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Image Compressor
Compress JPG, PNG and WebP images to a target file size — locally, in batches, with no quality guesswork.
JPG · PNG · WebP Target size mode Batch No upload
Compression settings
Size strategy
Pick a quality level and keep the result predictable.
Images smaller than the maximum width are never enlarged.
Download
YouTube’s thumbnail limit is 2 MB. Rows show when a file fits.
Recommended settings
- Thumbnails: JPG, 1280 × 720, quality 85%.
- Logos and flat graphics: PNG, quality 100%.
- Everything else: WebP, quality 82%.
Add images to compress
Drop images here or click to browse
JPG, PNG, WebP or GIF. Compressing happens on your device — nothing is uploaded.
Compressed images 0
No images yet
Add an image above to see the original size, the compressed size and how much you saved.
About the image compressor
Large images slow down your uploads, eat storage and, in YouTube's case, get re-encoded when they pass 2 MB. This compressor re-encodes your images in the browser and shows the exact size difference for each file, so you can stop guessing.
Two controls matter: a quality slider for visual fidelity, and a target size in kilobytes for a hard limit. Set both and the tool searches for the highest quality that still fits your target — for most thumbnails, 80–90% at 1280 × 720 is indistinguishable from the original at thumbnail scale.
How image compression actually works
When you save a JPG, the encoder keeps a small amount of lossy detail for every block of pixels. Compression works by spending fewer bits on blocks that the eye cannot pick out, and more bits on edges and faces.
- Quality 90–100% — visually identical for most photos, but often only slightly smaller. Use it for images with text or flat graphics.
- Quality 75–85% — the sweet spot for photos. Usually 40–70% smaller with no visible loss at normal viewing size.
- Quality 60–70% — visible softening in gradients, but fine for thumbnails viewed small.
- Below 60% — artefacts become obvious. Prefer resizing the image instead.
PNG is a lossless format: it compresses structure, not colour, so a photo saved as PNG can be five to ten times larger than the same JPG. Converting a photo to JPG is the single biggest size win available, and this tool can do it in one click.
WebP usually beats JPG by 25–35% at the same perceived quality and supports transparency, so it is worth trying when YouTube accepts it for your surface.
How to get thumbnails under the YouTube 2 MB limit
- Resize to 1280 × 720 first. Pixels drive file size far more than quality settings.
- Export as JPG at 85–92%. Thumbnails are photographs; PNG is rarely the right format.
- If it is still over 2 MB, drop to 80% or convert to WebP.
- Check the 2 MB indicator in this tool — it turns green once every file fits.
- Batch the whole set so your next ten videos upload without a second round of edits.
For an even tighter result, run the resized images through the thumbnail resizer first — the two tools are designed to be used together.
How to use the image compressor
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Add your images
Drop in one or many JPG, PNG or WebP files. They are read locally and never uploaded.
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Choose an output format
Keep the original, convert to JPG for photos, WebP for the smallest files, or PNG when you need transparency.
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Set quality or a target size
Drag the quality slider for visual control, or set a target size in KB and the tool finds the best quality that fits.
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Check the savings
Each row shows the original size, the new size and the percentage saved, plus whether it fits under 2 MB.
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Download
Download images individually, or use Download all to get every compressed file in one go.
Features of the image compressor
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Real local compression
Re-encoding happens on your device with the canvas API — no upload queue and no file size limit from a server.
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Target file size
Set a KB limit and the tool binary-searches the quality setting until the file fits.
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Manual quality control
A single quality slider from 40% to 100% for cases where you want to decide by eye.
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Format conversion
Convert between JPG, PNG and WebP — including photo-to-JPG, the biggest single saving.
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Optional max width
Cap the longest edge so oversized camera files are scaled down as part of the same pass.
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Never upscales
Images smaller than the maximum width are left at their native size instead of being enlarged.
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2 MB indicator
Every row shows whether the file fits YouTube’s 2 MB upload limit.
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Batch download
Compress a whole folder of images and download every result in one click.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I compress an image?
For photographs, quality 80–90% typically saves 40–70%. Converting a PNG photo to JPG often saves far more. Results depend on the source image, and the percentage saved is shown for every file so you can see the real outcome.
Does compressing an image reduce quality?
It can, in the sense that some fine detail is discarded. At 85% or above, most viewers cannot tell the difference at normal size. For images with text or flat graphics, stay at 90% or higher.
What is the maximum file size for a YouTube thumbnail?
2 MB. Files above that are re-encoded by YouTube, which can reduce quality. This tool marks each result so you can see when you are under the limit.
Are my images uploaded anywhere?
No. Compression runs entirely in your browser using the canvas API. Nothing is sent to a server, and the tool works offline once loaded.
Should I compress a PNG?
Only if it is a screenshot or graphic with flat colours. For a photo stored as PNG, converting to JPG will be far more effective than reducing PNG quality, because PNG compression is lossless.
Is WebP supported everywhere?
WebP is supported by all current browsers and by YouTube for most upload surfaces. If you need maximum compatibility, choose JPG instead.
Smaller files, faster uploads
Compress as many images as you like in one pass, then resize them to exact YouTube dimensions.