Small product images could soon cost you visibility on Google
From 31 January 2027, product images on Google must be at least 500 × 500 pixels. Products whose image in the image_link attribute is smaller will be disapproved and stop appearing on Google.
Until then the old minimums still apply. If you only check your images in January, products may drop out of Shopping ads and free listings while you are still replacing them.
What changes
| Products | Until 30 January 2027 | From 31 January 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Apparel | at least 250 × 250 pixels | at least 500 × 500 pixels |
| All other products | at least 100 × 100 pixels | at least 500 × 500 pixels |
The new minimum applies to all products, with no exception for any category. An image file may still be at most 64 megapixels or 16 MB.
Does this affect ads that run through a CSS?
Yes. Even if your Shopping ads run through a CSS, the products come from your Merchant Center and are subject to the same image requirements. A CSS does not change whether a product is approved.
Merchants and CSS providers should therefore check their images ahead of the deadline.
How to spot affected products
Since July 2026 Merchant Center has shown warnings for images that meet the old minimums but are smaller than 500 × 500 pixels. They are called “Image too small” and “Image too small for upcoming enforcement”.
You find them under Products > Needs attention. The issue history shows the orange warnings and lets you download the list of affected products.
What to do
- 1Find affected products: download the list of products with images below the new minimum.
- 2Replace the images: use higher-resolution images, not thumbnails and not versions that were only scaled up. According to Google, the product should fill 75 to 90 % of the image.
- 3Update your feed: enter the new image URLs in the image_link attribute of your feed wherever the address has changed.
- 4Check: make sure the warnings clear after Google has processed the changes. According to Google this can take 24 to 72 hours.
Don't leave this until January
For large catalogs, replacing images often takes longer than expected: photos have to be exported again, uploaded and linked in the feed. Starting now helps you avoid products dropping out at the deadline.
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