Mercari's grid is 1:1 at 1080 pixels and the upload pipeline downsamples larger sources server-side. Drop your photos in and the studio exports a clean 1080-square set, with the hero numbered 01, ready to upload from your phone or laptop.
Drop your product photos
JPG, PNG, WebP or HEIC. Up to 12 photos. Studio will pick the squarest one as your listing hero — you can swap it after.
Everything stays in your browser. No upload.
Files never leave your device
Runs in your browser
Free, no signup
How it works
1
Drop the photos
Up to twelve. For used or condition-sensitive items, lean toward more rather than fewer.
2
The studio sets the spec
1080 × 1080 square JPG at quality 92, under Mercari's 5 MB cap.
3
Upload to Mercari
Drag the mercari/ folder into the listing editor. Hero is 01, others follow in order.
What this Mercari resizer does
1080 matches the app grid
Mercari displays photos at 1080 pixels on the long side. Anything larger gets downsampled by the upload pipeline.
Square hero
Search and grid cards are 1:1. The studio square-crops so descriptive edges survive.
Under the 5 MB cap, fast upload
1080 at quality 92 lands well under the per-photo cap and uploads quickly on cellular.
How Mercari compares to the other marketplaces
Mercari's 1080-square is the smallest hero size of any marketplace covered, driven by the mobile-first display. The table compares published rules side by side; the Mercari row is highlighted.
Twelve square photos with measurements, tag, fabric and any wear.
Vintage
Vintage and collectibles
Square hero plus detail shots so buyers do not need to message for condition.
Used
Used electronics
Honest condition photos at the app's native size, no wasted upload on 4000-pixel sources.
Cross-list
Cross-listers from eBay
Re-spec the same source photos for Mercari without re-cropping the originals.
Tips that help
1
Add a measurement reference
A photo of the product next to a ruler answers the question a buyer would otherwise message.
2
Photograph any wear directly
An honest close-up of a flaw lets the rest of the listing speak with more confidence.
3
Use daylight
Indoor bulbs add a yellow cast on screen. A window-lit shot is cleaner.
4
Skip the 4000-pixel source
Mercari downsamples to 1080 anyway. A 1080-square upload looks identical in the app.
How Mercari's photo pipeline behaves
Mercari is the only one of the big marketplaces built mobile-first from day one. The photo pipeline reflects that. The sections below cover what the published rules say and how to use the 12 photo slots well.
1080 × 1080 is enough
Mercari's app and web grid both display photos at 1080 pixels on the long side. The upload pipeline downsamples anything larger on its servers, so a 4000-pixel source ends up identical to a 1080-pixel one in the app.
The studio's Mercari default is 1080 × 1080 square JPG at quality 92. Files typically land between 150 KB and 600 KB, well under the 5 MB per-photo cap.
If you also cross-list to eBay or Etsy, those marketplaces need a larger source. The studio renders each marketplace's size separately from the same upload, so a single source covers all of them.
Square hero, always
Mercari's search and grid cards are 1:1. A landscape upload is centre-cropped to square for those surfaces, so descriptive edges disappear in the result a buyer taps.
Cropping square before upload puts the centre-crop decision in your hands. The studio's hero slot is locked to 1:1.
Slot two onwards can be landscape if a wider frame helps (flat-lays of a clothing set, the full length of an item), but the hero stays square.
Used and resale: show condition openly
Mercari is dominated by used and resale categories. A buyer evaluating a used hoodie wants to see the tag, the fabric close up, any wear and the measurements before they buy.
A measurement photo with a ruler answers a question that would otherwise become a message exchange. For clothing, shoes and accessories where size is hard to read from a glamour shot, it is one of the most useful slots.
A close-up of a flaw (a pill, a scuff, a stain) paired with an honest description tends to feel more trustworthy than a listing that shows only the best angle. The buyer either buys with full information or moves on.
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Light and background for a phone-shot listing
Mercari's identity is closer to a phone-shot photo on a clean surface than a studio shot. A clean white sheet, a plain table or a hardwood floor works as a backdrop.
