Image optimization
How to Compress an Image Without Losing Too Much Quality
Learn practical image compression settings for smaller uploads, faster pages, email attachments, and clean visual results.
Image Compressor
Reduce image size by adjusting quality and dimensions.
Start with dimensions
The fastest way to reduce an image is often resizing it before changing quality. A 4000 pixel camera photo is usually far larger than a blog card, product thumbnail, or form upload needs.
If an image will display at 1200 pixels wide, exporting it at 3000 or 4000 pixels wastes bandwidth. Resize first, then adjust quality.
Choose a sensible quality level
For photos, a quality range around 70 to 85 often gives a good balance between size and visual detail. For screenshots or graphics with text, lower quality settings can create visible blur or artifacts.
Always open the result after compression. File size is important, but a blurry product image or unreadable screenshot can cost more than the bandwidth you saved.
Use the right format
JPG is practical for photos, PNG works well for crisp graphics, and WebP can be excellent for web pages. If your publishing system supports WebP, it is often worth testing against JPG.
Compression is not one universal setting. The best result comes from matching dimensions, format, and quality to the final use case.
FAQ
What is the best image compression quality?
For many photos, 70 to 85 is a practical starting range. Screenshots and text-heavy images may need higher quality.
Should I resize before compressing?
Yes, if the original image is much larger than the display size. Resizing can reduce file size dramatically.
Can compression be reversed?
Lossy compression cannot fully restore removed detail. Keep an original copy before exporting compressed versions.