Choose what needs to change
“Make this image smaller” can mean two different jobs. A file-size limit, such as 500 KB, controls how much data the file contains. A dimension requirement, such as 800 × 600 pixels, controls the image's shape and resolution.
This compressor changes JPEG encoding to reach the file size. When a lower quality alone is not enough, it also reduces the width and height just enough to fit, and the result reports the new pixel dimensions. If you also need a particular shape, use the editor's size and dimension controls to crop or add white padding before compression, then check the reported size against the limit.
Read the result before replacing your original
- Input and output bytes: the displayed sizes let you check whether conversion actually saved space. A plain PNG can start smaller than its JPEG copy.
- Pixel dimensions: they are kept when the limit can be met by JPEG quality alone. For very tight limits, the tool scales the image down just enough and reports the new size, so check it against your destination's requirements.
- Visible detail: examine small text, hair, faces, and thin lines at full size. A valid byte count does not establish that a document is readable.
- Metadata: a JPEG that already fits is returned unchanged. If it contains GPS or camera information, the EXIF Remover can create a separate copy without that metadata.
Match the format to the image
JPEG suits photographs with continuous tones. It trades some detail for file size and cannot store transparent pixels. PNG is often better for diagrams and screenshots with sharp text, while WebP can be useful for web publishing when the destination accepts it.
Do not rename a .png file to .jpg to satisfy an upload form: the data inside still uses the original format. This tool decodes and exports a JPEG. For other formats, use Export in the image editor.
When a smaller target will not fit
The compressor tests multiple JPEG quality settings. If even its lowest setting exceeds the limit, it automatically scales the image down just enough to fit, and the result reports the new pixel dimensions. It never offers a download that fails the size check.
Check the destination's pixel requirements before resizing. For a larger upload allowance, try the 2 MB compressor. For small application photos and signatures, the 50 KB guide explains how to check both size boundaries and legibility.
Common questions
Will compression always make a file smaller?
No. A small PNG graphic may be more efficient than a JPEG version. This tool measures the output against your limit, so compare the original and final byte counts before replacing the source.
Can I compress a transparent logo?
The JPEG output uses a white background. To keep transparency, choose PNG or WebP in the main editor instead. Those exports do not guarantee a target file size.
Does the quality number mean a percentage of the original?
No. It is an encoder setting, not a percentage of file size or retained detail. Different images and browsers can produce different file sizes at the same setting.
Can I process a folder of images?
The Batch Editor applies common dimensions, format, and quality to up to 50 images and downloads a ZIP. Its quality setting does not enforce a separate byte limit for each file; use this compressor when an individual file must pass a strict limit.