DoorDash. Uber Eats. Grubhub.
Every Spec. One Tool.
Exact photo requirements for every major food delivery platform. Updated for 2026.
At a Glance
Platform Comparison
Side-by-side specs for the three major food delivery platforms. Requirements as of early 2026 — always verify against the latest platform documentation.
| DoorDash | Uber Eats | Grubhub | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min Resolution | 1400×800px (header), 230×230px (thumbnail) | 1200×800px (menu items) | 200×200px (1024×768 recommended) |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 landscape (thumbnails crop to 1:1) | 5:4 to 6:4 (menu items) | Landscape recommended |
| Cover/Header Photo | 1400×800px min, 16:9 | 2880×2304px exactly, JPEG only | 1024×768 recommended |
| Max File Size | 16MB | 10MB | Not publicly specified |
| Formats | JPG, JPEG, PNG | JPG, PNG, GIF (cover: JPEG only) | JPG, PNG |
| Review Process | Automated + manual review | Manual review — up to 3 business days | Reverse image search for stock detection |
| Stock Photos | Not explicitly addressed | Explicitly rejected | Rejected (reverse Google image search) |
| Multiple Photos per Item | No | No | Yes (unique feature) |
| Free Photoshoot | Yes — 20 items + 1 header (one-time) | No | No |
Requirements sourced from official platform documentation as of early 2026. Platforms may update specs at any time.
Platform Deep Dive
DoorDash
Technical Specs
- Header Min
- 1400×800px
- Thumbnail Min
- 230×230px
- Aspect Ratio
- 16:9 landscape
- Max File Size
- 16MB
- Formats
- JPG, JPEG, PNG
- Free Photoshoot
- 20 items + 1 header
Key Details
DoorDash displays menu photos in two formats: a 16:9 landscape header and a 1:1 square thumbnail. Both are generated from the same uploaded image, so your dish must be centered to survive cropping.
DoorDash offers a one-time free professional photoshoot covering 20 menu items plus one header image. Quality is professional-grade, but the offer is limited and non-repeating.
Pro Tips
- Upload at 1400×800px minimum for header images in 16:9 landscape format
- Center your dish — thumbnails are cropped to 1:1 square from the center of the image
- Keep subject centered with ample space around it to survive both 16:9 and 1:1 crops
- Avoid blurry, too dark, or too light images — these trigger automatic rejection
- No text overlays, watermarks, or busy backgrounds on food photos
- People should not dominate the image — food must be the clear focus
- Take advantage of the free photoshoot: 20 menu items + 1 header image, professional quality
Platform Deep Dive
Uber Eats
Technical Specs
- Menu Item Min
- 1200×800px
- Menu Item Ratio
- 5:4 to 6:4
- Cover Photo
- 2880×2304px (exact)
- Max File Size
- 10MB
- Formats
- JPG, PNG, GIF (cover: JPEG only)
- Review Time
- Up to 3 business days
Key Details
Uber Eats has the strictest review process among delivery platforms. Every photo goes through manual review that can take up to three business days. Plan photo updates ahead of seasonal menu changes.
Stock photos are explicitly rejected. All photos must be original images of your actual dishes as served to customers. This policy is actively enforced through their review process.
Pro Tips
- Menu item photos must be at least 1200×800px with a 5:4 to 6:4 aspect ratio
- Cover photos must be exactly 2880×2304px and in JPEG format only — no PNG or GIF
- Photos go through manual review that can take up to 3 business days
- Stock photos are explicitly rejected — photos must be of your actual dishes
- All photos must be original — no borrowed images from other restaurants or food blogs
- Keep file sizes under 10MB; compress JPEGs to around quality 85 for the best balance
Platform Deep Dive
Grubhub
Technical Specs
- Min Resolution
- 200×200px
- Recommended
- 1024×768px landscape
- Content Rule
- Food photos only
- Text on Images
- Not allowed
- Stock Detection
- Reverse image search
- Photos per Item
- Multiple allowed
Key Details
Grubhub has the lowest technical minimums (200×200px) but compensates with strict content rules. Food photos only — no coupons, restaurant interiors, exteriors, or promotional material.
Grubhub is the only major platform that allows multiple photos per menu item, letting you show different angles or variations. According to Grubhub, items with photos see up to 70% more orders and 65% higher sales.
