Compress image to 20 KB

How to compress a photo to 20 KB

1. Choose your photo above, or drop it on the box. You can do several at once.
2. Check the target size. It's set to 20 KB; type another number if your form asks for something different.
3. Keep JPEG as the format: it's accepted everywhere. Pick WebP only for websites.
4. Tap Download next to the result. The file name ends in its new size so you can find it.

How it works

JPEG and WebP photos have a quality setting. The tool tries different settings and keeps the highest quality that still fits your target, so the photo looks as good as it can at that size. If even a low quality is too big (a huge photo squeezed into a tiny limit), it shrinks the width and height step by step until it fits. You'll see the new size next to each photo before you download it.

Where you'll need it

• Signature uploads on exam and government forms (often 10 to 20 KB).
• Thumb impressions and small ID photos.
• Old systems with very small upload limits.

For a signature, sign on plain white paper with a dark pen, photograph it in good light, and crop right to the ink before compressing.

Private by design

The tool runs entirely inside this browser tab. Your photo is opened, edited and saved on your own device, and it is never sent to a server, so there is nothing for anyone to keep, scan or leak. No account, no watermark and no limit on how many photos you do. It even keeps working if you switch off your internet after the page has loaded.

Tips for the sharpest result

• Crop first. Cutting away empty background leaves more of the size budget for the part that matters. Use the crop tool, then compress.
• Set the longest side if the form also lists pixel dimensions. Smaller dimensions at good quality usually look better than big dimensions at low quality.
• Screenshots and scans of text compress very well as JPEG once they're cropped to the page.

Photos you never want anyone to see are better kept out of the gallery altogether. See how to hide photos on Android, or how Sealcloak keeps them encrypted on your phone.

Frequently asked questions

Will compressing to 20 KB make my photo blurry?

Only as much as it has to. The tool keeps the highest quality that fits in 20 KB, and only reduces the dimensions if quality alone isn't enough. Cropping away background first leaves more detail for the subject.

Is my photo uploaded to a server?

No. Everything happens in your browser on your own device. The photo is never sent anywhere, so it can't be stored, scanned or leaked by this site.

Does it work on Android and iPhone?

Yes. It works in Chrome, Samsung Internet, Firefox and Safari on phones, tablets and computers. iPhone HEIC photos are converted to JPEG as part of the process.

Can I compress several photos at once?

Yes. Choose or drop as many as you like. Each one is compressed to the same target size and gets its own download button.

Why does my signature look faint after compressing?

Usually because the photo includes lots of paper around it. Crop close to the ink so the size budget goes to the signature, and photograph it in bright, even light with a dark pen.