Compress image file size
Shrink photos and images to hit your target file size (KB or MB). Perfect for bypassing upload limits on chat apps, forums, and job applications. We adjust quality levels automatically to keep your images sharp without uploading them to a server.
Choose JPG or PNG files
Drag and drop multiple files at once
How to use
- 1
Drag and drop the JPG or PNG files you want to shrink, or click to upload them. You can process multiple files at once.
- 2
Set your target file size and select the unit (KB or MB). For example, 1MB works well for profile pictures.
- 3
Adjust your minimum quality floor and output format if needed. Setting the quality floor too low might hit your target size but make the image look pixelated.
- 4
Click "Compress" to automatically find the best quality that fits under your limit. Grab all your files in a ZIP if you converted multiple images.
FAQ
- Will the output match my target size exactly?
- We target a file size at or below your limit. We adjust quality increments to get as close as possible without going over. If we hit your minimum quality floor first, the final file might stay slightly larger than your target.
- How does compression affect image quality?
- Reasonable target sizes shrink your files without any visible difference. The smaller your target size compared to the original, the more details you might lose. Increase your target size or raise the minimum quality floor if you need higher fidelity.
- Can I compress PNG files?
- Yes. We support PNG compression, but exporting PNGs as JPGs yields much better size reductions. We recommend JPG outputs for photos and screenshots that don't require transparency.
- Do you upload my images to a server?
- Never. We handle all compression locally in your browser. Your files never leave your device and clear from memory as soon as you close the page.
How Target-Size Compression Works
Need your image under a specific size limit? This tool has you covered. Instead of guessing quality percentages (like '80%') and hoping for the best, you simply set your target size (like 500 KB or 2 MB). Switching automatically tunes the compression settings to guarantee your file fits under that limit. It's the easiest way to bypass strict upload rules without the guesswork.
When to Use Target-Size Compression
Whenever you face a strict upload cap, this tool is your best friend. It's perfect for:
- Job applications & resumes: Meet requirements like 'JPG under 2 MB' on your first try.
- Forums & online portals: Breeze past '500 KB per image' upload ceilings.
- Websites & blogs: Optimize your images to keep your pages loading fast.
- Email attachments: Shrink multiple photos so they fit within your email provider's limit.
Target Size vs. Quality: What's the Difference?
Traditional compression prioritizes image quality first, leaving you with whatever file size happens to come out. Target-size compression flips this: it prioritizes a strict file size and adjusts the quality to match. Which one should you choose? It depends on your goal. If you want the absolute best visual fidelity, choose quality compression. If you must stay under a strict upload limit, target-size compression is your shortcut to saving time.
Watch Out for Over-Compression
Setting your target size too low forces the tool to strip quality, which can make your image look pixelated. Images with text (like screenshots, document scans, or tables) are particularly vulnerable to JPG compression artifacts, which make letters look blurry. For text-heavy images, we recommend saving them as PNG or using our resize tool to reduce the physical dimensions first. Photos of people and landscapes are much more forgiving and handle compression beautifully.
Two Levers for Shrinking a File — Which One Wins
There are only two ways to make an image file smaller: lower the quality (store less information at the same dimensions), or reduce the dimensions (fewer pixels to store). We measured each lever separately on the same photograph to see which pays off better.
| Method | Setting | Resulting size | Display dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality only | Quality 80 | 269 KB | 1600×1067 unchanged |
| Quality only | Quality 60 | 123 KB | 1600×1067 unchanged |
| Quality only | Quality 40 | 68 KB | 1600×1067 unchanged |
| Dimensions only | 75% width (quality 80) | 105 KB | 1200×800 |
| Dimensions only | 50% width (quality 80) | 33 KB | 800×534 |
The comparison is stark. Reaching 68 KB through quality alone means dropping to quality 40, where mottling and block patterns become visible under magnification. Halving the width gets you to 33 KB while holding quality at 80 — smaller than the aggressive-quality result, and visually clean.
There is a catch, of course: resizing genuinely makes the image smaller on screen, so it is not an option when the image must display at full size. The decision rule is simple. If the image is larger than the space it will occupy, resize first. If it already matches its display size, then reach for quality.
Which Format Should You Choose?
For standard photos, JPG is almost always your best bet. It compresses smooth colors and gradients incredibly well, keeping files lightweight. Choose PNG only when you need transparency or when crisp text and clean lines are a must—but keep in mind that PNG files don't shrink easily. If your main goal is reducing file size, stick with JPG.
Related guides
How to Reduce Image File Size (and How It Actually Works)
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3 Core Techniques to Compress Image Files Without Quality Loss
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