The complete guide to Shopify slideshow and carousel image requirements. Learn the optimal dimensions, file formats, and performance best practices for homepage hero banners that load fast and convert.
Your homepage slideshow is the first thing visitors see. Getting the image size right affects three critical areas:
70% of visitors form an opinion about your store in under 3 seconds. Fast-loading, sharp slideshow images are crucial.
Slideshow images are typically the largest files on your homepage. Optimized slides can reduce load time by 50%.
75% of Shopify traffic is mobile. Properly sized slideshow images ensure smooth animations without lag.
The recommended size for Shopify slideshow images is 1600 x 1000 pixels (16:10 aspect ratio). Here's why this size is ideal:
| Theme | Recommended Size | Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Dawn (Default) | 1600 x 1000 | 16:10 (widescreen) |
| Sense | 1800 x 1000 | 9:5 (wider) |
| Refresh | 1600 x 900 | 16:9 (cinematic) |
| Studio | 2000 x 1000 | 2:1 (ultra-wide) |
| Craft | 1600 x 1000 | 16:10 (standard) |
| Crave | 1600 x 800 | 2:1 (banner) |
| Use Case | Recommended Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Homepage Slideshow | 1600 x 1000 | Multiple rotating images |
| Hero Banner (Static) | 2000 x 1000 | Single image, can be larger |
| Collection Banner | 2048 x 1024 | 2:1 ratio for collections |
| Mobile Slideshow | 1000 x 1200 | Portrait for mobile-only |
| Product Carousel | 2048 x 2048 | Square for product images |
Use for: Most slideshow images (best compatibility)
Use for: New stores in 2025 (best performance)
Create your slideshow images at 1600x1000 pixels from the start. This prevents quality loss from resizing.
Use large, bold fonts (60px+). Remember: 30% of your image may be cropped on mobile.
Target under 300 KB per slide. Use TinyPNG, ImageOptim, or our free resizer tool.
Use 3-5 slides maximum. More slides = slower loading and lower engagement.
Preview your slideshow on actual phones. Check that text is readable and images look sharp.
3-5 seconds per slide is optimal. Faster causes motion blur, slower reduces engagement.
Set your first slide to load immediately. Other slides can lazy-load in the background.
Fade transitions are smoother and less resource-intensive than slide or zoom effects.
Make all slides exactly the same dimensions. Prevents layout shifts and smoother transitions.
Describe each slide for SEO and accessibility: "Summer sale banner - 40% off dresses".
Result: Slow homepage loading, high bounce rates. 5 slides at 600 KB each = 3 MB total!
Result: Most users never see slides 4-7. Stick to 3-5 slides for better performance and engagement.
Result: Unreadable on mobile. Use fonts 60px+ and test on actual devices before launching.
Result: Jarring layout shifts between slides. All images must be exactly the same size.
Result: Users can't read content before it changes. Set 4-5 seconds minimum per slide.
Mobile devices represent 70-80% of Shopify traffic. Here's how to optimize your slideshow for mobile:
Mobile screens crop the sides of widescreen images. Keep important content (text, faces, products) in the center 60% of your image.
Mobile users often have slower connections. Target 200 KB per slide for mobile, 300 KB for desktop.
Enable swipe gestures so users can manually advance slides. Auto-play alone is frustrating on mobile.
Consider creating portrait versions (1000x1200) specifically for mobile display.
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The optimal size is 1600 x 1000 pixels (16:10 aspect ratio) at under 300 KB file size. This provides sharp images on all devices while maintaining fast load times for smooth transitions.
Use 3-5 slides maximum. Most visitors only see the first 1-2 slides before scrolling. More slides increase page load time without improving conversions. Put your best offer on slide 1.
This happens when images are too small (under 1200px wide) or over-compressed. Use 1600x1000 images compressed to 250-300 KB. Also check that your theme supports responsive images for mobile devices.
Use JPG or WebP for slideshow images. PNG files are 3-5x larger and will slow down your homepage significantly. JPG provides excellent quality at 200-300 KB. WebP is even better at 25-35% smaller file size.
Keep each slide under 300 KB, use 3-5 slides maximum, enable lazy loading for slides 2+, use JPG or WebP format, and test with Google PageSpeed Insights. Total slideshow weight should be under 1.5 MB.
For most stores, one 1600x1000 image works for both if you keep important content centered. Advanced users can create separate mobile versions (1000x1200 portrait) for better mobile experience.
Set 4-5 seconds per slide for optimal engagement. Faster than 3 seconds doesn't give users time to read. Slower than 6 seconds reduces engagement. Use fade transitions - they're smoother than slide or zoom effects.
