How to compress image to 30KB
30 KB is a common upper limit for photo uploads on exam and application portals. Drop your image and get the sharpest JPG under 30 KB, checked to the byte. It never leaves your device.
- Drop, paste or choose your image (JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP or AVIF). A sample photo is loaded so you can try it first.
- The target is preset to 30 KB. Change it, or pick another preset, if your form asks for something different.
- Optionally choose an output format and a maximum width or height.
- Check the side-by-side preview and the exact byte count, then click Download.
What fits in 30 KB (measured)
| Photo | Format | Result | Quality | File size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscape, 3840×2743 | JPEG | 650×464 px | 51 | 30,695 bytes |
| Landscape, 3840×2743 | WebP | 673×480 px | 59 | 30,602 bytes |
| Portrait, 2848×4272 | JPEG | 420×630 px | 48 | 30,521 bytes |
| Portrait, 2848×4272 | WebP | 458×686 px | 46 | 30,604 bytes |
| Portrait, 2848×4272 cropped to 200×230 | JPEG | 200×230 px | 92 | 19,109 bytes |
Measured with this tool in Chrome on two test photos: a detailed 10.5-megapixel landscape (3840×2743, 3.4 MB) and a 12-megapixel portrait-orientation photo (2848×4272, 3.7 MB). Your results depend on how much detail the photo has; plain backgrounds compress far better.
How the compressor hits an exact size
The tool decodes your image in the browser, then re-encodes it with the browser's own JPEG, WebP or PNG encoder. For JPEG and WebP it runs a binary search on the quality setting — usually 6 to 10 test encodes — and keeps the highest quality whose file is at or under your target. If even a low quality (40%) is still too large, it reduces the pixel dimensions by the amount the byte count suggests, then searches quality again, so you get the largest picture that fits rather than a blocky one. PNG is lossless, so for PNG only the dimensions change. If your file is already under the target and you keep the same format, the original is returned untouched.
Everything happens on your device with the Canvas API; nothing is uploaded, and the re-encoded file does not carry the original EXIF metadata (camera, GPS).
Frequently asked questions
What pixel size is a 30 KB photo?
It depends on detail. In our tests a detailed 10.5 MP landscape came out at 650×464 px and a 12 MP portrait photo at 420×630 px, both at JPEG quality around 50. A head-and-shoulders photo on a plain wall stays noticeably larger, because flat areas cost very few bytes.
How do I get a sharp photo under 30 KB?
Enter the dimensions the form asks for (for example 200×230 px) before compressing. A small fixed size needs much less compression: our 12 MP test photo cropped to 200×230 px fit in about 19 KB at JPEG quality 92, so it stayed crisp.
My form says the file must be between 10 KB and 30 KB. Will this work?
Yes. The tool aims for the largest file at or under 30 KB, so results usually land within a few percent of the limit, well above a 10 KB or 20 KB minimum. The exact byte count is shown before you download.
Should I use WebP to fit more detail in 30 KB?
WebP held about 4–9% more pixels than JPEG at 30 KB in our tests, but many government and exam portals accept only JPG/JPEG. Use JPEG unless the form explicitly lists WebP.
Are my images uploaded to a server?
No. Compression runs entirely in your browser using the Canvas API. The image never leaves your device, which also makes it safe for ID photos and signatures.
Is it free?
Yes. Compressing one image at a time is free with no signup and no watermark. Gridloom Pro adds batch compression of many images with a single ZIP download.