gatsbyjs/gatsby · error

Either the "width" or "height" argument is required f

Error message

      Either the "width" or "height" argument is required for "${source.url}"
    

What it means

gatsbyImageResolver validates resolver args upfront: after requiring layout, it requires that at least one of width or height be present so image dimensions can be derived. Both absent means the GraphQL field was queried without sizing arguments (and no defaults apply).

Source

Thrown at packages/gatsby-plugin-utils/src/polyfill-remote-file/graphql/gatsby-image-resolver.ts:102

  store?: Store
): Promise<{
  images: IGatsbyImageData
  layout: string
  width: number
  height: number
  backgroundColor?: string
  placeholder?: { fallback: string } | undefined
} | null> {
  if (!isImage(source)) {
    return null
  }

  if (!args.layout) {
    throw new Error(`The "layout" argument is required for "${source.url}"`)
  }

  if (!args.width && !args.height) {
    throw new Error(`
      Either the "width" or "height" argument is required for "${source.url}"
    `)
  }

  if (!args.formats) {
    args.formats = [`auto`, `webp`, `avif`]
  }

  if (!args.outputPixelDensities) {
    args.outputPixelDensities = DEFAULT_PIXEL_DENSITIES
  }

  if (!args.breakpoints) {
    args.breakpoints = DEFAULT_BREAKPOINTS
  }

  if (!args.fit) {
    args.fit = `cover`

View on GitHub (pinned to e85d62f177)

Solutions

1. Pass width or height to the gatsbyImage field in the query
2. Set a layout plus one dimension in the GraphQL argument
3. Rely on the parent resolver defaults instead of calling with empty args

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at packages/gatsby-plugin-utils/src/polyfill-remote-file/graphql/gatsby-image-resolver.ts:102 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of gatsbyjs/gatsby@e85d62f177 (2026-08-26). Data as JSON: /api/errors/540c7940b82929b4. Report an issue: GitHub.