How to Convert JPG to WebP for Faster-Loading Pages
Your pages are slow, and the photos are the reason. Converting JPG to WebP is one of the quickest ways to trim page weight, if you choose the quality sensibly and know what the conversion cannot do.
Add JPEG files, choose a quality and download WebP versions. Done in your browser.
Convert your JPGs to WebP
- Open JPG to WebP and add your JPEG files. Several at a time is fine.
- Set Quality. The slider runs from 10 to 100 in steps of 5 and starts at 85.
- Press Convert to WEBP.
- Download with Download Image (one file) or Download All (ZIP). Files keep their names with a
.webpending, and the archive isconverted-images.zip.
Why a site owner bothers
Images are usually the heaviest part of a page. WebP was designed to get a comparable look from fewer bytes, and at the same visual quality a WebP is commonly noticeably smaller than the matching JPG. How much smaller depends on the picture, so measure your own files instead of trusting a headline figure. Smaller images mean faster loading on slow connections and less data used on phones, and page speed is something search engines take into account.
The tool shows before and after sizes in the file list once the conversion finishes, so you can see exactly what each file saved. If a file did not shrink, keep the JPG.
Choosing the quality number
| Quality | Typical use | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| 90 to 100 | Photography portfolios, hero images | Little saving over the JPG |
| 80 to 85 | General website photos (the default is 85) | Fine detail in hair and foliage |
| 60 to 75 | Thumbnails, blog illustrations, backgrounds | Banding in smooth skies and gradients |
| Below 50 | Tiny previews only | Visible blockiness and smearing |
These bands are guidance, not measurements; pictures differ. Try the default first, view the result at full size, and move in steps of 5 or 10. Lowering the number saves bytes but can never bring back detail, so keep the original JPGs.
You are compressing twice
A JPG is already lossy. Converting it to lossy WebP applies a second round of compression on top. At 85 the extra damage is small for most photographs, but it is not zero, and it adds up if you repeat the process or edit afterwards. When you still have the original camera file or the uncompressed export, convert from that rather than from a web copy. The tool offers no lossless option, so if you need a perfect copy, stay with PNG.
What changes in the file
- Dimensions: unchanged. If the page only needs 800 pixels across, shrink the picture first with Resize Image, since fewer pixels save more than any quality setting.
- Metadata: camera, date and GPS tags are not written to the new file, because the picture is redrawn through a canvas.
- Transparency: none, because a JPG has none to begin with.
- Colour: expect the same look in modern browsers. Very old software may not open WebP at all.
Using the files on a website
WebP is supported by current versions of the main browsers, which is why it is now a common choice. If you want to cover very old browsers or non-browser software such as some email clients and older editors, keep a JPG fallback. In HTML that means a <picture> element listing the WebP first and the JPG as the plain img. Check what your CMS does automatically before adding it by hand, as many already generate WebP versions on upload.
Name files sensibly while you are here. Descriptive lowercase names with hyphens, such as blue-ceramic-teapot.webp, help both you and search engines. The format comparison in best image formats for websites and JPG vs PNG vs WebP will help you decide where WebP fits among your assets.
A workable routine for a whole site
Sort the images by role before you convert anything. Large banner images deserve a careful look at 85 or 90. Product shots and blog photos are usually fine at 80 to 85. Small thumbnails can go lower. Convert each group in one batch, spot-check the biggest and the most detailed file in each, and record the settings you used so a later batch matches. Then upload the WebP files, update the references, and keep the JPG originals in a separate folder you do not publish. Test on a phone as well as a desktop, since a screen with high pixel density shows flaws that a small monitor hides.
When it does not work or is the wrong move
- The file was skipped. Only JPEG files are accepted. For PNG graphics use PNG to WebP, which keeps transparency.
- The WebP will not open in an older program. Convert it back with WebP to JPG, or read why browsers save images as WebP.
- You only need a smaller JPG. Use Compress JPG to keep the format.
- An upload form demands JPG or PNG. Keep the original format then.
The conversion happens in your browser. For several files the tool builds the ZIP there as well, with JSZip loaded from a CDN when the page opens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What quality should I use for JPG to WebP?
The default of 85 suits most website photos. Use 90 or more for portfolio images and 60 to 75 for thumbnails, and always view the result at full size.
Will converting lose quality?
Slightly. The JPG is already lossy and the tool saves lossy WebP, so a second round of compression is applied. Keep your originals.
Does it keep EXIF and GPS data?
No. The image is redrawn and exported, so camera and location tags are not carried into the WebP.
Can I convert a whole folder at once?
Yes, add many files and download them together as converted-images.zip.
Should I replace all my JPGs with WebP?
Not blindly. Compare sizes and keep a JPG where compatibility with older software matters.
Is there a lossless WebP option here?
No. The tool uses the quality slider only. If you need a lossless copy, PNG is the better choice.