How to compress a JPG to a specific size
- Open: drag JPG, JPEG, PNG, WebP or HEIC files onto the box, tap Choose images, or paste with Ctrl/⌘+V.
- Set a target: tap 100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB or 1 MB, type your own limit, or switch to Quality for a fixed level.
- Check: drag the divider over the photo (or switch to 100%) to see the difference; the label shows the new size and the saving.
- Download: save one JPG or press Download all for a ZIP of every compressed file.
How compressing a JPG to an exact size works
A JPEG gets smaller in two ways: lower quality, which throws away fine detail the eye notices least, and fewer pixels. Most compressors only expose one quality number, so you guess, download, check the size and try again. This page does the guessing for you. When you pick 100 KB, it encodes the photo at quality 95 first; if that is too big it searches between quality 35 and 95 to find the highest setting that still fits. If even quality 50 is over the limit — common for a 12-megapixel phone photo squeezed to 50 KB — it keeps the quality at 60 or above and reduces the dimensions instead, because a slightly smaller sharp photo looks better than a full-size blocky one. Files already under the target are kept unchanged rather than re-saved. Targets count 1 KB as 1024 bytes, the stricter reading, so the result also passes forms that count 1000. Everything runs on your device.
Common size limits and what to pick
| Where it's going | Typical limit | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Government and exam application forms | 20–100 KB | 50 KB or 100 KB |
| US visa photo (DS-160) | 240 KB | 200 KB — or use our visa photo tool |
| Job portals, college applications | 200 KB – 1 MB | 200 KB or 500 KB |
| Email attachments (many photos) | 10–25 MB total | 500 KB or 1 MB each |
| Website and blog images | As small as looks good | Quality 70–80, longest side 1920 px |
| Online marketplaces | 1–5 MB | 1 MB |
If a form gives the limit in kilobytes and also asks for exact dimensions, set the dimensions first with the image resolution changer, then compress.
Target size or quality?
- Target size: use it when a form or site has a hard limit. You get the best quality that fits, per file.
- Quality: use it for a folder of photos for the web or email. 80 is visually close to the original at roughly a third of the size; 70 is smaller with minor softening in fine textures; below 60 artefacts start to show around edges and in skies.
- Longest side: phone photos are 4000 px or more wide. Capping at 1920 px for screens often saves more than any quality setting.
JPG compressors compared
| Feature | This page | Typical upload compressors |
|---|---|---|
| Exact size target (e.g. 100 KB) | Yes, per file | Rare — usually a quality slider or a fixed preset |
| Before/after comparison | Drag slider + 100% zoom | Size numbers only, or a single preview |
| Uploads your photos | No — runs in your browser | Yes, to their server |
| File count / size caps | None | Often 20 files or 5–10 MB per file on free plans |
| HEIC and PNG input | Yes, saved as JPG | Varies |
| Keeps files that are already small | Yes, untouched | Usually re-saves them |
Privacy
Compression happens on a canvas inside this browser tab. Your photos are not uploaded, stored or seen by anyone, and the page keeps working if you go offline after it loads. Re-encoded files do not carry over EXIF or GPS metadata.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compress a JPEG to 100 KB?
Add the image, tap 100 KB and download. The page picks the highest quality that fits under 100 KB (102,400 bytes) and only reduces the dimensions if quality alone can't get there.
Will compressing reduce quality?
Some fine detail is lost, but at quality 75–90 most people can't tell on screen. Use the slider and the 100% view to judge before downloading.
Can I compress many JPGs at once?
Yes. Add as many as you like; each file is compressed to the same target and Download all saves a ZIP.
Are my images uploaded?
No. Everything runs in your browser and nothing is sent to a server.
Why is my file still over the limit?
For very small targets on huge photos the page shrinks dimensions to about 8% before giving up; it then tells you the smallest size it reached. Lower the Longest side setting or crop first.
Does it work with PNG, WebP and HEIC?
Yes. Any of those are compressed and saved as JPG. Transparent areas become white, since JPG has no transparency.
Is 1 KB 1000 or 1024 bytes here?
1024. That's the stricter reading, so a file made for a 100 KB limit also passes sites that count 100,000 bytes.
Updated · By the imagetojpg.app team