How do I crop an image to a specific size?

Upload your image, then select a preset aspect ratio (1:1, 4:3, 16:9, etc.) or use free-form cropping to select any custom size. The crop box can be resized by dragging the corners or edges.

Can I crop a photo into a circle?

Yes! Select the 1:1 aspect ratio to create a square crop, which is perfect for circular profile pictures. Export as PNG to preserve transparency if needed.

Does cropping reduce image quality?

No. Our tool crops without recompressing your image, so you keep the original quality. You can export at 100% quality with no compression artifacts.

Is this image cropper really free?

Yes, 100% free with no watermarks, no signup required, and no hidden fees. Your images are processed entirely in your browser and never uploaded to any server.

What image formats are supported?

You can upload PNG, JPG, JPEG, WebP, and GIF images. Export is available in PNG (lossless) or JPG (smaller file size) formats.

Crop and Resize Image Online

Need to both crop and resize your image? This guide explains the difference and how to do both effectively.

Crop vs Resize: What's the Difference?

Cropping

Removes parts of the image
Changes composition
Keeps pixel density
Makes file smaller

Resizing

Scales the entire image
Keeps composition
Changes pixel count
Can increase or decrease file size

When to Crop

Crop when you want to:

Remove unwanted background
Focus on a specific subject
Change the aspect ratio
Improve composition

When to Resize

Resize when you need to:

Meet specific pixel dimensions
Reduce file size
Fit a particular space
Match platform requirements

The Correct Order

Always crop first, then resize. Here's why:

1. Cropping at full resolution preserves quality
2. Resizing after gives you the exact dimensions
3. Resizing first then cropping wastes pixels

Step-by-Step Process

1. Upload Your Image

Start with the highest resolution version available.

2. Crop to Correct Ratio

Select the aspect ratio matching your target:

Instagram post: 1:1 (square)
YouTube thumbnail: 16:9
Portrait: 2:3 or 8:10

3. Apply the Crop

Position and confirm your crop selection.

4. Resize (if needed)

After cropping, resize to your exact pixel requirements:

Use an image editor for precise resizing
Keep aspect ratio locked to prevent distortion

Common Scenarios

For Social Media

Platform	Crop Ratio	Final Size

Instagram Post	1:1	1080 x 1080
Instagram Story	9:16	1080 x 1920
Facebook Cover	2.7:1	820 x 312
Twitter Header	3:1	1500 x 500
LinkedIn Banner	4:1	1584 x 396

For Printing

Print Size	Crop Ratio	Pixels (300 DPI)

4x6"	2:3	1200 x 1800
5x7"	5:7	1500 x 2100
8x10"	4:5	2400 x 3000

Quality Tips

1. Don't upscale - Enlarging reduces quality
2. Crop conservatively - Keep more than you need
3. Use PNG - For maximum quality preservation
4. Check sharpness - Zoom to 100% to verify

File Size Considerations

After cropping and resizing:

PNG: ~1-5 MB for photos
JPG 100%: ~500 KB - 2 MB
JPG 85%: ~200 KB - 800 KB

Choose based on your quality vs. size needs.