SizeSpec

How to crop a photo to a square (1:1), or make it square on white

Updated · 4 min read

Short answer

To crop, keep the shorter side as the side of the square and cut the extra from the longer side: a 4032 x 3024 phone photo becomes 3024 x 3024. To keep the whole picture, place it on a white square canvas instead, so nothing is cut. eBay bans added borders, so crop for eBay.

Two ways to make a photo square

  • Crop to 1:1

    What happens
    The long side is cut down to match the short side
    Use it when
    The subject sits in the middle with room around it

  • Fit on a white square

    What happens
    The whole photo is scaled to fit, the empty space turns white
    Use it when
    The subject is long, or nothing may be cut
MethodWhat happensUse it when
Crop to 1:1The long side is cut down to match the short sideThe subject sits in the middle with room around it
Fit on a white squareThe whole photo is scaled to fit, the empty space turns whiteThe subject is long, or nothing may be cut

The rule for a square crop

A square has equal sides, so the square can be no longer than the shorter side of your photo. Everything beyond that on the long side gets cut. Which part you cut is your choice: the middle is kept in a centred crop, but you can slide the frame to keep the subject.

  • Phone, 4:3 landscape

    Size
    4032 x 3024 px
    Square
    3024 x 3024 px
    Removed
    1008 px of width
    Share lost
    25%

  • Phone, 3:4 portrait

    Size
    3024 x 4032 px
    Square
    3024 x 3024 px
    Removed
    1008 px of height
    Share lost
    25%

  • Camera, 3:2 landscape

    Size
    6000 x 4000 px
    Square
    4000 x 4000 px
    Removed
    2000 px of width
    Share lost
    33%

  • Video frame, 16:9

    Size
    1920 x 1080 px
    Square
    1080 x 1080 px
    Removed
    840 px of width
    Share lost
    44%
How much a square crop removes
PhotoSizeSquareRemovedShare lost
Phone, 4:3 landscape4032 x 3024 px3024 x 3024 px1008 px of width25%
Phone, 3:4 portrait3024 x 4032 px3024 x 3024 px1008 px of height25%
Camera, 3:2 landscape6000 x 4000 px4000 x 4000 px2000 px of width33%
Video frame, 16:91920 x 1080 px1080 x 1080 px840 px of width44%

How to do it

Keep the subject safe

  • Shoot with space around the subject, so a square crop does not touch it.
  • Keep important parts away from the edges. A square crop that is centred on a long object can cut its ends.
  • If you cannot afford to lose anything, do not crop. Put the whole photo on a white square instead, as described below.

Make a photo square without cropping: a white 1:1 square

This keeps every pixel. The photo is scaled so its long side fits the square, it sits in the middle, and the two empty strips are filled with white. A 4032 x 3024 photo on a 2000 x 2000 white square becomes 2000 x 1500 in the middle, with a 250 px white band above and below.

Built-in photo apps are made for cropping. Some, like Photos on a Mac with Apple Intelligence, can extend a background, but that invents new pixels rather than adding plain white. In a desktop editor, the step is usually called changing the canvas size: enlarge the canvas to a square and fill it with white. In SizeSpec, pick a square preset such as Shopify 2048 x 2048 and switch the framing to Fit on white. It works the same way for a whole batch.

Are white bars allowed?

  • eBay: no. eBay's picture policy bans added borders, so crop to fill instead. See how to crop photos for eBay.
  • Amazon: the main image needs a pure white background, so a product on white fits naturally. See how to crop photos for Amazon.
  • Etsy and Shopify: the help pages we checked state no rule about white bars. Shopify only asks for one consistent shape across main images. See Etsy and Shopify.

Square sizes for shops

  • Etsy

    Square size
    2000 x 2000 px or more
    Source
    Etsy Help Center

  • eBay

    Square size
    About 1600 x 1600 px
    Source
    eBay help

  • Amazon main image

    Square size
    2000 x 2000 px, on pure white
    Source
    Our Amazon preset

  • Shopify

    Square size
    2048 x 2048 px
    Source
    Shopify Help Center
Figures and their sources are on each marketplace's guide page.
WhereSquare sizeSource
Etsy2000 x 2000 px or moreEtsy Help Center
eBayAbout 1600 x 1600 pxeBay help
Amazon main image2000 x 2000 px, on pure whiteOur Amazon preset
Shopify2048 x 2048 pxShopify Help Center

Frequently asked questions

How do I crop a photo to a square without losing the subject?
Slide the crop frame so the subject stays inside, or shoot wider next time. If the subject is long, place the photo on a white square canvas instead of cropping.
How do I make a photo square without cropping it?
Put it on a square canvas and fill the empty space with white. The whole photo stays, scaled to fit. In SizeSpec, choose a square preset and set the framing to Fit on white.
What does 1:1 mean?
Width and height are equal: one part wide for every one part tall. 1080 x 1080 and 2000 x 2000 pixels are both 1:1.
What size is a square photo?
Any size with equal width and height, such as 1080 x 1080 or 2000 x 2000 pixels. Pick the size your destination asks for.
Can I crop many photos to a square at once?
Yes, with a batch tool. See how to crop multiple photos at once.

Selling online? Do a whole batch at once

SizeSpec crops and resizes a batch of product photos to the size each marketplace asks for and gives you one ZIP. It crops from the centre or pads the image on white, and it works in your browser, so your files are never uploaded. It does not offer free-hand cropping of a single picture.

Try it free

Only need a different file format? Free JPG, PNG and WebP converters

Don’t have a photo yet? Generate one with AI