Image Compressor

What is image compression?

Image compression reduces the file size of an image while attempting to preserve acceptable visual quality. Smaller files load faster on websites, use less storage space, and are quicker to share via email or messaging. This tool compresses JPEG, PNG, and WebP images in your browser — your files never leave your device.

There are two types of compression: lossy and lossless. Lossy compression (used by JPEG and WebP) permanently removes some image data that the human eye is less likely to notice, achieving much smaller file sizes. Lossless compression (used by PNG) reorganizes data more efficiently without discarding anything, achieving more modest size reductions.

How to use this tool

Upload an image and adjust the quality slider. Lower quality means smaller file size but more visible compression artifacts. The tool shows a side-by-side preview comparing the original and compressed version, along with the file size reduction percentage. Download the compressed image when satisfied with the balance.

Image compression for websites

• JPEG quality 75-85 is the sweet spot for most web photos — significant size reduction with minimal visible quality loss.
• PNG files often contain unnecessary metadata — lossless compression can remove it for 10-30% savings.
• WebP offers 25-35% smaller files than JPEG at equivalent visual quality.
• Target under 200KB per image for web pages. Hero images can be up to 500KB. Thumbnails should be under 50KB.

Understanding compression quality

JPEG quality is typically set on a scale of 0-100. Quality 100 has minimal compression (large file). Quality 0 has maximum compression (tiny file, terrible quality). The sweet spot for web use is 70-85 — at this range, most people cannot distinguish the compressed image from the original at normal viewing sizes. Below 50, compression artifacts (blocky patterns, color banding) become clearly visible.

Frequently asked questions

How much can compression reduce file size?

Typical reductions depend on the format and original quality. An uncompressed or minimally compressed JPEG can often be reduced by 60-80% at quality 80 with no visible difference. PNGs with unnecessary metadata can be reduced 10-30% losslessly. Overly large images (4000+ pixels wide for web use) benefit more from resizing first, then compressing.

Can I compress an image multiple times?

You can, but each round of lossy compression removes more data and introduces more artifacts. Re-compressing an already-compressed JPEG accumulates quality loss. For best results, always start from the highest-quality original and compress once to the desired size. If the result is too large, adjust the quality setting rather than compressing the output again.