How to get a JPG under a file size limit

When a website asks for an image under 1 MB, 500 KB, or 200 KB, the number refers to the file’s size—not its width or height. You can often make a JPG much smaller without changing its dimensions. For a tighter limit, you may need to reduce both quality and dimensions.

Have a firm limit? Set it directly

Open the size-limit compressor, enter the maximum size, and choose JPG output. Select your original image and let the tool work. It adjusts encoding quality first, then reduces dimensions if necessary.

Check the result before downloading. The important question isn’t just “Does it fit?” It’s also “Can I still read the text or recognize the detail I need?” If the tool can’t meet your target at a reasonable quality, try a larger limit or a more suitable original.

Just want a smaller photo? Start with quality

Use the JPG compressor when you’d rather choose the tradeoff yourself. Start around 80%, compare the result, and lower the setting a little at a time. Quality is an encoder setting, not a percentage of the original file size.

A busy landscape and a plain background won’t shrink by the same amount at the same setting. Judge the actual result instead of looking for a universal “best” percentage.

Choose a starting point

Your limit	Where to start	What to check
1 MB	Try a moderate quality setting, or set a 1 MB limit.	Fine texture and any text in the photo.
500 KB	Use the limit directly if you don’t want to keep adjusting quality.	Whether the result still has enough detail at its intended display size.
200 KB or less	Expect larger photos to need smaller dimensions too.	Minimum pixel dimensions required by the form.

Don’t keep compressing the compressed copy

JPG uses lossy compression: saving it again with different settings can discard more detail. Keep the original and make each new version from that file. A smaller download is useful; losing your only good copy isn’t.

Would another format help?

WebP can be worth trying if the website or app accepts it. If the form specifically requires JPG, stick with JPG. Renaming an extension doesn’t convert a file, and a smaller unsupported file still won’t upload.

For transparent graphics, JPG is the wrong output because it removes transparency. See the format guide for alternatives.

Before you upload

Open the downloaded file and inspect the details that matter.
Check both file size and pixel dimensions.
Select the new download on the form, not your original.
If the result is just under the limit but still rejected, try a slightly smaller target.

For a walkthrough with an actual result, see the 200 KB photo guide. PicThin processes your images on your device; you don’t need to send them to a server to make them smaller.