WooCommerce recommends uploading product images at least 800 x 800 pixels. It then generates a single product image, catalog images and thumbnails from that upload. Change the widths and cropping in Appearance > Customize > WooCommerce > Product Images, then regenerate thumbnails, unless your theme sets its own sizes.
Blurry or oddly cropped product photos?
Most people land on this question because something looks wrong: soft photos on the product page, or shop images chopped in strange places. WooCommerce's documentation puts blurry images down to two usual causes. Either the theme's styling specifies dimensions that don't suit your uploads, or the originals are too small. The fix starts with the upload size, then the settings, then one step most people skip.
The upload size to aim for
Upload images at least 800 x 800 pixels. That renders well as the single product image, the catalog image and the thumbnail, and larger images are better if you need fine detail to show. Dimensions are width first, so 800 x 800 is 800 pixels wide and 800 pixels tall.
One rule saves a lot of frustration: requesting a bigger display size can't add detail to a smaller original. If your supplier's photos are 400 pixels wide, no setting will make them sharp on a large product page. Ask for bigger files or reshoot.
The three images WooCommerce makes from one upload
| Image type | Where it shows | Storefront theme example |
|---|---|---|
| Single Product Image | The product page (largest) | 800 x 800, needed for the zoom effect |
| Catalog Images | Shop loops, related products, up-sells and cross-sells (medium) | 324 x 324 |
| Product thumbnails | Cart, widgets and gallery thumbnails (smallest) | 46 x 46 |
Those pixel sizes are from the Storefront theme only. They're one theme's example, not a default for every theme, so check what your own theme uses.
Changing the widths and cropping
In classic themes, go to Appearance > Customize > WooCommerce > Product Images. There you can change the single product image width, the thumbnail width and the thumbnail cropping. Block themes may hide the Customize menu; you can still open it at yourdomain.com/wp-admin/customize.php.
Images are resized to match what you enter. With 100x100 settings, a 300x600 upload becomes 100x200, keeping its shape. Choose hard-cropping and WooCommerce forces the exact size by cropping rather than squashing the image. For a tidy shop grid, square uploads with hard-cropping give the most consistent look.
If you need to tidy up photos before uploading, my roundups of image croppers and AI image upscalers are worth a look, especially for small supplier images.
New settings don't touch old images
The WooCommerce documentation flags the step that catches nearly everyone. Changing the size settings doesn't fix images you've already uploaded. After activating a new theme or changing image dimensions, regenerate thumbnails: go to WooCommerce > Status > Tools, then click Regenerate next to Regenerate shop thumbnails.
And if the width controls are missing from the Customizer, your theme is setting its own widths. The theme's values win, and its CSS still controls the width people see. Theme developers set these in code with thumbnail_image_width, gallery_thumbnail_image_width and single_image_width, so that's a conversation with whoever built or supports your theme.
Adding gallery images
A product gallery shows the main Product Image first. To add more, use the Product gallery box on the product edit screen, click Add product gallery images, choose your photos and click Add to gallery. Use the same size and shape as your main image so the gallery doesn't jump about.
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How Shopify handles product images
Shopify accepts product and collection images of any size up to 5000 x 5000 px or 25 megapixels, under 20 MB, and says 2048 x 2048 px usually displays best for square images. For a wider look at the two platforms, see my comparison of Shopify and WooCommerce.
My advice for sharp product photos
Shoot or source every product image square and well above 800 x 800, so you've got room to crop. Set your widths once, switch on hard-cropping for the thumbnails, and regenerate thumbnails straight after any change. If photos are still soft, check the original size before you blame the theme.
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Frequently asked questions
What size should WooCommerce product images be?
At least 800 x 800 pixels, per WooCommerce's guidance.
Where do I change image sizes?
Appearance > Customize > WooCommerce > Product Images in classic themes.
Why are my product images blurry?
Often the original is too small, or the theme's dimensions don't match your settings.
Do I need to regenerate thumbnails?
Yes, after switching theme or changing size settings, via WooCommerce > Status > Tools.
What if the width controls are missing?
Your theme probably sets its own widths, which hides them.
