Shadcn File Upload

Browse 10 production-ready shadcn file upload components for drag-and-drop zones, image upload with preview, gallery upload with progress tracking, avatar and cover image replacement, table-based file management, and sortable image grids: all built with accessible inputs and Sonner feedback.

For AI Agents

Hand your agent this brief or the ReUI MCP, not a screenshot. Free to install.

When to use

Profile pictures and cover banners replaced by one pick or drop, with an instant local preview
Multi file drop zones that check type, size and count, then list picks as thumbnails, cards or table rows
Upload queues with per file progress and retry, and photo grids put in order by drag before saving

When not to use

Chips for files sent with a chat message, in the composer or the reply: use the Attachment component
A colored document icon labeled with its format, such as PDF or XLSX: use the File Type component
A meeting or booking form where an image drop is one field among many: use the Schedule blocks

Agent notes

No example sends a picked File to a server; picks stay in React state until you add the upload request

Third-party API docs

Sonner v2: API reference, docs, used by 1 of 10 examples

Markdownhttps://web.dev.reui.io/components/file-upload.md

MCPget_component("file-upload")

Installnpx shadcn@latest add @reui/use-file-upload

Full index for agents:llms.txtReUI MCP setup

Shadcn File Upload: Drag, Drop, Preview, and Manage Files

ReUI File Upload is a custom shadcn component for handling file input, drag-and-drop zones, image previews, and multi-file management. It wraps the native file input in an accessible label-based trigger, announces selection state to assistive technologies, and emits Sonner toast feedback for upload errors.

10 components cover basic file input, cover image upload, avatar replacement, drag-and-drop zones, gallery upload, upload with progress tracking, table-based file management, image upload with cropping intent, image upload with drag-to-reorder via Sortable, and card-style upload UI.

The sections below cover what the component provides, real use cases in SaaS and B2B products, features, and integration with Sortable for reordering uploaded images.

What is Shadcn File Upload?

ReUI File Upload is a custom component for React and Next.js that replaces the native file input with an accessible, stylable trigger. It supports single and multi-file selection, drag-and-drop zones, image preview with remove actions, and upload progress visualization. It is built on top of shadcn primitives: Card, Button, Badge, Progress, Alert, Dialog, and Table: so it inherits your design tokens automatically.

Components include avatar and cover image upload for profile settings, gallery upload for image-heavy products, table-based upload for document management, and a sortable image grid that composes with the ReUI Sortable component so users can reorder uploaded images before saving.

Why Use Shadcn File Upload?

File upload is one of the most common SaaS interactions: user avatars, cover images, document attachments, product photos, and media galleries all require a polished upload experience. Native file inputs are unstyled and difficult to customize. ReUI components show the full spectrum from a minimal one-click replacement to a full drag-and-drop gallery with progress bars and sortable reordering.

Sonner integration handles upload progress and error state with non-blocking toasts, keeping the user in context. Compose with Shadcn Dialog for image crop flows, Shadcn Table for document lists, and Shadcn Sortable for reorderable image grids.

Shadcn File Upload Features

Drag and Drop Zone. A styled dropzone detects dragover, dragleave, and drop events. The zone highlights on hover and accepts single or multiple files. Accessible via click-to-select as a fallback.
Image Upload with Preview. After selection, images render as inline previews with remove buttons. Previews use object-URL revocation to prevent memory leaks when files are removed.
Upload Progress Tracking. Per-file progress bars using shadcn Progress. Wire to XMLHttpRequest onprogress or fetch stream events for real upload feedback, or simulate progress for local uploads.
Avatar and Cover Image Upload. Profile-oriented components replace avatar and cover image with a single click or drag. Overlay triggers appear on hover, maintaining a clean default state.
Gallery and Multi-File Upload. Grid gallery component supports multiple image previews with individual remove actions. Files display in a responsive grid that adapts to the number of selections.
Table File Management. Table-based component lists uploaded files with name, size, type, status, and remove action in a shadcn Table. Useful for document upload flows where file metadata matters.
Sortable Image Grid. Composes with ReUI Sortable (@dnd-kit/sortable) to let users drag-and-drop uploaded images into a custom order before saving, essential for product photo management and gallery ordering.
Card and Dialog Variants. Card-style upload wraps the zone in a shadcn Card for settings pages. Dialog variant launches the upload UI in a modal with crop or confirm actions.
Validation and Error States. File type, size, and count validation with inline error messages via shadcn Alert. Sonner toasts report async upload errors without blocking the layout.

ReUI File Upload: In-House Custom Shadcn Component

ReUI File Upload is a custom shadcn component for multi-file upload with validation, preview, and progress tracking.

Available in Radix UI and Base UI flavors via @base-ui/react. ReUI maintains 22 such in-house components.

Pair File Upload with Shadcn Sortable to build a complete image management flow: upload first, then drag-and-drop to set display order before saving. The sortable image gallery component in ReUI demonstrates this exact composition.

Use Shadcn Dialog to wrap the upload zone for a modal crop-and-confirm flow, Shadcn Progress for per-file upload bars, and Shadcn Table for document list views with file metadata and remove actions.

Combine with Shadcn Field and Shadcn Label for form-integrated upload fields. Use Shadcn Sonner for non-blocking upload error and success toasts, and Shadcn Alert for persistent validation messages.

Form Blocks in ReUI Pro

The free examples above pair with 12 production ready form blocks in ReUI Pro, complete sections built on the same primitives and ready to copy into your app.

Form (12 blocks)Form layouts for settings, profiles, and data entry with validation and grouped fields.

Browse all Application blocks

Frequently Asked Questions

Does ReUI File Upload handle drag and drop?

Yes. The drag-and-drop zone listens to dragover, dragleave, and drop events on the label element. It highlights on dragover to signal the active target and accepts files on drop. Click-to-select via the native input is always available as a fallback.

How do I show upload progress?

Wire the Progress component to your upload's progress events. For XHR use request.upload.onprogress; for fetch with ReadableStream use a custom reader. ReUI's progress upload component shows the local state structure: replace the simulated progress with real upload events.

Can users reorder uploaded images?

Yes. The sortable image grid component composes File Upload with ReUI Sortable (@dnd-kit/sortable). After upload, images appear in a draggable grid. Users reorder them with drag-and-drop or keyboard, then save the ordered array to the backend.

How do I validate file type and size?

Check file.type and file.size in the change or drop handler before adding files to state. Reject invalid files and display an error with shadcn Alert or a Sonner toast. Set the accept attribute on the input as a first-pass filter.

How does avatar upload work?

The avatar upload component wraps the existing avatar image in a label with an invisible file input. On hover, an overlay icon appears. On selection, the new image previews immediately using URL.createObjectURL. Submit the file to your upload endpoint on confirm.

Does file upload work with React Hook Form?

Yes. Register the file input with register('file') or use Controller with a custom onChange handler. Access FileList from the event and validate with Zod's z.instanceof(File) or a custom refine: the same component ReUI uses in form-integrated upload examples.

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