Your hero image is 4.7 MB. Your email platform caps attachments at 1 MB. Your Shopify store is getting flagged for slow load times. You need the same image, just smaller — without it looking like it was faxed in 1997.
Here are five methods to try. Their impact depends on the source image and its destination.
1. Compress the image
Lossy compression can shrink a file by discarding detail. Start with a high-quality setting and lower it in small steps while checking gradients, text, faces, and sharp edges. Different encoders use quality values differently, so a number from one tool is not directly comparable with another.
Drop a copy into the Image Compressor to compare the before-and-after size and preview the result.
One important rule: compression is one-way. Once you strip that data, it's gone. Always keep your originals and compress copies.
2. Convert to WebP
WebP supports lossy and lossless compression as well as transparency. Modern browsers support it, but the receiving app or publishing platform may still impose its own format rules.
If your platform accepts WebP, convert a copy with the PNG to WebP converter and compare both size and appearance with the original format.
3. Resize the dimensions first
This is the step most people skip, and it's often the most impactful. A 4000×3000 photo from your phone is roughly 12 megapixels. If it's going on a blog post displayed at 800px wide, you're shipping 11 million unnecessary pixels.
Resize close to the largest dimensions the destination will display before compressing. Fewer pixels usually means less data to store, although the final file size will also depend on format and content. Use the Image Resizer to choose exact dimensions.
4. Strip metadata
Photos from phones and cameras can carry EXIF metadata such as location, camera settings, timestamps, and thumbnail previews. Removing metadata can reduce size and avoid sharing information the destination does not need.
Most compression tools strip metadata automatically. If you're compressing through the Image Compressor, EXIF data is removed as part of the process.
5. Pick the right format
Not every image should be a JPEG. Here's the quick rule:
- Photos → JPEG or WebP
- Screenshots, graphics, text overlays → PNG or WebP
- Simple graphics, logos, icons → SVG
Saving a screenshot as JPEG can create artifacts around text and sharp edges. Saving a detailed photo as PNG can create a larger file than a suitable lossy format. Match the format to the content and compare the actual outputs.
If compatibility or transparency makes that choice less obvious, use the PNG, JPG, and WebP comparison before converting the file.
Putting it all together
Use a small comparison table for your own source file rather than relying on a generic benchmark:
| Step | Action | File size | |------|--------|-----------| | Start | Original dimensions and format | Record size | | 1 | Resize to destination dimensions | Record size | | 2 | Compress a copy | Record size | | 3 | Try an accepted alternate format | Record size |
Compare each version at its intended display size and keep the smallest one that still preserves the detail your audience needs. Resizing before the final compression pass also avoids encoding pixels that the destination will not show.
How much can I compress an image without losing quality?
There is no reliable universal percentage. Test a copy, compare it with the original at the intended display size, and keep the original available in case you need a different output later.
What's the best image format for small file sizes?
For photos, compare JPG and WebP when the destination accepts both. For screenshots and graphics with text, compare lossless PNG or WebP. If compatibility is uncertain, check the destination's accepted formats before converting.
Does resizing an image reduce file size?
Yes, significantly. A 4000×3000 photo is ~12 megapixels. Resizing to 1920×1440 cuts the pixel count by 75%, which directly reduces file size. Always resize to your target display dimensions before compressing.