Mercari photo tips, in short: you can add up to 12 photos per listing, and the first one is the cover photo shoppers see in search, so make it your best. Shoot in natural light on a plain background, show every side, call out every flaw, and frame the item square and centered so the thumbnail doesn't cut it off.
On Mercari, buyers compare dozens of near-identical listings for the same item, often at similar prices. The listing with the clearest cover photo and the most honest condition shots usually gets the offer. This guide covers Mercari's own photo guidance, the 12 shots worth taking, how to make the cover photo stand out, and how to shoot condition so you avoid returns.
- Up to 12 photos per listing. Use most of them for anything used, branded or collectible.
- The first photo is the cover. It's what shoppers see first, and you can rearrange photos at any time.
- Natural light and a plain background show the item's exact color, which Mercari itself recommends.
- Square framing, item centered. Search shows small square thumbnails.
- Photograph every flaw. Condition shots are your best defence against "not as described" returns.
How many photos can you add on Mercari?
Mercari lets you add up to 12 photos to a listing. Its help center suggests taking as many as possible, and for used items it's worth using most of the slots: each angle or label you show is a question a buyer doesn't have to ask.
| Requirement | Mercari's guidance | What to aim for |
|---|---|---|
| Photos per listing | Up to 12 | 8–12 for used items; 5–8 for new in box |
| Cover photo | First photo; shown to shoppers first | Whole item, centered, plain background |
| Order | Rearrange at any time | Cover, sides, labels, flaws, included items |
| Lighting | Natural light, exact color | Window daylight, no flash |
| Background | Plain, no distractions | White, light grey or a clean surface |
| Shape | Search shows square thumbnails | Square (1:1) or item centered in a vertical photo |
| Pixel size | No published minimum | Straight from your phone camera; don't over-crop |
Mercari's photo limit and photo guidance were checked in October 2026. Marketplaces change their rules, so confirm the current requirements in your seller dashboard before you upload a large batch.
Mercari doesn't publish file-size or resolution rules for listing photos, and photos from any recent phone are more than large enough. Problems come from blur, dim light and heavy cropping, not pixel counts.
What makes a good Mercari cover photo?
A good cover photo shows the whole item, centered, filling most of a square frame, on a plain background, in daylight. Shoppers scan search results as a grid of small squares, so the cover has to be recognisable at thumbnail size.
- One item, whole. No edges cut off, no other items in the frame unless it's a bundle.
- Square and centered. If you shoot vertically, keep the item in the middle so the square thumbnail doesn't crop it.
- Plain background. A white board, a light wall or a clean table. Patterned bedspreads and carpet make the item hard to read.
- Face-on. The front of the item, the way it would sit on a shop shelf.
- Bright, not blown out. Natural light, with exposure turned down slightly for white items.
For bundles, show every item in the bundle in the cover so buyers know what they get. For a single item, don't show other colors or sizes you aren't selling.
What photos should a Mercari listing include?
Mercari's help center recommends photographing every side of the item and calling out any flaws. A complete set of 12 for a typical used item:
- Cover: the whole item, front, on a plain background.
- Back.
- Each side, and the top and bottom for objects.
- Brand, model or size label, close enough to read.
- Serial number or authenticity details for electronics, bags and collectibles.
- Working condition: screen on, lights lit, zips closed.
- Close-up of texture or material.
- Each flaw in its own photo: scratches, stains, chips, wear.
- Scale: the item in your hand or next to a ruler or coin.
- Everything included: box, cables, manuals, accessories laid out together.
A flaw that appears only in photo 11 can still lead to a dispute if the description says "like new". Mention it in both places, and consider an arrow or a finger pointing to it so it can't be missed.
How to take Mercari photos with your phone
A window, a plain background and your phone's main lens are all you need. Step by step:
- Shoot by a window in daylight. Turn off ceiling lights so colors stay true.
- Set up a plain background. A sheet of white poster board curved up a wall makes a seamless backdrop for small items.
