Image requirements

Instacart collects images in a variety of ways to ensure comprehensive coverage and a great customer experience. First, Instacart fills gaps by using its own image sources. Instacart owns and manages a large database of fresh product images to use across stores. Examples include meat, seafood, produce, and bulk foods like nuts and rice. Instacart partners with third-party content providers to obtain images directly from manufacturers and consumer packaged goods companies.

If you want to provide custom products images, you can add the following columns.

Column	Data type	Description	Example
remote_image_url	string	Primary image of the product.	https://www….com/image_url_4011.png For more information, see Image link requirements.
additional_images_url	JSON	An array of JSON objects defining secondary image URLs.	[{ ""angle"": ""angle_right"", ""src"": ""https://www….com/image_url_4011.png"" }] For more information, see Secondary images.

Before you send your files, consider using a JSON validator.

tip

If you need Instacart to host your images, upload images by using Instacart Platform Portal. For more information, see Manage product images.

Image link requirements

To ensure that your images display on the storefront, provide publicly accessible URLs and adhere to the following requirements:

Description	Example
URL requirements	URLs cannot include spaces and must include the file extension: Invalid URL: https://www….com/image url 4011 Valid URL: https://www….com/image_url_4011.png
Refreshing images	To change an image, or to update its location, ensure that you change the URL. Initial URL: https://www….com/image_url_4011.png Refreshed URL: https://www….com/image_url_4011_1.png
Dropbox hosted images	You can host images on Dropbox if they are publicly accessible. In Dropbox, to allow automatic download, select the image, share it, copy the link, and change the suffix from ...dl=0 to ...dl=1.

Secondary images

The additional_images_url column is an array of JSON objects defining additional image URLs.

note

Secondary images are only displayed when a primary image is specified.

Field	Required	Type	Description	Example
angle	Yes	text	The orientation of the product image.	ingredients nutrition drugs For more information, see angles accepted.
src	Yes	text	The image file URL.	https://www….com/image_url_angle_4011.png

Angles accepted

Angle	Definition
ingredients	Ingredients list image.
nutrition	Nutritional Panel image.
drugs	Drug facts image.
supplements	Supplement information image.
lifestyle	Lifestyle image (for example, product in use).
angle_left	Image of left side of product.
angle_right	Image of right side of product.
angle_back	Image of back of product.
angle_top	Image of top of product.
unknown	Angle unknown or unspecified.

Image criteria

It is important that customers see exactly what they are receiving in their grocery bag. You need to provide images of the product just as it looks in the store.

Ensure that images meet the following requirements:

• Brand, name, and size are easily visible.
• Pure white background required.
• No additional text, items, decorations, confusing objects or additional graphics around the image.
• Product is in-focus with crisp edges.
• Product has accurate and realistic colors.
• Full product is in-frame and not touching the edges of the image area.
• Product fills 85% of the image area.

The following example shows an image that is in-frame and the brand, name, and size are easily visible:

Image specifications

Your product images should meet the following criteria:

• Resolution.
  • Recommended: 1000x1000 pixels (to support image zoom)
  • Minimum: 600x600 pixels
  • Maximum: 4000x4000 pixels
  • DPI: 300
  • Aspect ratio: square (1:1)
• File size: Less than 3 MB
• File format: PNG or JPG

Sample CSV file

Download sample CSV file