WhatsApp catalog image size: the specs that actually matter
The practical specs for WhatsApp catalog images: square aspect ratio, minimum and recommended pixels, file size and formats, plus phone-editing tips.
Most catalog photos fail for a boring reason: the wrong shape. WhatsApp displays products in a square frame, so a tall lifestyle photo gets cropped exactly where it matters. These are the specs worth designing to, followed by the phone workflow that keeps a whole catalog consistent.
The specs in one table
| Setting | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 1:1 square | The catalog frame is square; other shapes get cropped. |
| Recommended size | 1080 × 1080 px | Sharp on high-density phone screens. |
| Minimum size | 640 × 640 px | Below this, the image looks soft. |
| Maximum file size | 5 MB | Platform upload limit; aim under 1 MB. |
| Format | JPG or PNG | JPG for photos, PNG for graphics with text. |
| Colour | sRGB | Prevents colour shifts between phone and desktop. |
Platform limits change. If a photo refuses to upload, check the current limit in the WhatsApp help centre rather than assuming your file is corrupt.
Why square wins
A square crop is neutral: it works for a bottle, a dress on a hanger and a plate of food. Once you standardise on square, your catalog grid looks deliberate instead of accidental, and you stop re-shooting because a product was cut off at the edges.
A phone workflow that stays consistent
- Shoot in daylight near a window, with the light coming from the side rather than directly behind the product.
- Leave space around the product. You can always crop in; you cannot add back what the frame cut off.
- Set your phone camera to the highest resolution and avoid digital zoom.
- Crop to 1:1 in the phone’s photo editor and straighten the horizon.
- Export at 1080 × 1080 and keep the file under 1 MB for fast loading.
The mistakes that make a catalog look amateur
- Text baked into the photo. Prices and “DM to order” overlays age badly and look crowded in a grid.
- Collages. Four products in one image makes every product smaller and harder to browse.
- Mixed backgrounds. A white background for one item and a wooden table for the next reads as a folder dump.
- Screenshots of screenshots. Re-saving an image repeatedly destroys detail; always start from the original.
- Direct flash. It flattens texture, blows out labels and creates hard shadows.
What changes on a hosted catalog
A MyShp catalog also displays square images, so the same specs apply. The difference is that you are not limited to 500 items or fighting the app cache to update a photo. Replace an image once and the live link shows the new one. If you want the full photo workflow, read product photography with a phone.
Create your catalog, upload one square photo per product, and compare how the grid looks before you shoot the rest.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best image size for a WhatsApp catalog?
Use a square 1:1 image at 1080 × 1080 pixels. That is comfortably above the 640 × 640 minimum, stays sharp on modern phones and keeps the file small enough to upload quickly.
What file format should I use?
JPG for photographs and PNG for graphics or images with text. Keep each file under 5 MB, and aim for under 1 MB where you can so the catalog loads quickly on mobile data.
Why do my product photos look cropped in WhatsApp?
The catalog displays images in a square frame. A tall or wide photo is cropped to fit, which can cut off the product. Shoot or export square images with the product centred and some breathing room around it.