Image Compression Guide - Reduce File Size Without Losing Quality

Large image files slow down websites, fill up storage, and make sharing difficult. Learn how to compress images effectively while maintaining visual quality.

Understanding Image Compression

Lossy vs Lossless Compression

Lossy Compression (JPG, WebP)

• Removes some image data permanently
• Much smaller file sizes
• Quality loss at low settings
• Best for photos

Lossless Compression (PNG)

• Preserves all image data
• Larger file sizes
• No quality loss
• Best for graphics/screenshots

Choosing the Right Quality Level

For Photos (JPG/WebP)

Quality Comparison

At 85% quality, most users cannot distinguish the compressed image from the original. This is our recommended default setting.

Best Format for Each Use Case

Use JPG When:

• Converting photos
• File size is priority
• Sharing via email/messaging
• Social media uploads

Use PNG When:

• Screenshots with text
• Logos and graphics
• Images need transparency
• Quality is critical

Use WebP When:

• Modern web browsers
• Best size/quality ratio
• Replacing both JPG and PNG

How to Compress Images

Using Our Free Tool

1. Upload your image (JPG, PNG, WebP, etc.)
2. Select output format
3. Adjust quality slider (1-100%)
4. Convert and download

Watch File Size Change

Lower quality = smaller file size. Find the sweet spot where size reduction meets acceptable quality.

Compression Tips

For Websites

• Aim for under 200KB per image
• Use WebP with JPG fallback
• Consider lazy loading

For Email

• Keep attachments under 1MB
• 70-80% quality is usually fine
• Resize dimensions if needed

For Social Media

• Platforms recompress anyway
• 80-85% quality is sufficient
• Check platform's recommended sizes

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I uncompress a compressed image? A: No, lossy compression permanently removes data. Always keep original files.

Q: What quality should I use? A: Start at 85% and lower only if you need smaller files.

Q: Does resizing affect quality? A: Yes, making images larger reduces quality. Only downsize, never upsize.

Compress Images Free