How to Compress Images for the Web Without Losing Quality

Large images are the number-one cause of slow web pages. Compressing them well can cut file sizes by 60–90% with no visible quality loss — which means faster loads, better Core Web Vitals, and happier visitors. Here's how to do it right.

1. Resize before you compress

The biggest savings come from dimensions, not just quality. A photo straight off a phone might be 4000 px wide, but your layout may only display it at 1200 px. Scaling it down to the size it's actually shown at can shrink the file dramatically before any compression even happens. As a rule of thumb:

• Full-width hero images: 1600–2000 px wide
• In-content images: 800–1200 px wide
• Thumbnails: 300–500 px wide

2. Pick the right quality level

For lossy formats (JPEG, WebP), a quality of 75–85% is the sweet spot — the difference from 100% is usually invisible, but the file is far smaller. Drop below ~60% and you'll start to see blocky artifacts, especially around sharp edges and gradients.

3. Choose the best format

• Photographs → JPEG, or better, WebP (smaller at the same quality).
• Logos, icons, screenshots with text → PNG (keeps edges crisp and supports transparency).
• Everything modern → WebP is supported by all current browsers and usually wins on size.

4. Strip metadata

Photos carry EXIF data — camera model, settings, and often GPS coordinates. Removing it shaves a little size and, more importantly, protects your privacy before publishing.

5. Compress locally for privacy

Many online compressors upload your images to their servers. Our image compressor runs entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded, there's no 20-image cap or 5 MB limit, and you can resize, convert format, and strip metadata in one pass.

Quick workflow

1. Set a max width to match your layout.
2. Choose WebP (or JPEG) at 80% quality.
3. Keep "strip metadata" on.
4. Drop in your images and download — check the before/after sizes.

FAQ