Image compression for e-commerce
For online stores, image weight is a direct lever on conversion: slower pages mean more abandonment. But product photos also need to look pristine and support zoom. Here's how to get both.
The conversion stakes
Studies consistently link faster load times to higher conversion — roughly a 1% lift per 100ms saved is a common rule of thumb. Product galleries are usually the heaviest part of a product page.
Recommended settings
- Format: WebP (with JPG fallback if your platform needs it).
- Quality: 80-85% — pristine to the eye, much smaller.
- Main image size: ~1600px longest side keeps zoom crisp.
- Thumbnails: 400-600px.
The bulk workflow
Export your catalog photos, drop them all into bulk compress, set WebP at 82% capped at 1600px, and download a single ZIP. Re-upload to your store. For platform-specific guides see Shopify and product images.
Keep a master copy
Always keep your original high-resolution masters. Compress copies for the storefront, so you can re-export if you change platforms or need print assets later.