Compress an image to a target file size
Give a target size in kB and a quality floor. The compressor searches encoder settings for a result that respects your floors, and says plainly when the target cannot be reached.
How to compress an image to a target file size
- 1
Select or drop the images you want to make smaller.
- 2
Enter a target size in kB.
- 3
Set the lowest quality and the smallest width you are willing to accept.
- 4
Run it, then check whether each result says Ready or Target not reached.
What this tool does
- Target size in kB with a quality floor
- Minimum width floor, so an image is not shrunk past usefulness
- Bounded search of at most 12 encode attempts
- An honest Target not reached result instead of a faked percentage
- Reads the file signature instead of trusting the file extension.
- Applies EXIF orientation once, so a rotated photo exports the way you see it.
- Flattens transparent areas onto the background color you choose when you export JPG.
- Rejects animated images instead of exporting a single frame without telling you.
- Reports the measured size of the file your browser produced.
Questions about Compress image to a target size
- Is the target size guaranteed?
- No, and a tool that promises it is not telling you the truth. A target is a constraint the encoder tries to meet without crossing the quality and dimension floors you set. When it cannot, the result is marked Target not reached and the file is still given to you, so you can decide whether to lower a floor or accept the size.
- How does the compression actually work?
- Your browser re-encodes the image. The tool tries a ladder of quality values and, where allowed, smaller dimensions, stopping as soon as a result fits the target. It never runs more than 12 encodes, so the page stays responsive.
- Does compressing reduce image quality?
- Yes. JPG and WebP compression is lossy, so a smaller file means some detail is discarded. That is what the quality floor is for: the tool returns a file that is too large rather than crossing the floor you chose.
- Are my files uploaded to a server?
- No. This tool runs inside your browser tab, so the file bytes are read and written on your own device and are never sent to us for processing. Closing the tab discards everything, which is also why results cannot be restored after a reload.
- How much does it cost?
- The tools on this page are free to use, with up to 3 files per job. Paid plans for larger batches are described on the pricing page but are not on sale yet.
Related tools
- Resize or crop imageFit inside a box or crop to it. Images are never stretched or upscaled.
- Rotate or flip imageTurn images by 90 or 180 degrees, or mirror them, and download them the right way up.
- Add watermark to imagePut your own text on images, in the corner or across the centre, with the opacity you choose.