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TOOLDAM GUIDE

How large should images for a website be?

Web images should balance actual display size, screen density and transfer size so they stay sharp without unnecessary downloads.

Key point

Prepare images around the area where they will be displayed rather than uploading the full camera original by default.

Check the real display width first

A 5000 px photo shown in a 900 px content column does not display five times more useful detail. The browser still has to download the larger file.

High-density screens need some headroom

On dense displays, one CSS pixel can use multiple physical pixels. Important images can be prepared larger than their CSS width, but that does not mean keeping the maximum original size.

Photos and UI captures need different treatment

Photos often tolerate lossy compression well. Screenshots containing code, tables or small text need more care because artifacts can directly reduce readability.

Use a repeatable workflow

Check display size, resize, choose a format, compress, then inspect the real page. A consistent workflow is more useful than memorizing one universal pixel value.