Crop Images Online

Drag to select your crop area. Pick preset ratios for social media or go free. Your image never leaves your browser.

No uploadGDPR safePreset ratios
✂️

Drop image to crop

JPG, PNG, WebP

How to crop an image

1

Load your image

Drop your JPG, PNG or WebP onto the tool. No upload happens — the image loads into your browser only.

2

Pick a ratio (or go free)

Select a preset ratio like 1:1 for Instagram, 16:9 for YouTube, or 4:3 for general use. Or pick Free to crop to any shape you like.

3

Drag to position

Drag the crop area to frame exactly what you want. Use the zoom slider to zoom in on the original for more precision.

4

Crop and download

Hit Crop Image. Preview the result. Download it. Done in under 30 seconds.

Which aspect ratio should you use?

It depends what you're doing with the image. Here's a quick cheat sheet:

  • 1:1 — Instagram posts, profile photos, product thumbnails
  • 16:9 — YouTube thumbnails, video cover images, website banners
  • 4:3 — Standard blog images, presentations, old-school displays
  • 3:2 — Classic camera ratio, photography portfolios
  • 9:16 — Instagram Stories, TikTok, YouTube Shorts
  • Free — When you just need to trim something specific

Why does cropping matter?

Bad composition happens. You take a photo and the subject is slightly off-centre, there's a rubbish bin in the background, or there's too much dead space at the top. Cropping fixes all of that. It's one of the most fundamental edits in photography and design.

It also matters for platform requirements. Most social media platforms display images in specific ratios. If you upload a landscape photo to Instagram without cropping it to 1:1, Instagram will either crop it badly or letterbox it with white bars. Neither looks great. Crop it yourself first.

Other tools

Compress Image →Resize Image →Convert Format →Circle Crop →How to Crop Images Guide →

Cropping throws pixels away, so check what is left

Every crop reduces the pixel count. That is fine when you start with plenty, and a problem when the remaining area is smaller than the place you are putting it. If a platform has to enlarge your cropped image to fill its slot, the result looks soft. The image sizes guide lists what each platform expects.

DestinationPixels you want left after cropping
Profile pictureAt least 400 by 400
Instagram square post1080 by 1080
Full width website image1920 pixels wide
4 by 6 inch print at 300 DPI1200 by 1800
A4 print at 300 DPI2480 by 3508

A heavy crop from a phone photo is usually still fine for a profile picture and not fine for a large print. Knowing the target before you crop saves discovering the problem after.

Crop first, then resize

If an image needs both, crop first. Resizing a whole photo and then cropping it means you scaled pixels you were about to throw away, and you started the crop with less detail than you had. Cropping first keeps the most detail in the part you actually use, and the resize that follows only has to deal with that part.

Framing that looks deliberate

A few long standing composition habits make a crop look intentional rather than accidental.

  • Place the subject about a third of the way in from an edge rather than dead centre. It usually reads as more natural.
  • Leave space in the direction a person is looking or a subject is moving, so they are not staring into the edge of the frame.
  • When cropping people, avoid cutting exactly at joints such as the chin, elbows or knees. Crop between them instead.
  • Straight lines like horizons should be level. Crop out a tilted edge rather than leaving the viewer to notice it.

The zoom control helps with precise framing. Zoom in to line up an edge exactly, then zoom back out to judge the overall balance.

FAQ

What aspect ratios are available?+
Free (any shape), 1:1 (square), 16:9 (widescreen), 4:3 (classic landscape), 3:2 (camera-style), and 9:16 (vertical/stories). More may be added based on feedback.
What format is the output?+
Currently JPG. It's the most compatible format and works for basically every use case. If you need PNG after cropping, use the crop tool then run the result through the convert tool.
Can I undo a crop?+
Yes. Hit 'Crop again' after seeing the result and you'll go back to the cropping interface with the same image. You can also start over with 'New image'.
Is there a size limit for images?+
No hard limit, but very large images (20MB+) might be slow depending on your device. Most standard photos and web images work fine.
Will cropping reduce the file size?+
Yes. A cropped image has fewer pixels, so the file will be smaller. Combine with the compress tool if you need to squeeze it further.
How small can I crop before the image looks bad?+
It depends on where it is going. A profile picture needs about 400 by 400 pixels, an Instagram post 1080 by 1080, and a 4 by 6 inch print 1200 by 1800. Below the target, the platform enlarges the image and it looks soft.
Should I crop or resize first?+
Crop first. That keeps the most detail in the area you keep, instead of scaling pixels you are about to throw away.
Can I crop to an exact pixel size?+
Choose the aspect ratio here to get the shape right, then use the resize tool to set the exact pixel dimensions.
Does cropping remove photo metadata?+
The cropped file is created from pixels, so camera metadata such as GPS location is not carried over.