How to compress an image to a specific size
- Choose the target size: click 20, 50, 100, 200 or 500 KB, or type your own value between 5 and 20,000 KB.
- Pick the output format. JPG is accepted by almost every form; WebP gives smaller files when the portal allows it.
- Drop your images on the box or click Choose images. Each one is processed straight away and shows the new size, its pixel dimensions and the quality used.
- Change the target at any time and the images are processed again from the originals. Download one file or Download all as ZIP.
The work is done in your browser: your photos and documents are never uploaded. There is no sign-up, watermark or limit on the number of images.
How the target is reached
Hitting a size limit is a search problem. File size depends on two things you can change: how many pixels the picture has and the JPEG quality. The tool treats them in a sensible order:
- If the picture already fits at full size and high quality, nothing is reduced.
- If not, it keeps the quality at a comfortable 40% or better and shrinks the picture in small steps (15% at a time) until it fits.
- At that size it raises the quality again as far as the limit allows, using a binary search that needs only a handful of encodes.
The result is the largest, best-looking picture that is still under your limit. In the rare case where even a tiny picture cannot reach the limit, you get the smallest version and a clear message.
Typical limits and what fits
- 20 KB: signatures, small ID photos and thumbnails. A 200 × 230 px passport-style photo fits easily; a full document page does not stay readable.
- 50 KB: passport and ID photos on many government and exam forms (often around 300 × 400 px).
- 100 KB: a common limit for profile photos and supporting documents; a clean 800 × 1000 px photo usually fits.
- 200–500 KB: scans of certificates and receipts, where text must stay readable.
Worked example
A job portal asks for a photo under 50 KB and yours is a 3.1 MB picture at 3000 × 4000 pixels. Choose 50 KB and JPG. The full-size photo cannot fit even at 40% quality, so for a picture like this the tool typically shrinks it to a few hundred pixels (for example 360 × 480) and then raises the quality to around 80%, ending up just under 50 KB. If the portal also requires a particular pixel size, crop or resize the result with a resizer afterwards; reducing the picture a second time does not harm it much at this size.
Tips for small files that still look good
- Crop first. Cutting away empty background lets the subject keep more pixels within the same limit.
- Start from the original. Compressing a file that was already compressed loses extra detail.
- Use even lighting. Smooth backgrounds compress much better than noisy, dark photos.
- Check the result at 100% zoom before you submit it, especially signatures and printed text.
- Mind the rules. Some portals demand a minimum as well as a maximum size, or exact dimensions. Read the instructions before compressing.
Frequently asked questions
How does the tool reach an exact size?
It tries different JPEG or WebP qualities and picture sizes in your browser until the file is as large as possible but still under your limit. First it lowers the quality a little, and only if that is not enough does it make the picture smaller.
Is the result always under the limit?
Almost always. If a picture is so detailed or the limit so small that it would become tiny, the tool tells you and gives the smallest result it could make. For very small limits such as 20 KB, passport-size photos work well, large scans of documents may not.
Is 1 KB 1,000 or 1,024 bytes?
The tool uses 1 KB = 1,000 bytes, the stricter definition. A 100 KB result is therefore under 100,000 bytes, which is accepted by portals that count either way.
Are my photos uploaded to a server?
No. Everything happens on your device, so ID photos, signatures and documents stay private. Hidden data such as the GPS location is removed during compression.
Why does my signature or text look blurry?
Small limits force a lower resolution. For signatures and scans of text, choose a slightly higher limit if the form allows it, or crop away empty margins first so the content can stay larger.