How to resize images for my website (without fancy software)

Nadin Thomson
9 May 2025

Quick summary

Oversized images slow your website down—and when your site’s slow, people click away. The good news? Resizing images is quick, easy, and doesn’t require Photoshop or a tech degree. Also check out the Ultimiate guide to optimising your images on your website and How to show up in Google Image Search.

Here’s how to do it without paying for yet another monthly subscription.

Step 1: Choose a free tool

These are all free and beginner-friendly:

Canva – super easy to resize images and download as JPGs in the correct file size
ResizePixel – super simple, no login needed
Pixlr X – looks like Canva and lets you crop, resize and export
Photopea – works like Photoshop, but free and online
Preview (Mac only) – open your image, go to Tools > Adjust Size

How to resize in the free Canva version

In the free version of Canva, you cannot use the built-in “Resize” tool or the “Magic Resize” feature—these are exclusive to Canva Pro and other paid plans.

However, you can manually resize your designs using the following workaround:

Create a new design with your desired dimensions by selecting “Custom size” on the Canva homepage (e.g. 1000 x 600 px)
Open your original design in another tab.
Select all elements in the original design (press Ctrl + A on Windows or Cmd + A on Mac).
Copy the selected elements (Ctrl + C or Cmd + C).
Paste them into the new design (Ctrl + V or Cmd + V).
Adjust the elements as needed to fit the new dimensions.

Step 2: Resize to website-friendly dimensions

Before uploading, aim for:

Full width image: max 1920px wide
Standard content image: around 800–1200px wide
Small graphics or icons: under 500px

You can usually adjust just the width – the height will change automatically to stay in proportion.

Step 3: Save as JPEG or WebP

JPEG is smaller in file size than PNG and great for photos. If your tool offers WebP, even better—it’s modern and super efficient.

Step 4: Check the file size

Try to keep images under 250 KB. If it’s still too big, use TinyJPG to shrink it further without losing quality.

Quick tip: Never upload the photo straight from your phone or camera. Those files are huge. Resizing saves space and keeps your website fast.

Hi, I’m Nadin Thomson. I run Business Image Services Ltd, a web desgin & Local SEO agency in Dunfermline, Fife.

We design and support high-converting B2B websites for trades and service-based businesses across the UK.

Our work combines clear, customer-focused design, strong SEO foundations, and ongoing improvements that win trust and help turn visitors into enquiries.

I’ve been building websites since 1999, and for 20+ years I’ve helped organisations of all sizes improve their online presence with clear, strategic sites that generate leads.

I work in both English and German, which is helpful for clients who serve mixed-language audiences or want their messaging to feel natural in both languages.

I hold a university business degree and a postgraduate diploma in digital marketing.

Find out more about Business Image