DoorDash Merchant Portal photo workflow
How to Add Photos to DoorDash: Merchant Portal Steps + Approval Checklist
This page answers the upload question directly: where to add DoorDash menu photos, how to prep the file, how approval works, and what to do if the image lands on the wrong item. For specs-only research, use the DoorDash requirements page linked below.
How to add photos to DoorDash menu items
- Open Merchant Portal. Sign in to DoorDash Merchant Portal and open the menu management area for the store location you want to edit.
- Choose the menu item. Find the item or modifier group that should receive the image. Confirm the name, description, and price before attaching the file.
- Prepare the image. Use a 16:9 landscape JPG/JPEG or PNG at 1400 x 800 px or larger, with no text, watermarks, borders, coupons, or unrelated items.
- Upload and inspect the crop. Attach the image, review the preview, and make sure the food remains visible in the card crop.
- Submit for review. Save the item and allow review/moderation time. Track rejected or missing photos so you can resubmit only the affected items.
- Fix wrong item mapping. If a photo appears on the wrong item, remove it from that item first, rename the file clearly, and reattach it to the correct menu record.
Before you upload
DoorDash upload work is faster when the photo library is already organized. Create a folder per menu section, name each file after the exact item, and keep the original phone shot plus the final DoorDash export. For US restaurants with seasonal menus, this makes it easier to replace only the items that changed.
- Example filename:
chicken-tikka-masala-bowl-doordash.jpg - Recommended export: 1400 x 800 px or larger, 16:9, JPG/JPEG or PNG
- Review risk: wrong item, dark image, text overlay, low resolution, or crop that cuts off the dish
Approval and rejection handling
Approval is not only a technical upload. DoorDash can reject images that do not represent the actual item, contain overlays, are too dark, are blurry, or include prohibited graphics. If one photo fails, replace that image rather than changing every menu item. Keep a simple spreadsheet with item name, uploaded filename, approval status, and rejection reason.
Screenshot placeholders for internal SOPs
If you are training staff, add your own screenshots from Merchant Portal to an internal SOP: login, Menu Manager, item edit screen, upload modal, crop preview, and final saved item. Do not publish private dashboard screenshots on public pages or social posts.
Related FoodPhoto.ai pages
Use these pages to check specs, improve the image before upload, or move from manual editing into the studio workflow.
Create the upload-ready file before opening Merchant Portal
Use FoodPhoto.ai to turn a phone shot into a clean, DoorDash-ready menu image first. Then your staff can upload the final file instead of editing inside the merchant dashboard.
FAQ
Where do I add photos to DoorDash?
Use DoorDash Merchant Portal, open the menu management area, choose the item, and upload the prepared image to that item.
How long does DoorDash photo approval take?
Review timing can vary by account and upload route. Plan ahead for new menus and track which items are pending or rejected.
What if the DoorDash photo is attached to the wrong item?
Remove it from the wrong item first, rename the file clearly, and upload the image to the correct menu record.
Can I bulk upload DoorDash photos?
Bulk workflows depend on your account, POS, and integration. Even with bulk upload, each image should still match the exact item and pass the photo requirements.
Should I upload vertical phone photos directly?
No. Convert phone shots into a horizontal 16:9 export first so the dish is not cropped awkwardly in DoorDash.
Sources checked
Platform rules change, so always confirm inside your merchant dashboard before a large upload. These references informed the checklist on this page.