Good product alt text describes what the image shows in plain language — not what you wish it ranked for. Screen readers read it aloud, and AI shopping agents use it to understand images they can't see. Keep it under 125 characters, front-load the product name, mention the visible attribute, and skip 'image of' or 'photo of'.
Below are 50 examples across six categories. Use them as templates — swap your brand and attributes in.
The four rules
- Describe what is visibly in the image, not what you sell.
- Front-load the product name and one distinguishing attribute.
- Under ~125 characters. Screen readers truncate longer strings on some setups.
- Never keyword-stuff. Alt text is not a place to sneak search terms.
Clothing (1–10)
- Northlight merino crew sweater, charcoal, on wooden hanger against a white wall
- Model wearing Northlight crew sweater in charcoal, front view, arms relaxed
- Detail shot of ribbed cuff on Northlight merino crew sweater
- Close-up of Northlight sweater care label showing 100% merino wool
- Northlight sweater folded on natural linen, top-down flat lay
- Model wearing Northlight sweater with dark jeans and brown boots, three-quarter view
- Back view of Northlight crew sweater in charcoal on model, natural light
- Northlight sweater in charcoal next to swatches of ivory and navy for color comparison
- Northlight sweater rolled inside its recyclable paper packaging
- Northlight size chart graphic showing chest and body length in inches
Beauty (11–20)
- Aurora hydrating serum 30ml amber glass bottle with dropper cap
- Aurora serum dropper releasing a single drop onto a fingertip
- Aurora serum ingredient list panel — hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, glycerin
- Aurora serum bottle beside its recyclable outer carton on white background
- Model applying Aurora serum to cheekbone with fingertips
- Aurora serum bottle grouped with cleanser and moisturizer, morning routine flat lay
- Close-up texture shot of Aurora serum on skin, light-reflective sheen
- Aurora serum bottle 30ml next to 15ml travel size for scale
- Cruelty-free bunny logo on Aurora serum outer carton
- Aurora serum before-and-after user example, 8-week hydration comparison photo
Home (21–30)
- Kesa cotton throw pillow, sand color, 20 by 20 inches, on a linen sofa
- Kesa throw pillow set of two in sand and clay, styled on a wooden bench
- Kesa pillow zipper close-up showing YKK hardware
- Kesa pillow front and back stacked to show hidden zipper detail
- Kesa cotton material weave, macro shot with natural texture visible
- Kesa pillow sand color paired with matching wool throw blanket
- Kesa pillow on woven armchair in a sunlit reading nook
- Kesa pillow care card with washing instructions on natural cardstock
- Kesa pillow packaging — recyclable kraft mailer, folded flat
- Kesa color swatch card — sand, clay, moss, stone
Electronics (31–40)
- Vela Pro wireless earbuds in matte black charging case, closed
- Vela Pro earbuds case open, showing both earbuds seated and charging LEDs on
- Vela Pro earbud detail with silicone tip, showing size markings S and M
- Vela Pro case on a wooden desk beside a laptop and coffee cup for scale
- Vela Pro case bottom showing USB-C charging port
- Model wearing Vela Pro earbud, side profile with hair tucked behind ear
- Vela Pro app screenshot on iPhone showing equalizer preset controls
- Vela Pro case magnetic lid detail with soft-close hinge
- Vela Pro packaging contents laid flat — case, earbuds, three tip sizes, USB-C cable, manual
- Vela Pro warranty and support card with QR code
Accessories (41–46)
- Trailhead leather wallet in tan, closed, front view on white background
- Trailhead wallet open showing six card slots and cash sleeve
- Trailhead wallet stitching close-up on the spine
- Trailhead wallet in tan next to same wallet in espresso for color comparison
- Trailhead wallet held in a hand for scale reference
- Trailhead wallet packaging — dust bag and recyclable box
Marketplace-safe images (47–50)
- Northlight sweater on a plain white background, primary image, no text overlay
- Vela Pro earbuds case on white background, corner-lit for depth, no watermarks
- Aurora serum bottle centered on a white background, size 2000 by 2000 pixels
- Kesa pillow on plain white background, straight-on view, corners fully visible
Example calculation (USD)
What to avoid
| Bad | Better |
|---|---|
| Image of a sweater | Northlight merino crew sweater, charcoal, on wooden hanger |
| Buy the best serum — hydration for glowing skin | Aurora hydrating serum 30ml amber glass bottle with dropper |
| Wireless earbuds earbuds wireless bluetooth | Vela Pro wireless earbuds in matte black charging case, closed |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Starting alt text with 'image of' or 'photo of'.
- Keyword stuffing.
- Repeating the product title verbatim on every image.
- Leaving alt text blank on decorative images (use alt='' for truly decorative).
- Writing marketing copy instead of description.
Best practices
- One clear description per image.
- Include size, colour, and material when visible.
- Match the visible content on marketplace and Shopify.
- Keep decorative images with empty alt attributes so screen readers skip them.
- Audit every product page annually with a screen reader.
Frequently asked questions
Does alt text help SEO?
It helps images appear in Google Images and Merchant Center, and it improves accessibility scores. Its impact on core product ranking is small but positive.
What length is ideal?
Under 125 characters for most screen readers. Some support more, but shorter is safer.
Do AI shopping agents use alt text?
Yes, especially when they cannot process the image itself. Descriptive alt text improves the odds of being cited.