Uber Eats Photos: Guidelines, Market Share, and Fast Compliance with PlatePhoto

Uber Eats holds a significant U.S. share (roughly one-quarter of delivery orders). Meeting its photo standards boosts discoverability and conversion. Here’s what Uber requires and how PlatePhoto helps you comply instantly.

Market context: the U.S. is massive (and the fight is intense)

The United States is the world’s second-largest online food delivery market (behind China), with an estimated $353B in revenues in 2024 and more than $95B generated in the meal delivery segment. By 2029, the market is forecast to exceed $500B as grocery + meal delivery continue to grow. Source: Statista’s U.S. online food delivery overview.

Globally, Uber Eats is described as the leading food delivery operator worldwide—but in the U.S. market, DoorDash leads: it controlled roughly two-thirds of online meal delivery as of March 2024. In downloads, DoorDash led U.S. 2024 app downloads (~19M) with Uber Eats next (~12M). Statista.

User “promiscuity” keeps pricing pressure high: long delivery time is a top frustration for roughly a third of U.S. consumers, and delivery charges are another major frustration (~26%). Macro pressure has also pushed a focus on profitability—both DoorDash and Uber Eats posted positive profit figures in 2024. Statista.

Uber Eats Photo Requirements (Highlights)

From the official Uber Merchant resource Restaurant-submitted photos:

• High resolution, well-lit, appetizing, minimal props.
• Show only the item sold—no extra beverages or unrelated sides.
• Avoid text overlays, watermarks, or borders; keep backgrounds clean.
• Accurate representation—no misleading portion sizes or filters.

Market Share Context

Industry estimates (Statista, 2024) put Uber Eats at ~23% U.S. delivery share. Delivering guideline-perfect images keeps you competitive in the second-largest channel.

Uber Eats Shooting Best Practices

Simple habits keep your photos appetizing and on-brief:

• Lean on indirect window light so food stays fresh-looking; avoid harsh, direct rays that create hard shadows.
• Pick an angle that fits the dish: top-down for bowls and plates to showcase ingredients; 45° for burgers, sandwiches, and taller stacks.
• Reveal the inside of layered items—cut and stack halves of burgers, wraps, or burritos so fillings are visible.
• Add a small garnish or color pop when it’s authentic to the dish, but keep it true-to-menu.
• Shoot immediately after plating so the dish doesn’t wilt or lose steam appeal.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Extreme close-ups that hide portion size or ingredients.
• Harsh fluorescent lighting—stick to soft, indirect light instead.
• Unclear angles where the guest can’t tell what the dish includes.

How to Upload in Uber Eats Manager

• Log into Uber Eats Manager and open Menu Maker.
• Go to the Items tab, select the item, and find the Photo section.
• Drag-and-drop or upload your photo (first-time users accept T&Cs once).
• Click Save in the upper right to submit for review; the item locks until approval.
• Track status in the Items tab—icons show in-review or rejected states.
• If approved, the photo un-grays and displays on the item; if rejected, the detail page and email outline the reasons.

Quick Prep Checklist

• Use side or 45° lighting; avoid harsh overheads.
• Center the dish; leave breathing room for auto-crops.
• Match photo to menu item exactly—no swaps or off-menu garnishes.
• Export clean JPEG/WEBP at high resolution; avoid compression artifacts.