If you want to compress images in WordPress, there are a few simple methods that can significantly reduce file size without losing quality. In this guide, you’ll learn the best tools and steps to do it properly.
Quick Answer:
To compress images in WordPress, use a plugin like ShortPixel or Imagify, or compress images before uploading using tools like TinyPNG. This reduces file size and improves site speed.
What Is Image Optimization in WordPress?
Image optimization means that you reduce the file size of the image without reducing the overall image quality. I won’t go in on the technical side because the process of compressing an image is very easy.
There are two ways possible of compressing your images, by using an online tool or installing a WordPress plugin. Compressing an image can save file size up to 80%.
Image compression is one piece of the broader puzzle. For all the other steps, see our full guide on 10 ways to boost page speed for your WordPress site.
Why Image Optimization Matters for WordPress Websites
There are several benefits about optimizing your images, these are:
- Improve your page loading speed (lighter pages loads faster)
- Higher rank on search results (faster page loading are ranked higher)
- Use less bandwidth
- Require less storage on your server (saves your money)
How to Compress Images in WordPress
Before using a compression tool it is important to have your images scaled to the correct dimensions.
Within our WordPress themes we add the dimensions to every placeholder image so you can easily see what the size of an image should be.
Resizing an image is possible with any popular image editor software like Photoshop for example but there are also online tools available like Picresize.
How to Compress Images in WordPress Without a Plugin
Before uploading your images to WordPress you can upload them to online tools like Compressor, TinyJPG and Compress JPEG.
After the images are compressed you can download them and upload them to your website.
Lets take TinyJPG for example:
You can drag and drop your images to the area that say “Drop your WebP, PNG or JPEG files here!”
After the compression has finished you can download the image.
In above example you see that the file size of the image has reduced from 1.1 MB to 145.9 KB which is a reduction of 87%, without loosing the quality of the image.
Not every image you compress will be reduced to such numbers but it is important to use image compression.
How to Compress Images in WordPress Using a Plugin
Although we recommend to use one of the above online tools for image compression you can also choose to install a plugin for it it. Popular image compression plugins are:
- Optimole
- Imagify
- Smush Image Compression and Optimization
- EWWW Image Optimizer
- ShortPixel Image Optimizer
- Compress JPEG & PNG images by TinyPNG
Each plugin has their own interface so the best option is to look on the plugin page by clicking the link above to see the steps. I’ll point out the configuration for the Smush plugin because that is the most installed image compression plugin. You can install the plugin by following these steps:
- Go to the “Plugins → Add New”
- At the search field enter “Smush”
- Press the “Install Now” button and wait
- When the “Activate” button shows up click that button
Then go to to “Smush” admin tab to access and proceed with the installation wizard. You don’t have to change any of the default settings.
After you gone through the installation steps simply click on the “Bulk smush now” button to start the image optimization.
Now wait till the process has been finished. When you have a lot of images on your website you can get yourself a cup of coffee because it could take a while to complete.
When the process has finished all your images are compressed. The result of the file size reductions can be seen within the“Media” admin tab.
So that’s it, that is how you compress your images for your WordPress website.
We didn’t go in-depth (on purpose) about the technical side how compressing works or what is actually does to your images because we don’t think that is important for the majority of people.
We just want to point out how you can compress images yourself without making things complicated.
Image optimisation matters most when your whole website is built for performance. See how it fits into a complete local business website in our guides for dental websites and landscaping websites.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I compress images in WordPress?
You can compress images in WordPress by using an image optimization plugin such as ShortPixel, Imagify, or Smush. These tools automatically reduce file size when you upload images. You can also compress images before uploading using tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim.
What is the best way to compress images in WordPress without losing quality?
The best way is to use lossy compression at a moderate level using plugins like ShortPixel or Imagify. This reduces file size significantly while keeping images visually sharp. You can also resize images to the correct dimensions before uploading to avoid unnecessary quality loss.
Do I need a plugin to compress images in WordPress?
No, you don’t need a plugin. You can manually compress images before uploading them using online tools like TinyPNG or desktop apps like ImageOptim. However, plugins are more convenient because they automatically optimize images inside WordPress.
What is the best image compression plugin for WordPress?
Popular image compression plugins include ShortPixel, Imagify, Smush, and EWWW Image Optimizer. ShortPixel is often preferred because it offers strong compression with good image quality and supports WebP conversion.
What image format is best for WordPress compression?
WebP is the best image format for WordPress because it offers smaller file sizes compared to JPEG and PNG while maintaining high quality. Many modern optimization plugins automatically convert images to WebP.
Does image compression reduce quality?
Image compression can slightly reduce quality depending on the compression level used. However, most WordPress plugins allow “lossy” or “smart” compression that reduces file size without noticeable quality loss for website visitors.
Should I compress images before or after uploading to WordPress?
It’s best to compress images before uploading to reduce server load. However, using a WordPress plugin is more efficient because it automatically compresses images during upload and can optimize existing media files as well.
Why is image optimization important for WordPress websites?
Image optimization improves website loading speed, which directly affects user experience and SEO rankings. Faster websites perform better in Google search results and help improve Core Web Vitals, especially Largest Contentful Paint (LCP).
