Compress JPEG to 500 KB
When a form says 'JPG only, under 500 KB', this page does both: it converts to JPEG and compresses to the best quality that fits under 500 KB. Everything runs in your browser — nothing is uploaded. Need different dimensions instead? Resize or convert.
Why compress to 500 KB?
A 500 KB target is usually set for blog images, large web graphics and attachments. A JPG photo of around 1760×1320 pixels fits, with very good quality.
About 1760×1320 px fits
At medium quality a detailed JPG photo of roughly 1760×1320 pixels lands under 500 KB; at high quality about 1230×920.
Typical use
500 KB limits are common for blog images, large web graphics and attachments.
7.2× smaller than a phone photo
A 12 MP phone photo is around 3–4 MB, so it must shrink about 7.2×. The tool lowers quality first and resizes only if needed.
Quality to expect
At 500 KB, quality is very good. There is room for a sharp, full-screen photo.
Scans and documents
A scanned A4 page of about 2120×3000 pixels usually fits, because text pages compress far better than photos.
Exact limit, checked
500 KB is measured as 512,000 bytes (1 KB = 1,024 bytes), the way most upload forms count it, so the file is never just over.
500 KB at a glance
| Limit in bytes | 512,000 bytes |
|---|---|
| Photo at high quality | about 1230×920 px |
| Photo at medium quality | about 1760×1320 px |
| Photo at low quality | about 2380×1780 px |
| Scanned A4 document | about 2120×3000 px |
| Reduction from a 12 MP phone photo | about 7.2× |
| Output format | JPG |
| Typical use | Blog images, large web graphics and attachments |
Compress an image to 500 KB in 3 steps
- Add your image — JPG, PNG, WebP or a phone photo.
- The target is already set to 500 KB. Leave “Remove EXIF metadata” ticked to save extra bytes.
- Click Compress and download a JPG under 500 KB.
New to image compression? Read the full compression guide.
JPEG under 500 KB without guesswork
500 KB is tight for a full-resolution phone photo but easy for a photo about 2000 pixels wide. The target mode finds the highest JPEG quality that fits; if it has to go very low, shrink the width on the Resize tab first.
Why JPEG specifically? Older systems and many government portals only accept .jpg/.jpeg. This page always saves JPEG, so the file extension is right too.
Transparent images get a white background.
Keep your format instead: resize image to 500 KB. Other JPEG targets: 512 KB, 1 MB.
Other file-size targets
Nearby limits — each one opens the compressor already set to it:
Compress by format
Guides and presets for each format:
Compress under a file size
Keeps your image’s format — pick the limit you need:
JPEG under a file size
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a JPG smaller than 500 KB?
Drop it here and click Compress — the target is already 500 KB. If the quality drops too far, reduce the width to around 1600–2000 pixels first.
How many pixels fit in 500 KB?
For a detailed JPG photo, about 1760×1320 at medium quality or 2380×1780 at low quality. Simple graphics and scans can be much larger.
What quality will a 500 KB photo have?
Very good. There is room for a sharp, full-screen photo. The tool keeps the dimensions where it can and lowers compression quality first, so faces and text stay readable.
Is 500 KB the same as 500,000 bytes?
Not quite. Most forms count 1 KB as 1,024 bytes, so 500 KB is 512,000 bytes. The tool uses the same count, so a file it marks as under 500 KB is accepted.
Should I use JPG or WebP for 500 KB?
JPG is accepted everywhere and is the safe choice for forms. WebP holds about 30% more detail at the same size, ideal for websites that support it.
Why is my file still over 500 KB?
Very large or detailed images may not reach 500 KB by quality alone. Resize it first (for example to 1760 pixels wide) with the resizer, then compress again.
Are my images uploaded anywhere?
No. They are read and compressed by your own browser and never leave your device. You can disconnect from the internet once the page has loaded and it will still work.