Images Missing Dimensions

This error appears when one or more images on your page don't have their width and height attributes defined. Here's what it means and how to add them so your site loads faster.

What this error means

When you insert an image on a page, the browser needs to know how much space to reserve for it before loading it. If the image's width and height aren't defined, the browser doesn't know what space to reserve and has to recalculate the page layout once the image finishes loading. That recalculation causes what's known as a layout shift, or CLS — short for Cumulative Layout Shift. It's that annoying effect where the page content suddenly jumps while loading, making users lose their place while reading or, worse, click on something they didn't intend to. Google measures CLS as part of its Core Web Vitals, the performance metrics it uses to assess a site's user experience. A high CLS directly penalizes your page's rankings. This error usually appears when images are inserted without reviewing their attributes, when page building tools don't add them automatically, or when content is migrated without paying attention to the technical details of images.

Why defining image dimensions matters

A layout shift may seem like a minor issue, but for someone reading your page it's a frustrating experience. And for Google, a high CLS is a direct signal that your site isn't taking care of performance. Adding dimensions is a quick technical change that improves metrics Google actually measures.

Impact on SEO rankings

CLS is one of the Core Web Vitals metrics Google uses to decide how to rank your page. Having images without defined dimensions raises your CLS score and can negatively affect your visibility in search results.

Impact on user experience

When content moves while the page loads, users lose track of where they were reading or may click on something they didn't want. That creates frustration and increases the chances they'll leave the page early.

Negative signals for site quality

Images without defined dimensions indicate that the site's technical details aren't being looked after. For Google, a site with a high CLS doesn't prioritize user experience, and that has consequences for how it evaluates you.

How to fix it step by step

If this error showed up in your audit, here are the steps to leave it behind.

Step 1

Identify which images are missing defined dimensions

Ruk Audit shows you which images have the width and height attributes absent. Review them before editing anything and prioritize those on the most important pages.

Step 2

Check the actual dimensions of each image

Before adding the attributes, you need to know how large each image is. You can check this by opening the file on your computer or from your CMS media manager.

Step 3

Add the width and height attributes to each image

With the dimensions on hand, add the width and height attributes to each image tag. The values must match the actual file dimensions so the browser reserves the correct space. You can do this from your CMS editor or directly in the HTML code.

Step 4

Verify that layout shifts have disappeared

Once the dimensions are added, check that the page loads without visual shifts and that your CLS score has improved. You can measure it with Google PageSpeed Insights before and after the change.

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