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Product image

A product image is a photo a store sends to Merchant Center for a product: the one required main image or an optional additional or lifestyle image.

How it works

The feed carries three image attributes:

  • image_link — the main image, required, one per product. It appears in ads and free listings. It must show the entire product accurately, with minimal staging and no promotional text, watermarks, logos or borders. A placeholder is not allowed.
  • additional_image_link — up to 10 more images. They may show the product in use or from other angles.
  • lifestyle_image_link — an image of the product in a real setting, which Google can show in free listings.

A main image that breaks these requirements gets the product disapproved. Google has announced a minimum of 500 × 500 pixels for all product images from 31 January 2027 and recommends 1,500 × 1,500 or more.

Google can take up to 6 weeks to recrawl a new image at the same URL, but typically picks up a new URL within 3 days. Our guide to Google Shopping images compares main and lifestyle shots.

Where you see it

Merchant Center reports image problems in its Diagnostics section. The portal’s feed screen shows how many products have no photo.

Example

Example store, not client data.

The tableware shop has 3,000 products, and 2,700 of them have a main image, so the photo field is 90% filled. When all nine feed checks have data, the photo check earns 14 × 0.9 = 12.6 of its 14 points.

How GetProfit reads it

In the portal’s feed score, the photo carries 14 of 100 points, the same as title and description. Only approval (22) and GTIN (16) weigh more.

Not to be confused with

  • Product listing — the whole card a shopper sees, built from feed data. The image is one part of it.
  • Image SEO — work on the photos on your own site for Google Images and Lens. Feed images reach Shopping through Merchant Center.

Right and wrong readings

  • Wrong: “Our best lifestyle shot should be the main image.” Right: Google requires the main image to show the entire product with minimal or no staging. A lifestyle shot has its own attribute, lifestyle_image_link.
  • Wrong: “A full photo score means our photos are fine.” Right: the score checks that the field is filled. Merchant Center checks whether each photo meets Google’s rules.

Sources