How to crop an image
- Drop a picture on the box above, paste a screenshot, or click Choose an image.
- Pick the shape of the crop: Free, 1:1 square, 4:5 portrait, 16:9 widescreen and more, or type your own ratio such as
5:7. - Drag the frame to move it and drag its corners to resize it. With a fixed shape the corners keep the proportions; in Free mode the edges move on their own too. Arrow keys nudge the frame (hold Shift for bigger steps).
- If the picture is sideways, use Rotate left or Rotate right first. The exact size of the crop is shown above the picture in pixels.
- Choose the format and quality, click Crop image and download the result. Your original is never changed.
Everything happens in your browser: your picture is not uploaded. There is no sign-up, watermark or limit on the number of crops.
Choosing an aspect ratio
An aspect ratio is the proportion of width to height. A fixed ratio guarantees that the cropped picture fits the place it is going to without being stretched or padded:
- 1:1 square: profile pictures, Instagram grid posts, product photos.
- 4:5 portrait: the tallest feed post on Instagram. 9:16: stories, Reels and TikTok.
- 16:9 widescreen: YouTube thumbnails, presentation slides, video frames. 3:1: wide banners and covers.
- 4:3 and 3:2: the shapes of most compact cameras and DSLRs, and the usual photo-print formats (4×6 inches is 3:2).
- 3:4 and 2:3: portrait versions of the above, often used for ID and passport photos.
Worked example
You have a 4000 × 3000 pixel landscape photo and want a square picture for your profile. Choose 1:1. The frame becomes the largest square that fits, 3000 × 3000 pixels, centred. Drag it so the face sits slightly above the middle and, if you like, drag a corner inward to zoom in: the shape stays square and the info line might read "Crop: 2400 × 2400 px". For a 4:5 portrait from the same photo the largest frame is 2400 × 3000 pixels. The crop copies those pixels exactly, so nothing is blurred; you only lose the parts outside the frame.
Composition tips
- Use the thirds grid. Put the main subject or the horizon on a line instead of the exact centre.
- Leave room to look into. Place a person who looks to the right with more space on the right side of the frame.
- Crop out distractions. Remove bright spots and stray objects at the edges; tighter crops are usually stronger.
- Keep enough pixels. A small frame on a small picture can end up too low-resolution to print. Check the size shown in pixels.
- Crop first, then resize or compress. That order gives the best quality and the smallest file for the final picture.
Frequently asked questions
Is my picture uploaded to a server?
No. The picture is opened and cropped in your browser, on your own device, and never leaves it.
How do I crop to an exact shape such as a square or 16:9?
Pick the shape under Shape of the crop. The frame snaps to it and keeps the shape while you drag its corners. For something unusual type your own ratio, such as 5:7 or 1.91.
Does cropping reduce the quality?
The pixels inside the frame are copied one to one, so the picture is as sharp as the original. Only the format settings matter: JPG and WebP recompress slightly, PNG is lossless. Use a high quality setting (90–100%) to keep every detail.
Can I crop to a specific pixel size?
The tool shows the exact size of the crop in pixels while you drag. To reach a particular size, crop to the right shape here and then set the exact width with an image resizer.
What does the rule-of-thirds grid do?
The nine-square grid inside the frame is a composition guide. Placing the subject or the horizon on one of the lines or crossings usually gives a more pleasing picture than centring it.