How to Compress JPG Images: Complete Guide

Updated June 2026 · 3 min read

JPG is already compressed — but most JPG files can be squeezed further with zero visible quality loss. The trick is knowing where the real waste is.

The Quality Sweet Spot

JPG quality ranges from 0-100. Most cameras and editors default to 95-100%, which produces files 2-5x larger than necessary. Dropping to 85% usually cuts file size in half with no visible difference. Going below 70% introduces noticeable artifacts — blocky areas and color banding. Stick to 80-90% for web images.

What Actually Reduces JPG Size

• Quality setting: 100 → 85 cuts size ~50%. This is the biggest lever.
• Resolution: A 4000px-wide photo displayed at 800px wastes 95% of its pixels. Resize first.
• Metadata stripping: EXIF, GPS, camera info add 5-50 KB. Remove it for web images.
• Chroma subsampling: Advanced technique that reduces color data while keeping luminance sharp. Most online tools don't expose this, but it's another 15-30% savings.

Grab a JPG and try different quality levels on our free compressor — the before/after comparison slider shows you exactly what you're trading off.