tells buyers the exact version and voltage, which is what they need. A full serial number isn't needed to decide, and some manufacturers tie warranty registration to it, so there's no reason to publish it. If a buyer asks to check it, share it privately. The same approach is covered in our electronics photography guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do you take good pictures of tools to sell?
Clean the tool, shoot on a plain light background in soft window light, and take 8–12 photos: front, sides, model plate, everything included, wear close-ups and scale.
How many photos should a tool listing have?
Eight to twelve. eBay allows up to 24 and Facebook Marketplace up to 10.
How do you photograph chrome tools without glare?
Use big, diffused light, surround the tool with white card and angle it so reflections fall on the edges.
Should I photograph a power tool running?
Yes if it works: a photo or short video of it running answers the first question buyers ask.
Can I use stock photos to sell used tools?
Not on eBay for used items, and buyers distrust them elsewhere. Photograph the actual tool.
What background is best for tool photos?
White or light grey. Dark tool bodies stand out, and Amazon requires pure white for the main image.
How do you show the size of a tool in photos?
Lay it next to an extended tape measure, or hold it in your hand.
Turn workshop photos into pure white main images and clean cut-outs, then resize them for every marketplace.
Start free trialProduct photos7 days free · 50 credits · No credit card. Trial images carry a small “Made with aiarter” mark; paid plans export clean files you can use commercially.
