Compress JPG
Compress JPEG images in your browser. Adjust the quality slider to balance file size and visual quality. No upload required — all processing happens locally.
Drop a JPG image here or click to upload
Runs entirely in your browser — your file never leaves your device
Original JPG
Compressed JPG
What does JPG compression actually do?
JPG uses lossy compression — when you lower the quality slider, the encoder discards fine detail that the human eye is least sensitive to (high-frequency textures, subtle gradients). The result is a smaller file that looks nearly identical at quality settings of 75–85. Below 60 you start to notice blocky artefacts, especially around sharp edges and text.
<strong>Sweet spot:</strong> For web images, a quality of 75–82 typically reduces file size by 50–70% compared to an unoptimised original with no visible difference on screen. For print or archiving, stay at 90+.
Which quality setting should you use?
The right quality setting depends on how the image will be used. Thumbnail previews can tolerate lower quality; hero images and product photos need more.
| Quality | Typical size reduction | Visual quality | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30–50% | 70–85% smaller | Visible artefacts | Tiny thumbnails only |
| 60–70% | 55–70% smaller | Slight softening | Background / decorative images |
| 75–85% | 40–60% smaller | Excellent — recommended | Web photos, blog images |
| 90–95% | 20–35% smaller | Near-perfect | Product photos, portfolios |
| 100% | Minimal | Lossless-equivalent | Print / archiving |
When to compress JPG vs convert to another format
JPG compression is the right choice when you need to reduce file size while keeping the same format. If you need transparency support or plan to edit the image further, consider PNG or WebP instead.
✓ Compress JPG when…
- • Uploading photos to a website or CMS
- • Sending images by email or messaging
- • Reducing page load times
- • You need broad device compatibility
→ Convert instead when…
- • Image has transparency → use PNG or WebP
- • You want the smallest possible size → convert to WebP
- • You need lossless quality → convert to PNG