- Clean the item. Dust, fingerprints and lint show up in close-ups.
- Switch on the camera grid and keep the item centered.
- Use the 1× lens; step closer instead of zooming digitally.
- Tap to focus, then drag exposure down a little if the item looks washed out.
- No flash. It causes glare and harsh shadows, especially on shiny items.
- Check each photo zoomed in for blur before listing. Shot at home? Photos can also carry hidden GPS location in their metadata; our free photo metadata remover shows what's in each file and saves clean copies.
Our guide to taking product photos with your phone covers a home setup in more detail, and how to photograph small products helps with jewelry, cards and small electronics.
Turn a cluttered phone photo into a clean cover photo on white or light grey, with the item left exactly as you photographed it.
Make a cover photo7 days free · 50 credits · No credit cardShould Mercari photos be square?
Square is the safest choice for the cover. Search results show square thumbnails, so a square photo with the item centered displays exactly as you framed it. Other photos can be vertical or horizontal, but keep the item in the middle.
To make a photo square without cutting off the item, set your camera to 1:1, or use our free square image maker, which pads a photo to a square with a background color instead of cropping. If you list from a computer and your iPhone photos are HEIC, the free image compressor converts them to JPG and shrinks large files.
Can you use stock photos or text on Mercari photos?
Use your own photos of the actual item. Stock or brand photos don't show the condition of what you're selling and can lead to disputes, and photos copied from other listings can get your listing reported. Keep photos free of text, price stickers, borders and watermarks too; put details in the description, where they're searchable.
Common Mercari photo mistakes
| Mistake | Why it hurts | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Busy background | Item disappears in the search grid | Plain board, wall or table |
| Dark or yellow light | Wrong colors, blurry detail | Daylight by a window |
| Cover cuts off the item | Looks careless as a square thumbnail | Square framing, item centered |
| Only 2–3 photos | Buyers assume you're hiding wear | Use 8–12 for used items |
| Flaws not shown | Returns and bad ratings | A close-up of every flaw |
| Glare on shiny items | Hides scratches and labels | No flash; angle away from the window |
Cleaning up Mercari photos with AiArter
Most Mercari listings don't need any editing beyond a crop. Where it helps, AiArter keeps the item from your photo and changes only the background:
- Clean cover photos (4 credits). White or light grey backgrounds with a soft shadow, centered in a 2000×2000 square that fits Mercari's square thumbnail.
- Bulk. Up to 50 photos per batch with one ZIP download, useful when you list a whole closet or a box of items at once.
- Older or small photos. The AI upscaler enlarges them 4× for 3 credits.
Leave condition photos honest: changing the background is fine, editing out a scratch is not. Free-trial images carry a small "Made with aiarter" mark; use clean exports from a paid plan for listings. If you also sell on other apps, see eBay photo requirements, Poshmark and Depop photo sizes and our Vinted photo tips.
Frequently asked questions
How many pictures can you post on Mercari?
Mercari allows up to 12 photos per listing. Used, branded and collectible items benefit from using most of them to show every side, label and flaw.
How do I change the cover photo on Mercari?
The first photo in your listing is the cover photo. You can rearrange photos at any time while editing the listing, so move your best whole-item shot to the first position.
What size should Mercari photos be?
Mercari doesn't publish a required pixel size, and photos straight from a phone camera are large enough. Frame the cover photo square with the item centered, since search shows square thumbnails.
What background is best for Mercari photos?
A plain background such as white poster board, a light wall or a clean table. Mercari recommends a plain background so nothing distracts from the item.
Can I use stock photos on Mercari?
Use photos of the actual item you're selling. Stock photos don't show condition, can lead to disputes, and photos copied from other listings can get your listing reported.
How do I make my Mercari photos look professional?
Shoot by a window in daylight, on a plain background, with the item cleaned and centered, and skip the flash. Then crop the cover square and check every photo for blur before listing.
Upload your item photos and get square, clean white or grey cover photos, with the item itself left exactly as you shot it.
Start free trialSee pricing7 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.
