Last updated on March 11, 2026
Struggling to insert images in Google Sheets spreadsheet? Let’s see different ways in which you can insert images to a spreadsheet and each one has it’s own benefit.
A spreadsheet can feel dry without pictures. While images are not as important as adding dates in spreadsheets, images make scanning faster, add a splash of color to your spreadsheet, and give a break from long stretch of data. So, let’s see different ways in which you can insert images in your spreadsheet.
Different ways to add images
There are three main ways to add images in Google Sheets:
- images that sit inside a cell: with this method, the picture becomes part of the cell. It moves and resizes with that cell.
- images that float on top of cells: the picture floats above the grid. You can drag it anywhere, and it can cover cells
- IMAGE formula: while the above two work great to insert images from your device, you can use IMAGE formula to fill automatically from URLs.
The Three Methods at a Glance
| Method | Where the image lives | Moves with data? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insert > Image in cell | Inside the cell | ✅ Yes | Product lists, tables, trackers |
| Insert > Image over cells | Floating above the grid | ❌ No | Logos, headers, decorative images |
| IMAGE formula | Inside the cell, via URL | ✅ Yes | Catalogs, auto-updating rows |
Let’s see each method in details.
1. Insert Image in Cell
You can use this method Use when the image is data -images stay matched to a specific row when you sort or filter. All cell operations apply to the image as well.
How to insert an image in a cell:
- Click the cell where you want to show the image
- Go to the top menu and click Insert.
- Click Image.
- Choose Image in cell.
- Pick your image source (for example, Upload or Drive), then select the image.
- Click Insert (or Open, depending on the picker).
After the image appears, you can’t drag the picture to resize it. Instead, you resize the sheet:
- Adjust column width to give the image more horizontal space.
- Adjust row height to give the image more vertical space.
Ater inserting your image, if your image look cramped, widen the image column first. That gives space to your image to show properly. Then set a consistent row height for the full list.
When to use Image in Cell?
If you want images to be included in the cell operations, then Image in cell is the best choice. With this:
- you can sort or filter the images.
- When you change row height or column width, the visible image area changes with the cell. That keeps your grid tidy.
- When you copy a row, the image copies with it.
- When you fill down patterns, you won’t get floating pictures stacking up in strange places.
2. Insert image over cells
You can consider images over cells like sticky notes on paper. You can drag them anywhere, resize them, and they can overlap cells.
The tradeoff with this method is, since the image isn’t attached to a cell, it doesn’t move when you resize, sort, or filter the cell. The image may stay put while your data moves. So, if you’re using the image to show data, you may have to readjust image.
How to insert an image over a cell:
- Go to Insert in the top menu.
- Click Image.
- Choose Image over cells.
- Select the source, then pick your image.
Once the image appears floating above the grid. You can:
- Drag the image to reposition it.
- Resize it using the corner handles.
- Place it near a title row, a KPI box, or a note area.
For a neater look, you can align it with cell borders so that it stays cleanly op top of cells. If you change column widths, you will need to readjust the image back into place.
When to use Image over Cell?
If you want images to be independent of the cell operations, then Image over cell is the best choice. You can use it to:
- insert logos, headers, watermarks, or graphics.
- add graphic or art to style your spreadsheets
3. Insert image using IMAGE formula
The two methods we saw till now insert images from Menu. But if you want to insert a lot of images, manual insert can take a lot of time. That’s where the IMAGE formula helps.
With the IMAGE formula, each row can pull its own picture from a URL. You keep the links in a column, then the images appear next to them. When you update a link, the image updates too.
How to use IMAGE formula:
Here is the simple Image formula:
=IMAGE(“https://your-image-link-here”)
Replace your-image-link-here with your real image links.
You can also make it flexible by storing URLs in a column, then reference the cell:
- Put image URL in A2
- In B2, use =IMAGE(A2)
Now you can fill B2 downward and keep your list easy to maintain. When you change a URL in column A, the image in column B changes without extra steps.
One thing to note here: the image URL must point directly to an image file (ending in .jpg, .png, etc.) and must be publicly accessible. URLs behind a login will not load properly.
Once the image appears floating above the grid. You can:
- Drag the image to reposition it.
- Resize it using the corner handles.
- Place it near a title row, a KPI box, or a note area.
When to use Image formula?
You can use this method to when you have a list of items that each have their own image URL, for eg, a product catalog, an inventory sheet, or any table with consistent thumbnail behavior across many rows.
Which Method Works Best for Selling Spreadsheets?
If you’re selling Google Sheet templates or customizing a PLR template you’ve purchased, here’s is a quick tip to choose the right method:
Use “Image in cell” when adding photo that belong inside a table. Your buyers will be sorting and filtering rows, and images need to travel with their data.
Use “Image over cells” when adding images that add your branding, like your logo, a branding header, or a similar graphic.
Use the IMAGE formula when building catalog-style templates where each product row pulls its own image from a URL. This is especially useful for templates where buyers will be adding many items over time.
If you’re unsure, pick in-cell for anything that behaves like data in a table, and pick over-cells for anything that behaves like page layout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why does my image shows as a broken icon or blank space?
A. Most likely the link to the url is broken. Open the URL in a new browser tab. If it fails there, it won’t open in Google Sheets either.
Next check proper sharing permission has been set for the image.
If you’re using the IMAGE formula, also confirm there are no extra spaces in the URL cell. A single hidden character can break it.
Q. Why does my sheet get slow or image look blurry?
A. Large image files (especially PNGs) slow down sheets significantly. Always resize your image and compress before uploading. Very tall rows force more rendering so it is better to keep row heights reasonable.
Q. Why does my image move when I sort my data?
You’re using “Image in cells” when you should be using “Image over cell.” Re-insert using the correct method
Q. How do I copy paste image in Google Sheets?
A. Simply copy the image and paste it in your sheet. It will automatically Insert image over cells. You can then move to a cell by selecting the cell -> clicking the three dots on image -> put image in selected cell
Images in Sheets are simple until something breaks. The good news is most problems come from a short list of causes, and you can check them fast.
Want Templates with Images Already Set Up Correctly?
If you’d rather start from a professional base than build from scratch, the Family Packing List includes Google Sheet templates with images, formatting, and structure already in place. All you need to do is customize with your branding and list on Etsy.
