How to resize an image
- Type a target Width and/or Height in pixels, or click a 25% / 50% / 75% chip to scale the whole image down proportionally.
- Leave Lock aspect ratio ticked so entering one dimension fills in the other and nothing gets stretched. Untick it only when you deliberately want to force an exact box.
- Drop your images into the box; each is resized instantly and keeps its original format.
- Press Download all, the originals on your device are never modified.
Why resize images?
Cameras and phones capture far more pixels than most uses need. A 12-megapixel photo is about 4000 pixels wide, yet a website hero image rarely needs more than 1600, a blog thumbnail wants 600, and an avatar just 400. Sending the full 4000-pixel file to any of those slots means the browser downloads millions of pixels it will only throw away when it shrinks the picture to fit.
Resizing to the dimensions you actually need is the biggest single file-size win available, bigger than any compression setting, because file size scales with the pixel count. Halving both width and height removes about three quarters of the pixels, so a 4 MB photo can drop to a few hundred KB before you compress it at all. It also lets you hit strict pixel requirements directly: a 400×400 profile picture, a marketplace photo capped at 1600 pixels, or a print service that wants an exact dimension. With aspect ratio locked, none of that distorts the picture.
There is one rule worth remembering: shrinking is safe, enlarging is not. Downscaling throws away pixels and stays crisp, but no tool can invent detail that was never captured, so blowing a small image up past its original size only makes it soft and blocky.
Resize vs compress, which shrinks a file more?
They solve different problems, and for the smallest, sharpest file you often want both:
- Resizing (this tool) changes the pixel dimensions. It gives the largest savings and is the right first move when an image is bigger than it will ever be displayed.
- Compressing keeps the dimensions and lowers quality instead. It is the finishing touch after resizing, or the whole answer when the dimensions are already correct, use Compress Image.
- The best order is resize first, then compress: shrink to the display size, then squeeze the quality. If you need to hit an exact byte cap afterwards, the Compress to 100KB and 50KB tools do that automatically.
Frequently asked questions
How do I resize without stretching?
Keep the “Lock aspect ratio” box ticked and enter just one dimension, width or height. The other is calculated automatically so the image never looks squashed or stretched.
Does resizing reduce image quality?
Shrinking keeps an image sharp because the browser uses high-quality downscaling. Enlarging beyond the original size can't add detail that was never captured, so upscaled images tend to look soft or blocky.
What is the difference between the percentage chips and typing a size?
The 25%, 50% and 75% chips scale the image relative to its own dimensions, handy when you just want it smaller. Typing an exact width or height is for hitting a specific target like 400×400 or a 1600-pixel cap.
Does resizing also make the file smaller?
Yes, and dramatically, file size follows the pixel count, so halving the width and height removes roughly three quarters of the data. For an even smaller file, compress the resized copy afterwards.
What sizes should I use for social media?
Common targets: 1080×1080 for Instagram posts, 1200×630 for link previews and Facebook, 1280×720 for YouTube thumbnails, and 1500×500 for X/Twitter headers.
What format does the resized image come out as?
The same format you put in, a PNG stays PNG, a JPG stays JPG, a WebP stays WebP. Use the converter tools if you also want to change format.