Separate Etsy limits from your product specification
Etsy's limits tell you what the listing form accepts. They do not tell you what a useful product should contain. A five-file allowance does not mean every product needs five files, and the 20 MB ceiling is not a quality target.
Listsy uses one ZIP for its launch product. That is a Listsy packaging choice inside Etsy's allowance, not an Etsy requirement. The file facts in the title, description, images, and README should all agree with that one archive.
| Requirement | Current Etsy constraint | Listsy launch choice |
|---|---|---|
| Attachment count | Up to 5 files | 1 buyer ZIP |
| Attachment size | 20 MB maximum per file | ZIP must remain below 20 MB |
| Direct PNG attachment | Supported | PNG is placed inside the ZIP |
| Direct ZIP attachment | Supported | Used as the buyer package |
| Digital variations | Not supported | One fixed product package |
| Publication | Instant listing needs an attached file | Seller publishes after draft review |
Use the current supported attachment list
Etsy currently lists the following direct digital attachment types: BMP, DOC, GIF, JPEG, JPG, MOBI, MOV, MP3, MPEG, PDF, PNG, PSP, RTF, STL, TXT, ZIP, ePUB, and iBook. The list covers very different products, from images and documents to audio, video, and 3D files.
A supported extension does not prove that the file opens, contains the promised content, or works with the buyer's tool. Test the actual attachment. If product files sit inside a ZIP, list the internal filenames and formats in the description and README.
Name and package files for the buyer
Etsy says buyers see the uploaded filename and that the platform does not provide a way to rename it after upload. The name may contain up to 70 alphanumeric characters, periods, underscores, or hyphens. Choose the name before upload and keep it readable outside Etsy.
A ZIP should have a small, predictable manifest. Remove source material, duplicate exports, mockups, and internal production records. After building the archive, extract it into a clean folder and open the product file. A successful ZIP creation command is not enough evidence.
| Filename | Problem or benefit | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| final-final-2.zip | No product identity and looks unfinished | Avoid |
| summer-floral-transparent-png.zip | Describes the product and package | Useful pattern |
| summer-floral-transparent-3000px-300dpi.png | States key buyer-file facts | Useful internal ZIP name |
| source-images.zip | Exposes production inputs instead of the product | Never include |
Do not confuse buyer files with listing images
A PNG can be a supported buyer file while still being unsuitable as raw storefront media. Etsy says transparent PNG is not supported for listing images and that transparent regions can appear black. Use an intentional non-transparent background for the gallery while keeping the buyer PNG transparent inside the ZIP.
Listing images also need to explain what the archive contains. A mockup is not part of the buyer package unless the description explicitly says it is. Show possible use without implying that a physical object is shipped.
- Buyer file: the product the customer downloads.
- Buyer ZIP: the supported Etsy attachment that contains the product file and README.
- Listing image: storefront media used to present and explain the product.
- QA proof: an internal test asset that should not be sold or shown as a product file.
Check the Listsy package against its exact promise
Listsy's buyer package contains one 3000 x 3000 px transparent RGBA PNG with 300 DPI metadata and one plain-text README. The ZIP includes only those promised deliverables; working files, prompts, mockups, proofs, and production records stay out.
Before upload, Listsy opens the ZIP and checks its size and contents. It then opens the packaged PNG again to confirm its dimensions, color mode, DPI metadata, and transparency. The seller still decides whether the design suits the use described in the listing.
Questions worth answering
Sources checked
Policy and marketplace details can change. These are the pages used for this review. Check Etsy directly before making a listing decision.