Product images & galleries
How to add, replace, and arrange product images and image galleries in WooCommerce, including tips for choosing photos that convert.
Great product photos make a real difference to sales. WooCommerce lets you set one main product image and add a gallery of additional photos. This guide shows you how to manage both.
Quick summary
Every WooCommerce product has one main image and an optional gallery. Set the main image in the "Product image" box in the right sidebar. Add gallery photos in the "Product gallery" box below it. For variable products, you can also assign a unique image to each variation.
What you'll need
Beginner 5 minutes- A WordPress login with product editing access
- Your product photos ready to upload (ideally sized and compressed beforehand)
Setting the main product image
The main product image appears in your product listing, in search results, and as the first photo customers see on the product page.
Open the product. Go to Products → All Products and click the product you want to edit.
Find the Product image box. In the right-hand sidebar, scroll down until you see the Product image box.
Click "Set product image." A media library window opens. You can either upload a new file from your computer or select an image you have already uploaded.
Select or upload your image. Click the image you want to use, then click Set product image in the bottom-right corner of the media window.
Save your changes. Click Update (or Publish for a new product).
To change or remove an existing main image, click the small links that appear below it in the Product image box: Remove product image or click the image to replace it.
Adding a product gallery
A gallery shows additional photos below the main image. Customers can click through them to see the product from different angles, in different contexts, or with detail shots.
Find the Product gallery box. Just below the Product image box in the right sidebar.
Click "Add product gallery images." The media library opens again.
Select multiple images. Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) to select more than one image at a time, or upload them one by one. Click Add to gallery when done.
Reorder if needed. You can drag the gallery images to reorder them.
Save your changes. Click Update.
To remove a gallery image, hover over it and click the small X that appears.
Adding variation-specific images
If you sell a variable product (one that comes in different colors or styles), you can assign a specific image to each variation. When the customer selects that variation, the product image swaps automatically.
Go to the Variations tab in the Product data panel.
Expand a variation by clicking its row.
Click the placeholder image on the left side of the variation row.
Select or upload the image for that variation.
Repeat for each variation, then click Save changes.
Tips for product photos
Good product photography increases sales. Here are practical guidelines:
| Tip | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Use a clean, consistent background | Makes your catalog look professional and cohesive |
| Show the product from multiple angles | Customers cannot pick it up — photos do the work |
| Include a lifestyle shot | Shows the product in real-world use, builds desire |
| Keep file sizes reasonable | Large images slow your page down; aim for under 500 KB per image |
| Use consistent proportions | Square (1:1) images look best in most WooCommerce themes |
For detailed guidance on image formats and compression, see Image basics for your website and How to compress images.
Image size recommendations
WooCommerce will automatically generate smaller versions of your images for thumbnails and catalog grids. For best results, upload images that are at least 800 × 800 pixels. Larger (1000 × 1000 or more) is better — WooCommerce scales them down as needed.
Alt text matters
Always add descriptive alt text to your product images. Alt text helps visually impaired customers understand what your images show, and it also helps search engines index your products. You can add alt text when uploading through the media library — it is the "Alt Text" field.
Common questions
Related guides
- How to add a simple product
- How to add a variable product
- Writing product descriptions that sell
- Image basics for your website
- How to compress images
Need a hand?
Learn more
How to add a variable product (sizes, colors)
Step-by-step guide to creating a WooCommerce variable product with attributes like size and color, and setting prices and stock for each variation.
Writing product descriptions that sell
Practical guidance for writing compelling WooCommerce product descriptions — both the short description and the long description — that help customers buy with confidence.