Grubhub Photo Requirements: Menu Image Specs Explained
Grubhub documents its photo specs in two places - and they don't fully agree. Here's what the official developer portal and merchant help center actually require, plus the automated review system that catches stock photos.
In This Article
- Grubhub Photo Specifications
- Content Rules: What Gets Rejected
- The Automated Review System
- Grubhub's Free Photoshoot
- FAQ
Grubhub Photo Specifications
Grubhub's most precise published specs: menu item photos at least 1600 x 1200 pixels in 4:3 ratio, header images at least 2400 x 1800 pixels, and logos on a 200 x 200 pixel square artboard - all as PNG or JPEG.[1]
| Photo Type | Minimum Size | Aspect Ratio | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu item | 1600 x 1200 px | 4:3 | PNG, JPEG, JPG |
| Header image | 2400 x 1800 px | 4:3 (cropped to 4:1 on desktop) | PNG, JPEG, JPG |
| Profile/search image | 2400 x 1200 px | 2:1 | PNG, JPEG, JPG |
| Logo | 200 x 200 px | 1:1 artboard | PNG, JPEG, JPG |
Two details from these specs matter in practice:[1]
The header crop. Mobile shows your header at roughly 4:3, but desktop crops the same image horizontally to an extremely wide 4:1 strip. Anything important near the top or bottom disappears on desktop - compose with the key dishes in the vertical center.
The self-serve upload flow is looser. Grubhub's merchant help center describes the in-portal upload with different numbers: square (1:1) images at a 200 x 200 pixel minimum, with logos as PNG files on a solid background.[2] The two official pages genuinely disagree. The safe play is to follow the stricter developer-portal specs above - a 1600 x 1200 photo passes both.
The 4:3 ratio sits between Uber Eats' 5:4 and DoorDash's 16:9. If you shoot for all three platforms, frame wide with the dish centered and crop per platform.
Content Rules: What Gets Rejected
Grubhub rejects photos with body parts (even hands holding food), text overlays, copyrighted or stock imagery, and anything that isn't food. Coupons, weekly specials, and photos of your restaurant's interior or exterior are not accepted as menu images.[1][2]
The specifics:
- No body parts - Grubhub is stricter than most here: "hands holding food, people eating" are listed as rejection reasons, where Uber Eats and DoorDash tolerate hands[1]
- No text on images - the only exceptions are your merchant name in the logo and branding that's physically on the items[1]
- No stock or copyrighted photos - with the sole exception of corporate photos for the corresponding chain[1]
- Food only - no coupons, promo graphics, or storefront shots in menu slots[2]
- Keep it centered and framed from a distance - Grubhub's stated best practice is a food-focused shot with the focal point centered[1]
The Automated Review System
Grubhub's photo review is fully automated: every upload gets a status of "In review," "Approved," or "Rejected" based on system checks - including a reverse Google image search to catch photos that aren't yours.[2]
That reverse-image-search check is worth dwelling on. If your photo appears elsewhere on the internet - a stock site, another restaurant's listing, a food blog - the system can flag it automatically. Photos you took yourself (or enhanced versions of your own photos) pass this check; borrowed images don't.
The automated system also means there's no documented multi-day review queue like Uber Eats' 3-business-day window - statuses update as the system processes, and approved menu changes flow to the marketplace automatically.[2]
Preparing Photos That Pass
Shoot your own food. The reverse-image check makes this non-negotiable on Grubhub.
Frame at 4:3 with the dish centered and the whole item visible, shot from enough distance that nothing is cropped.
Keep hands out entirely. Unlike other platforms, a hand holding the taco is a rejection here.
Export large. 1600 x 1200 minimum for items; bigger survives cropping better. Good lighting at the source does more than any fix afterward.
Grubhub's Free Photoshoot
Grubhub Marketplace partners get access to a free professional photoshoot of their menu as part of their membership - scheduled through your dedicated Account Advisor.[3]
Grubhub's own numbers explain why they invest in this: the company says photos can increase menu item sales by up to 30%, and that menus following its best practices see significantly more orders.[3]
As with every platform photoshoot, the catch is coverage and timing: one session, a fixed menu snapshot, and a scheduling dependency. For new dishes and seasonal updates between shoots, AI-enhanced photos of your own phone shots keep the menu complete without waiting for a photographer - GourmetPix outputs above Grubhub's minimums with the 4:3 framing intact, and because it enhances photos you took yourself, the reverse-image check isn't an issue.
Ready to get your Grubhub photos approved? Try GourmetPix free with 10 credits - no credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size should Grubhub menu photos be?
Per Grubhub's developer portal: at least 1600 x 1200 pixels at a 4:3 aspect ratio for menu items, as PNG or JPEG. Header images need at least 2400 x 1800 pixels, and logos go on a 200 x 200 pixel square artboard.
Why did Grubhub reject my photo?
Common causes: the automated system matched your image in a reverse Google image search (stock or borrowed photo), body parts visible in the shot, text overlaid on the image, or the image isn't a photo of food (coupons and storefront photos aren't accepted).
Does Grubhub allow hands in food photos?
No. Grubhub lists "body parts - hands holding food, people eating" among its rejection reasons. This is stricter than Uber Eats and DoorDash, which allow hands as long as they don't obscure the item.
How long does Grubhub photo review take?
Grubhub's review is automated, with statuses of In review, Approved, or Rejected as the system processes your upload. No multi-day review window is documented, and approved menu changes update automatically.
Does Grubhub offer free photography?
Yes. Grubhub Marketplace partners get a free professional photoshoot as part of their membership, scheduled through their Account Advisor.
Can I use stock photos on Grubhub?
No. Grubhub rejects copyrighted images and stock photography (the only exception is corporate photos for the matching restaurant chain), and its automated review runs a reverse Google image search to catch them.
References
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