Compress Images for Faster Pages

Large images are one of the biggest causes of slow page loads. This guide shows how to shrink image size while keeping quality, and links to tools that do the work in your browser.

Workflow group
Image optimization
Search intent
website image compression
Best for
site owners, bloggers, and web teams

When to compress images

Compress any image above ~150 KB that appears above the fold, in galleries, or in content that loads on every page. For decorative elements, aim even smaller.

  • Hero images: target < 200 KB when possible
  • Content images: target < 120 KB
  • Thumbnails/icons: target < 30 KB

Pick the right format

Modern formats like WebP reduce size significantly. If you need transparency, WebP or PNG are good options. JPEG is still fine for photos when WebP is not supported.

  • WebP: best all-around compression
  • JPEG: good for photos
  • PNG: use only when transparency is required

Use a predictable workflow

Resize first, then compress. Upload the image at the smallest visible dimensions before running compression to avoid wasting bytes.

  • Resize the image to the smallest dimensions it will visibly need on the page.
  • Compress the resized file and preview it at the target quality level.
  • Convert to WebP when browser support and publishing workflow allow it.

Related tools

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Related tools

Related workflows that combine this tool with others.

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Guides and use cases

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will compression hurt image quality?

High-quality compression removes data that is hard to notice visually. You can keep the quality slider higher for critical images and still reduce size meaningfully.

Is WebP safe for SEO?

Yes. WebP is supported by modern browsers and is recommended for performance. Faster pages generally improve SEO outcomes.