Product Images That Sell: Amazon South Africa Requirements & Best Practices

June, 2026

4 MIN

Your product images are your most valuable marketing tool on Amazon.co.za. Listings with low-quality or too few images suffer poor conversion rates and may be suppressed from search. This guide covers exactly what Amazon requires, what's prohibited, and how to make your images work harder.

Main image requirements

Your main image (MAIN) is the first thing customers see in search results. Get it wrong and your listing won't show up at all.

• Pure white background — RGB 255, 255, 255 (hex #FFFFFF)
• Minimum 1,000 pixels on the longest side (zoom enables from 1,200px)
• Product fills 80–90% of the image area
• Entire product visible — nothing cropped out
• One front view only — no multiple angles in a single image
• Product only — no accessories, packaging, or items not included
• True photograph — no sketches or graphical representations
• Aspect ratio close to 3:4 (Width:Height)
• File format: JPG preferred (PNG, GIF, TIFF accepted)
• Colour model: RGB only — CMYK will be rejected

Prohibited on MAIN images

• Text, logos, watermarks, borders, frames, or pricing
• Lifestyle or in-use shots
• Multiple product views or colours in one image
• Visible mannequins, hangers, or holders
• Human models (category exceptions apply for clothing)
• Packaging, brochures, certificates, or tags
• Black-and-white photography
• Image placeholders
• Blurry, pixelated, or low-resolution images

Additional images: where you tell your story

You can upload up to eight additional images per product. Use them for:

• Product shown in use or in its environment
• Different angles (back, side, top, detail close-ups)
• Infographics with text explaining features
• Scale or sizing references
• Packaging contents for bundles or sets
• Colour and pattern swatches

Minimum required: One MAIN image per parent and child ASIN. Recommended: Use all available slots (up to nine total) to give customers confidence.

Category-specific notes

• Clothing: MAIN must be on a model (ghost mannequin or flat-lay accepted)
• Shoes & Handbags: MAIN must show only the LEFT shoe at 3/4 view, toe facing left
• Watches & Jewellery: MAIN must be shot flat — no wrist or model shots
• Beauty & Personal Care: If selling a set, MAIN must show all items side by side

For full requirements, download the relevant Style Guide from Seller Central.

Common mistakes that get listings suppressed

1. Off-white background — confirm RGB 255,255,255 in your editing tool
2. Text or branding on MAIN — move to additional images only
3. Cropped products — full product must be visible
4. Low resolution — under 1,000px won't enable zoom and may be flagged
5. Wrong colour model — save as RGB, not CMYK
6. Multiple products in MAIN — show one product unless it's a barcoded multi-pack

Check your listings via Manage All Inventory > Listing Quality and the Suppressed Listings view in Seller Central.

Quick tips for better images (without a big budget)

• Use natural light — photograph near a window for even, soft lighting
• DIY white background — white poster board curved against a wall works for small items
• Smartphone cameras are fine — modern phones shoot well above 1,000px
• Edit for white — use free tools like Canva's background remover or remove.bg
• Show every variation — each colour and size needs its own MAIN image

Need help with your images?

Vetted providers on the Service Provider Network (SPN) offer professional photography, editing, and listing creation services. Through the Free Listing Initiative, eligible sellers can access up to 100 free listings including compliant images through SPN providers.

Find a service provider

Your images are your shopfront. Get them right, and customers click. Get them wrong, and your listing disappears from search. Review your top ASINs today.

Start selling today