Pictures that are to be included in a listing may be hosted in one of two ways:

  • eBay Picture Service (EPS): Stores uploaded image files on an eBay server.
  • Self-hosting: Image files are stored on a server outside of eBay.

The following sections provide information about each of these hosting options.

eBay Picture Services (EPS)

When using image processing editors or utilities to prepare pictures to be uploaded (e.g., to crop, rotate, or color correct your images,) avoid using the Save for the Web command or other picture-saving options in the program. These commands often result in reduced image quality after the uploaded pictures are processed by EPS. Instead, use the standard Save command with your image-processing tools.

Images that are uploaded to EPS must be in one of the following supported graphic formats:

  • AVIF
  • BMP
  • GIF
  • HEIC
  • JPG
  • PNG
  • TIF
  • WEBP

Note: All non-JPG format files are converted to JPG format at the time they are uploaded.

Depending on the PictureSet value supplied, the largest size picture that is stored is 1600 x 1600 pixels. The image may be scaled down to that maximum size if it is larger. Otherwise EPS will store a copy that is the same size as the original image.

Additionally, for each picture uploaded to EPS, a copy of the picture is created, appropriately resized, and stored for use on the View Item page, Search Results page, and other locations (e.g., My eBay.)

Upload files to EPS

The UploadSiteHostedPictures call enables sellers to upload image files one-at-a-time to EPS by including a binary attachment or a reference to a picture on a web server. You do not need to use this call to upload self-hosted images before creating the listing.

Up to 24 self-hosted URLs can be specified at once in Item.PictureDetails.PictureURL for AddItem or AddFixedPriceItem calls. However, you must call UploadSiteHostedPictures to upload binary attachments. The call returns the URL of the stored image in SiteHostedPictureDetails.FullURL. You then provide this URL as the value for the Item.PictureDetails.PictureURL field in a listing call. Refer to Associate pictures with a listing for more information.

UploadSiteHostedPictures includes support for watermarks and returns specific error messages for problems with uploading photos.

For additional information, refer to:

Self-hosted pictures

When a listing includes self-hosted pictures (except for a multiple-variation listing,) the pictures are automatically copied to the eBay Picture Services (EPS) for use on the Search Results page and the View Item page.

Important! eBay requires that all platforms used for the self-hosting of pictures be HTTPS compliant. Failure to be compliant will cause Add/Revise/Relist calls to fail.

For additional information, refer to Making your listings more secure.

The URLs for both the self-hosted and EPS pictures are returned by the GetItem call in the following fields:

When calling ReviseItem or RelistItem, new self-hosted URLs may be provided in the Item.PictureDetails.PictureURL field.

Note: Pictures in an active listing can be changed using the ReviseItem call only if at least 12 hours remain in the listing AND there have been no bids.

CMYK images

Images using the CMYK color space are not allowed. When creating a listing that includes self-hosted CMYK pictures, no error message will be generated, however those images will not be shown in the listing.

One way to identify images using the CMYK model is by using the identify command of the Image Magick Package.

For example:

$ identify -format '%[colorspace]' image.jpg

Images can easily be converted from CMYK to RGB using tools such as PhotoShop or the cmyk2rgb.com online conversion tool.