What the portals say, at a glance
These points come from Rightmove's and Zoopla's own published guidance for agents. Links are in the sources at the end. Rightmove's figures come from its 2020 property marketing guide, so treat them as guidance rather than current platform rules.
| Topic | Rightmove | Zoopla |
|---|---|---|
| Photo size | Don't upload photos smaller than 1024 x 683 pixels | Optimum 1024 x 768 for landscape, minimum 645 x 430 |
| Orientation | Avoid portrait photos | Landscape and portrait sizes both listed |
| File size and format | Not stated in the guide | JPG, GIF, BMP or PNG, no larger than 5 MB |
| Number of photos | At least 5, and never list without photos | 6 to 10 for lettings, 15 or more for sales |
| First photo | Showcase the best feature; change it at least every 2 weeks | Review the quality and order of photos |
| Floorplan | Optimal size 900 x 900 pixels, uploaded as a floorplan, not a photo | Not covered in the pages we checked |
The first photo does most of the work
Rightmove's guide says that over 70% of its traffic is on mobile, where users see only the first photo in the results. Whatever the exact figure is today, the principle holds: the first photo decides whether a tenant opens the listing at all.
Lead with the room that best shows the property, usually the main living space in good daylight, or the exterior for a house. Rightmove also suggests changing the first photo at least every two weeks while a property is on the market, which is an easy way to refresh a listing that has gone quiet.
How many photos for a lettings listing
Zoopla suggests 6 to 10 photos for a lettings listing and 15 or more for sales, and adds that the right number depends on the property. Rightmove's guide sets a floor of 5 and says never to list without photos.
In practice, that means one photo of every room a tenant will use: living space, kitchen, each bedroom, each bathroom, plus the exterior or entrance and any garden, parking or shared space. Add a floorplan as well. It answers the layout question that photos cannot.
A phone routine for every listing
Most lettings photos are taken on a phone during a short visit, often with the current tenant's belongings still in place. A fixed routine keeps the results consistent across your whole portfolio.
- Ask for the property to be tidied before the visit and clear surfaces, bins and personal items in each room
- Shoot during the day with blinds open; take exterior photos on a clear, bright day, as Rightmove advises
- Turn the phone sideways for every room photo
- Stand in a corner or doorway at chest height and keep the phone upright, with the grid on
- Photograph every room in the same order, so nothing is missed
- Send the original files to the office, not copies compressed through a messaging app
Editing without misleading
UK consumer protection law prohibits misleading property marketing, and National Trading Standards' material information guidance says photography should not be used to avoid disclosing details that will affect a buyer or tenant. How far that reaches for photo editing has not been settled by the courts, so the safe line is simple: correct how the photo was taken, never what the property is.
Brightening a dark room, straightening walls and fixing colour are corrections. Removing damp patches, changing wall colours, swapping the view or adding furniture changes what a tenant will find, and that is where complaints start. This is general information, not legal advice.
ProLister is built for the correction side only. It fixes light, colour and straight lines in seconds per photo, and nothing in the room is added, removed or changed. A team can run a whole property's photos through it so every listing in the portfolio looks consistent.
Frequently asked questions
What size should photos be for Rightmove?
Rightmove's agent guide says not to upload photos smaller than 1024 pixels wide by 683 pixels high, or in portrait format. Original photos from a recent phone are well above this.
What size should photos be for Zoopla?
Zoopla's help page gives 1024 x 768 as the optimum for landscape photos, 645 x 430 as the minimum, and a maximum file size of 5 MB.
How many photos should a lettings listing have?
Zoopla suggests 6 to 10 for lettings. Rightmove's guide says at least 5. Aim for one clear photo of every room a tenant will use, plus a floorplan.
Can letting agents edit listing photos?
Correcting light, colour and straight lines is standard. Edits that hide defects or change the property can mislead tenants and may breach consumer protection rules. This is general information, not legal advice.
Can my team share one ProLister account?
Pro plans can be shared by your team under one login. Free and one-time accounts are for one person. For teams, there are Pro monthly plans for teams: 100 credits for $65/month up to 1,000 credits for $500/month. Cancel anytime. Or get in touch through the contact form.
What changed, and what did not
This panel describes how ProLister's own enhancement behaves, based on our product testing on real listing photos. It is not independent industry research.
What changed in the photo
- Brightness and shadow detail in dark areas
- Colour temperature (orange or blue casts neutralised)
- Contrast and clarity
- Window exposure, so the view outside is visible
- Vertical alignment of walls and door frames
- Digital noise in darker rooms
What did not change
- The room's layout, dimensions and architecture
- Furniture, appliances and decor
- Wall, floor and worktop finishes and materials
- The view through the windows
- The property's condition, including wear and damage
- Anything the camera did not capture in the original frame
What AI can and cannot safely do to a listing photo
| Edit | Safe to publish? |
|---|---|
| Correct exposure, colour, contrast and verticals | Yes - standard photographic finishing |
| Recover blown-out windows and shadow detail | Yes - shows what a visitor's eye would see |
| Unify brightness and colour across a photo set | Yes - presentation only |
| Add or remove furniture, or restyle a room | Only as clearly labelled virtual staging |
| Erase damage, damp, cracks or wear | No - misrepresents the property's condition |
| Replace views, skies or seasons | No - changes what the property offers |
| Stretch or widen a room's apparent size | No - misrepresents the space |
The "safe" column reflects platform accuracy rules (see the sources below) and our editorial recommendation. Always check the current policy of each platform, MLS and local regulation you list on.
