How resizing by percentage works
The tool multiplies the width and the height by your percentage. 50% halves each side. Since both sides shrink, the picture has only a quarter of the pixels, and the file is usually around a quarter of the size as well. Above 100% the picture gets larger, but it cannot gain detail.
| Percent | A 4,000 x 3,000 photo becomes | Pixels left | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 75% | 3,000 x 2,250 | 56% | A light reduction |
| 50% | 2,000 x 1,500 | 25% | Web pages, email |
| 25% | 1,000 x 750 | 6% | Thumbnails, previews |
| 200% | 8,000 x 6,000 | 400% | Not sharper. Only when a tool needs more pixels. |
When a percentage is the right choice
- You do not have a required size. You just want the picture smaller.
- You are resizing a batch of pictures with different shapes. The same percentage keeps each in proportion.
- You want to halve a screenshot or a 2x (retina) graphic back to its normal size.
When a form or platform asks for exact dimensions, resize by pixels with the image resizer instead. When the shape must stay the same but the size is exact, see resize and keep the aspect ratio.
Tips
- Use the buttons for 25, 50, 75, 150 and 200 percent, or type your own number.
- Screenshots look best at 50% or 25%. Odd percentages make small text soft.
- If the file is still too large, set a file-size limit: 100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB.
Other presets: Keep aspect ratio.