How to use Compress JPEG
- Add one or more JPEG photos. Every image in a run uses the same settings.
- Leave Output format on JPEG, which is where this page opens, and set the Quality percentage.
- Select Compress, compare the reported sizes, then download the photo or the ZIP for a batch.
Example: Compress JPEG
A JPEG photograph at 4032 by 3024 pixels.
Options
- Quality (%)
- Used for JPEG and WebP output, on a 50 to 100 scale with 80 as the default. Lower values discard more detail, and flat skies and smooth skin show it before busy textures do.
- Output format
- The page opens on JPEG so a photo stays a photo. The list also offers WebP and PNG, which changes the job: PNG output is lossless and ignores Quality.
- No maximum pixel size
- On by default, and it keeps the original width and height. Turning it off reveals the Maximum longest side box, which scales the long edge down and never enlarges an image.
Supported inputs and limits
Where your input is processed
This tool processes your input in this browser. Your text and files are not uploaded to UseFreeTools. Check this tool's limits for anything it may save on your device.
What the quality setting actually controls
Quality decides how much detail the encoder may throw away. The saving is not a straight line: going from 90 to 80 usually removes more bytes than going from 80 to 70, because the easy wins come first. Photographs hide the change at moderate settings while sharp text and straight edges show it sooner. Because each save is lossy, working from the original every time beats compressing an already compressed copy.
Questions about Compress JPEG
How low can I set the quality before a photo looks worse?
It depends on the picture, so lower it a step at a time and look at the download. Around 80 most photographs still look the same on a screen, while smooth areas such as sky start to show banding below about 60.
Why did my JPEG come back at the same size?
The re-encode was not smaller than the original, so the tool returned your file untouched instead of writing a larger one. Try a lower quality, or turn off No maximum pixel size and set a smaller longest side if the photo is much bigger than it needs to be.
Does compressing a JPEG remove the camera and location data?
Yes, whenever a new file is written: the encoder starts from pixels, so the original camera, date and GPS fields are not carried over. A file returned unchanged keeps its own metadata, and the result says which files those were. Keep the original if you need that information, or use Remove EXIF Metadata when the metadata is the only thing you want gone.
Can compressing make the file bigger?
Not while the output stays on JPEG. When the new file would not be smaller, the original is returned unchanged and the result says so. Switching the output to WebP or PNG can produce a larger file, and that is reported as well.
Will the pixel size change?
Only if you turn off No maximum pixel size and set a value in Maximum longest side. Leave that control alone and the width and height stay exactly as they were.