Pro Tips
- Minimum is 200×200px but recommended 1024×768px landscape for best display
- Food photos only — no coupons, restaurant interiors, exteriors, or promotional material
- No text on images of any kind — no prices, no dish names, no promotional text
- Grubhub runs reverse Google image searches — stock photo matches result in rejection
- You can upload multiple photos per menu item — the only major platform that allows this
- Items with photos see up to 70% more orders and 65% higher sales according to Grubhub data
The Core Challenge
The Cropping Problem
One photo does not fit all three platforms. Here's why — and how to solve it.
Why One Photo Doesn't Work Everywhere
DoorDash displays photos at 16:9 landscape and crops thumbnails to 1:1 square. Uber Eats uses a 5:4 ratio. Grubhub recommends landscape but has flexible cropping. Upload one photo at 16:9 and Uber Eats will crop off the sides. Upload at 5:4 and DoorDash loses the top and bottom.
DoorDash Header
Wide landscape format
Uber Eats Menu
Nearly square format
DoorDash Thumbnail
Square center crop
The Solution
- Shoot wider than you need. Capture the dish with generous space on all sides so every crop ratio has room to work.
- Center the dish. Place the food dead center in every shot. This ensures the dish survives both 16:9 and 1:1 cropping.
- Export per platform. Create separate exports at 16:9, 5:4, and 4:3 from each master photo. ImageSystems automates this with platform-specific export presets.
Content Policy
The Representative Principle
AI enhancement is allowed on all platforms, but photos must accurately represent the actual dishes you serve.
Allowed Enhancements
- Lighting and exposure correction
- White balance and color temperature adjustment
- Background cleanup (removing clutter)
- Minor blemish removal on plates or surfaces
- Sharpening and noise reduction
- Cropping and composition adjustment
Not Allowed
- Adding ingredients not present in the actual dish
- Making portions appear larger than they actually are
- Adding fake steam or condensation to cold food
- Using photos of a different dish than what is served
- Compositing multiple dishes into one image
- Extreme saturation that misrepresents the food’s appearance
Bottom line: Make your food look its best, but make sure it looks like what a customer will actually receive. All three platforms can and do reject photos that misrepresent dishes. Customer complaints about food not matching photos can also lead to penalties.
Avoid These Mistakes
Common Rejection Reasons
| Rejection Reason | Platforms | How to Fix |
|---|---|---|
Blurry or out-of-focus image | DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub | Use a tripod or stable surface. Ensure proper focus on the dish before shooting. |
Poor lighting (too dark or too bright) | DoorDash, Uber Eats | Use natural light or diffused artificial light. Avoid harsh overhead fluorescents. |
Stock photo detected | Uber Eats, Grubhub | Photograph your actual dishes. Grubhub uses reverse image search to detect stock photos. |
Text overlays or watermarks | DoorDash, Grubhub | Keep images clean. No prices, dish names, promotional text, or watermarks on food photos. |
Wrong aspect ratio or resolution | DoorDash, Uber Eats | DoorDash needs 16:9 at 1400×800px min. Uber Eats needs 5:4 at 1200×800px min. |
Non-food content (interiors, coupons, logos) | Grubhub | Upload food photos only. Restaurant branding goes in your profile, not menu images. |
Unnatural or heavily filtered colors | DoorDash, Uber Eats | Use natural white balance. Light color correction is fine; heavy filters are not. |
Cover photo wrong size (Uber Eats) | Uber Eats | Cover must be exactly 2880×2304px in JPEG format. No other dimensions accepted. |
Honest Breakdown
DoorDash Free Photoshoot
DoorDash offers a one-time free professional photoshoot. Here's what you actually get and what it doesn't cover.
What You Get
- Professional photographer comes to your restaurant
- 20 menu item photos included
- 1 restaurant header photo included
- Photos are high quality and platform-optimized
- No cost to the restaurant
What It Doesn't Cover
- One-time only — no repeat sessions for new menu items
- Limited to 20 items — most restaurants have 50–100+ items
- No seasonal or special menu updates
- Photos are DoorDash-optimized only — may not meet Uber Eats or Grubhub specs
- Scheduling depends on photographer availability in your area
Our recommendation: Take advantage of the DoorDash free photoshoot — it's genuinely good quality at no cost. Then use ImageSystems for the rest of your menu, seasonal updates, and cross-platform exports to Uber Eats and Grubhub. The two approaches complement each other.
Never Get Rejected Again
ImageSystems automatically formats your food photos for every delivery platform. Right specs, right crop, every time.