Image Column

The Image column is an out-of-the-box column type for SharePoint lists and libraries that stores a single image directly inside each list item. Users upload a photo through the list form, and SharePoint displays it as a thumbnail in the view and as the card preview in Gallery View. It powers visual lists such as employee directories, product catalogs, and asset inventories without any custom development. The column can also be marked as required, so every new item arrives with a photo.

Gallery View, Hyperlink Column, Metadata, Number Column

See It In Action

Gallery View thumbnails: populate an Image column on a product catalog, employee directory, or asset library to drive the thumbnail on each Gallery View card
Employee directories: combine an Image column for profile photos with name, department, and role columns for a visual, card-based people directory
Brand asset inventories: maintain an image inventory with thumbnail previews directly in the list view, making it easy to identify assets without opening each item
Event management: add images for event banners or speaker headshots to an events list for use in Gallery View and page-embedded list displays

Benefits

Native image storage: images are stored directly in the list item rather than a separate document library, simplifying content management
Drives Gallery View: the Image column is the primary field for Gallery View thumbnails, making visual list displays straightforward
Thumbnail in list view: image values display as inline thumbnails in Standard (List) View, providing visual context without opening each item
Zero development: visual, card-style lists work out of the box with no Power Apps, SPFx, or custom forms
Click-through preview: thumbnails open the full-size image, so users can verify an asset without leaving the view
Managed storage: SharePoint files the uploaded images in Site Assets automatically, so pictures never break the way externally linked URLs can

Details

Feature Category: Columns & Views

How It Works

One image slot per item: each list item gets its own image slot; when a user adds or edits an item, the form shows an Add an image control, and the uploaded file is saved with the item and rendered as a thumbnail wherever the column appears
Storage location: uploaded images are saved to the site’s Site Assets library, in a folder named after the list’s internal ID
Full-size preview: clicking a thumbnail in the list view opens the image at full size
Gallery View cards: the Image column drives the picture shown on each card
Easy replacement: an item’s image can be swapped or removed from the form at any time

Limits and Nuances

One image per item: for multiple photos, add a second Image column, use item attachments, or link to a document library instead
Storage counts against quota: uploaded images live in the site’s Site Assets library and draw on the site collection‘s storage quota
Large originals slow rendering: resize images before upload rather than relying on the browser to shrink them
Square images crop best: wide or tall photos may be cut off on Gallery View cards
No sort, filter, or group: views cannot be sorted, filtered, or grouped by an Image column
Uploads only: the form stores a copy of the image from your device; it does not link to an image hosted elsewhere, so use a Hyperlink column for that
Images can be required: the column can force an image on every new item, which keeps visual lists complete
Modern Lists capability: the Image column is a modern SharePoint Online and Microsoft Lists capability, available on modern list forms

Common Questions About the Image Column

How do I add an Image column to a SharePoint list?

In the list or library, select Add column and choose Image – if it is not in the short list, choose See all column types. Give it a name, decide whether an image should be required, and save. The column then appears on the New and Edit forms with an Add an image control, and as a thumbnail column in your views.

Where are images from an Image column stored?

SharePoint saves each uploaded image to the site’s Site Assets library, inside a Lists folder named after the list’s internal ID. That means the images live in the same site as the list and count against the site collection’s storage quota – worth knowing for image-heavy lists like product catalogs. The list item itself stores a reference to that file, not a copy.

Can I add more than one image to a list item?

Not with a single Image column – it stores exactly one image per item. Common workarounds: add a second Image column (for example, Front Photo and Back Photo), use item attachments, or store the photo set in a document library and link to it. For a card-style visual list, one strong image per item is usually all Gallery View needs.

What image size works best for SharePoint list thumbnails?

Keep files modest – large originals slow the view down because every thumbnail still references the stored file. Square or near-square images behave most predictably, especially in Gallery View, where wide or tall photos can get cropped. A few hundred kilobytes per image is plenty for a thumbnail-and-card experience; save print-resolution originals in a document library instead.

How is the Image column different from a Hyperlink or Picture column?

The older Hyperlink or Picture column only stores a URL pointing to an image hosted somewhere else – if that file moves, the picture breaks. The Image column actually uploads the file into the site and manages it for you, shows a true thumbnail in views, and powers Gallery View cards. For visual lists built today, the Image column is the right out-of-the-box choice.

What are Image columns typically used for?

The typical use cases are visual lists: employee directories with headshots, product or equipment catalogs, brand asset inventories, and event lists with banners. Pair the Image column with Gallery View and you get a polished card layout with zero custom development. Greg Zelfond uses this combination constantly in client intranets – it is one of the quickest ways to make a plain list look designed.