OI
Oval Infotech Editorial Team
2024 · 6 min read
Every photograph submitted to the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) must meet specific technical standards. Photographers who do not understand these requirements risk having images automatically resized with quality loss, rejected, or displayed incorrectly on major portals including Zillow, Realtor.com, and Trulia.
Standard MLS Photo Technical Requirements
- File format — JPEG (.jpg) universally required. PNG and RAW not accepted
- Minimum dimensions — Most MLS systems: minimum 640×480px. High-quality portals recommend 2048×1536 or higher
- Maximum file size — Typically 10–20MB per image depending on MLS region
- Colour space — sRGB required. Adobe RGB images display with incorrect washed-out colours on web portals
- Orientation — Landscape strongly preferred. Portrait images display poorly in MLS thumbnail grids
- No watermarks — Most MLS systems prohibit text overlays or watermarks on listing images
Recommended Lightroom Export Settings for MLS
Oval Infotech's Standard MLS Export: JPEG · Quality 90 · 2048px long edge · sRGB · 72 DPI (screen resolution) · No watermark. Applied to every US real estate delivery automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
What resolution do MLS photos need to be?
Most MLS systems require a minimum of 640×480 pixels. For best display quality on Zillow and Realtor.com, submit at 2048px on the long edge — the portals scale down gracefully but cannot improve small images.
What colour space should MLS photos be in?
sRGB. Always export in sRGB colour space for web and MLS submission. Adobe RGB images appear washed-out and low-contrast on digital displays.
Does Oval Infotech deliver MLS-compliant images?
Yes. All Oval Infotech real estate deliveries are MLS-compliant by default: JPEG Quality 90, 2048px, sRGB. Custom export specs available at no extra charge.
MLS-Ready Real Estate Editing — From $0.30/Image
Overnight delivery, MLS-compliant, free trial available.
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