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How many photos should a listing have?

For a typical home, around 20 to 27 good photos, within your MLS’s limit. Fewer for a small condo, more for a large home. Quality matters more than the count.

Updated on

What the numbers say

  • Zillow: its research, as reported by PlanOmatic, found 22 to 27 photos worked best. Buyer contact went down after about 28.
  • StreetEasy (New York City): its analysis found a lower sweet spot of 11 to 14 photos for its listings, which are mostly apartments.
  • MLS limits: the MLSs we checked allow 40 or 50 photos per listing.

These are second-hand summaries of older studies. Use them as a range, not a rule.

A simple shot plan for a 3-bedroom home

  • Front of the home: 2 to 3 photos.
  • Kitchen: 2 to 3 photos.
  • Living and dining: 3 to 4 photos.
  • Primary bedroom and bathroom: 3 photos.
  • Other bedrooms and bathrooms: 1 photo each.
  • Back yard, patio and special features: 3 to 5 photos.

That adds up to about 20 to 25 photos. Leave out near-duplicates and empty hallways.

Quality beats count

Ten bright, straight, sharp photos sell a home better than forty dark ones. Use the listing photo checklist before the shoot. Check the MLS photo size guide before you upload.

Questions and answers

How many photos should a listing have?

For a typical home, around 20 to 27 good photos, within your MLS’s limit. A small condo needs fewer; a large home can use more.

Can a listing have too many photos?

Yes. Zillow’s research, as reported by PlanOmatic, found buyer contact went down after about 28 photos. Repeated or weak photos make the best ones harder to find.

What is the maximum number of MLS photos?

It depends on the MLS. The ones we checked allow 40 or 50 photos per listing.

Sources

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