Daylight is the simplest light source. Indoor bulbs add a yellow cast on screen; turning them off and using a window is enough.
Consistency across the listing matters more than studio polish. A grid where every photo has the same background reads as deliberate; mixed backgrounds read as scattered.
Common Mercari photo issues and their causes
Mercari's photo issues are usually display problems caused by uploading too large or off-aspect, rather than policy rejections.
Hero photo is cropped awkwardly in the grid
Observed pattern
Cause: Landscape source uploaded for a grid that displays 1:1. The app centre-crops to fit and the edges disappear.
Fix: Crop square before upload. The studio's Mercari default exports at 1080 × 1080.
Photo looks softer than the source
Documented rule
Cause: Mercari downsamples uploads larger than 1080 on the long side, so a 4000-pixel source ends up at the same display resolution as a 1080 one.
Fix: Export at 1080 on the long side. The studio's default already targets that size.
Photo over 5 MB is rejected
Documented rule
Cause: Mercari caps per-photo uploads at 5 MB.
Fix: Use the studio's 1080 × 1080 JPG output. Files typically land between 150 KB and 600 KB.
Branded item lacks authentication photo
Documented rule
Cause: Mercari can require an authentication photo for branded luxury items. Listings without one face buyer questions or scrutiny.
Fix: Add a clear photo of the authenticity card, serial number, or maker's mark in slot two or three.
Mercari workflows the studio covers
Three Mercari workflows tuned to the app's mobile-first display.
Reselling thrifted clothing
Listing a piece of used or thrifted clothing.
1Take 8–10 photos: whole item front, whole item back, brand tag, fabric close-up, any wear, measurements next to a ruler, in-use or worn (if you can), and original packaging if applicable.
2Drop them into the Mercari resizer.
3The hero defaults to the front-on shot. Use Set hero on a different photo if the front isn't the best read.
4Build the pack. Files are 1080 × 1080, JPG, well under Mercari's 5 MB per-photo cap.
5Upload the folder. The 01-prefixed file lands as the hero.
Selling a used MacBook
Listing a used or refurbished laptop.
1Take 10–12 photos: closed top, open with screen on, keyboard, trackpad, every port, the underside (with serial number visible), any scuffs, charger and original box if you have them.
2The serial-number photo is especially useful: it lets buyers verify the device's history before purchasing.
3Drop everything into the studio with Mercari ticked. Build the pack.
4Upload. The compact 1080 × 1080 size is what Mercari's app displays at anyway, so the upload is fast and the visible result is identical to a 4000-pixel source.
Listing a branded luxury item
Selling a branded handbag, jewellery, or other authenticatable item.
1Take all the standard photos (whole item, multi-angle, condition).
2Add one or two authentication photos: the maker's mark, serial number, authenticity card, or hologram.
3Place the authentication photos in slots two or three, after the front-on hero.
4Drop everything into the studio with Mercari ticked. Build the pack and upload.
5Mercari can require authentication photos for branded luxury items; the early placement saves the buyer from asking.
Mercari category gotchas
Mercari's category-specific notes for luxury, electronics and fashion.
Authenticated luxury items
Documented
Mercari can require authentication photos (maker's mark, serial number, authenticity card) for branded items. Place them in slot two or three so buyers see them early.
Trading cards and collectibles
Observed
These categories benefit from photos of the front, back, and any condition flaws (creases, edges). The standard 1080-square applies; the photo count is the differentiator.
Electronics with accessories
Observed
Show what is included in slot two or three: the device alone, then with charger, then in the original box. Mercari's UI does not separate accessories from the main item.
Mercari Now / shipping label categories
Observed
Some shipping-label categories add visual checks on packaging. Photograph the item ready to ship if your category requests it.
Frequently asked questions
Honest answers to what people ask before using this tool.
Further reading
Independent references if you want to go deeper on the formats and tradeoffs.
