Photo size and resolution for listing portals
Short answer
Upload 2048 to 3000 pixels on the long edge for MLS and portals — most systems cap around there and downscale anything larger. Use 1080 x 1350 for Instagram feed, 1080 x 1920 for Reels and TikTok, and 1200 x 630 for Facebook link previews. Save as high-quality JPEG.
Portals re-compress everything you upload. That means your file has to be good enough to survive a round of compression and still look sharp — starting from a small or already-compressed image leaves nothing in reserve.
What to upload
| Where | Practical target | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MLS / portals | 2048–3000px on the long edge | Most systems cap around here and downscale anything larger |
| Property website | 2000px wide | Bigger just slows the page down |
| Instagram feed | 1080 × 1350 (4:5) | Portrait uses the most screen |
| Reels / TikTok / Stories | 1080 × 1920 (9:16) | Anything else gets letterboxed |
| Facebook link preview | 1200 × 630 | Landscape, or the crop cuts your subject |
| Print flyer | 300 DPI at final size | A 3000px file covers a 10in wide image |
Aspect ratio is the one that bites
Listing photos are shot at 4:3 or 3:2. Every social surface wants something else. If you post a landscape interior straight to Reels, the platform either letterboxes it or crops the middle out — and the middle of a wide room shot is usually the least interesting part. Reframe deliberately rather than letting the platform choose.
File format
Upload JPEG at high quality. Portals will convert anything else. Avoid saving a JPEG repeatedly — each save discards more detail, and a photo that has been through four export cycles looks visibly mushy next to one that has been through one.
When to upscale
If you are working from a small file — an old listing photo, a screenshot, something a seller texted you — upscaling before you publish is worth it. It will not invent detail that was never captured, but it does stop the portal from serving a soft, pixelated thumbnail next to competitors shooting at full resolution.
Common questions
Why do my photos look worse after uploading to a portal?
Portals re-compress everything. If your file was already compressed or small, that second pass has nothing in reserve and the result looks soft. Start from the highest quality file you have and export once, not repeatedly.
Does uploading larger photos help quality?
Only up to the portal's cap. Past that the system downscales anyway, and you have just made the upload slower. The gain comes from starting with a sharp, lightly compressed file at the right size.
Should I upscale old or small listing photos?
Yes, if you are working from a small file such as an old listing photo or something a seller texted you. Upscaling will not invent detail that was never captured, but it stops the portal serving a soft thumbnail next to competitors shooting at full resolution.
PropWalk outputs at 1080p or 4K, and upscales small or old photos so they hold up at full size on a portal. Every tool is free for your first 7 days.
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