How to Compress Images for a Faster Website
Updated 2026 · 6 min read
Images are usually the heaviest part of a web page. Oversized images slow down loading, hurt your search rankings, and frustrate visitors — especially on mobile data. Optimizing them is one of the highest-impact speed wins available.
The three-step image optimization routine
- Resize to the display size. Never ship a 3000 px image into a 600 px slot.
- Compress it. Lower the JPEG quality to 0.8 or use WebP.
- Serve the right format. WebP where supported for the smallest files.
How to do it with Aaroka
- Open the Aaroka Image Resizer.
- Set the width to match the largest place the image will appear (for example 1200 px for a full-width hero).
- Keep "Maintain aspect ratio" checked.
- Set quality around 0.8, or choose a target size like Under 200 KB.
- Download and upload the optimized file to your site.
Target sizes to aim for
- Thumbnails: under 30 KB
- In-content images: under 100 KB
- Hero / full-width banners: under 250 KB
Frequently asked questions
Does image size really affect SEO?
Yes. Page speed is a ranking factor, and large images are the most common cause of slow pages.
Should I use WebP?
For modern sites, yes — it is typically 25 – 35% smaller than JPG at the same quality.
Is compressing in the browser safe?
Yes. Aaroka processes images locally, so nothing is uploaded.
Optimize your images now — open the free Image Resizer →