Image Compressor

Compress images to a target KB/MB, percentage or quality while keeping maximum quality.

Reduce image file size to an exact target in KB or MB while keeping the picture as sharp as possible. Built for upload limits — form portals, email attachments and web pages.

What this tool does

The compressor gives you two ways to work. You can set a quality percentage and see what size you get, or you can name a target size — 20 KB, 200 KB, 1 MB — and let it find the settings that land there. The target mode works by binary search: encode, measure, adjust, repeat, until the result falls inside tolerance.

When quality alone cannot reach a very small target, it reduces the resolution as well rather than pushing quality into the range where the image visibly falls apart.

How to use it

  1. Upload one or more images.
  2. Choose a target size in KB or MB, or set a quality percentage directly.
  3. Optionally set a maximum width to cap the resolution.
  4. Click Compress, then download the results individually or as a ZIP.

Getting a good result

File size is governed by two independent things: how many pixels the image contains, and how aggressively they are encoded. Reducing pixel count is almost free in perceived quality; reducing encoding quality is not. So shrink dimensions first, and only then lower quality.

Target sizeRealistic atNotes
1 MBFull quality, 3000 pxNo compromise needed
200 KBQuality 85, 1200 × 1600Looks excellent
100 KBQuality 85, 800 × 1000Fine on screen and in print at small sizes
50 KBQuality 80, 413 × 531Standard form photo — plain background helps
20 KBQuality 75, 200 × 230Works because the image is small
10 KBQuality 80, 140 × 60Realistic for a signature, not a face

Common problems

ProblemCauseFix
Result is blurryQuality pushed below about 50Reduce dimensions instead, if the spec allows
File is *under* the minimumQuality too low, or mostly flat backgroundRaise quality to 90–95
Barely shrinks at allSource is PNG and staying PNGConvert to JPG first
Text has grey halosJPG applied to a screenshotUse PNG for text and graphics
Looks worse each timeCompressing an already-compressed copyAlways start from the original

Frequently asked questions

Will compressing ruin the quality?

Not at sensible settings. Quality 80–85 is visually indistinguishable from the original for most photographs. The tool only reduces resolution when a target is small enough that quality alone cannot reach it, which keeps images recognisable rather than blocky.

Can I compress an image to an exact KB size?

Yes. Enter the target in KB or MB and the compressor converges on it. Landing exactly on a number is not always possible — encoders work in discrete steps — but it will get within a few percent.

Does it work on PNG images?

Yes, though for photographs the biggest win is converting to JPG or WEBP, which compress photographic content far better than PNG can. For screenshots and graphics, PNG is the right format and the tool will optimise it in place.

Can I get the quality back afterwards?

No. Lossy compression permanently discards data. Always keep an untouched original — this matters more than any other habit when preparing files.

Why did compressing make my file larger?

Usually because you re-saved at a higher quality than the source was originally encoded at. Re-encoding a quality-70 JPG at quality 95 adds bytes without adding any detail.

Can I compress many images at once?

Yes. Batch compression applies the same settings to every file and returns them as a ZIP — useful for preparing a consistent set of document scans.

Guides that use this tool

More image tools · All guides · All tools