How to crop an image online
- Choose an image. A selection covering the whole image appears.
- Pick an aspect ratio such as 1:1, 16:9 or 4:5, or keep Free for any shape.
- Drag inside the selection to move it, drag the white corner handle to resize it, or drag on the darkened area to draw a new selection.
- Click Crop & download. The file keeps its original format.
Which aspect ratio should I use?
- 1:1: profile pictures, Instagram square posts, product photos.
- 4:5: Instagram portrait posts, which take up more of the feed.
- 16:9: YouTube thumbnails, presentations and widescreen banners.
- 9:16: Stories, Reels, TikTok and phone wallpapers.
- 3:2 and 4:3: standard camera and print photo ratios.
Crop, then resize
Cropping sets the shape; resizing sets the pixel size. If a platform asks for exactly 1080×1080, crop to 1:1 here, then use the Image Resizer to scale to 1080px. Finish with the Image Compressor for a smaller file.
Cropping for social media profiles
Most platforms display profile pictures as a circle but store them as a square, so crop to 1:1 and keep the face centered with some space around it. Cover and banner images use much wider shapes: YouTube channel art is 16:9 with a smaller safe area in the middle, X (Twitter) headers are 3:1, and LinkedIn personal banners are about 4:1. Crop to the closest ratio here, then resize to the exact pixel size the platform recommends.
Composition tips
- Rule of thirds: place the main subject about a third of the way in from an edge rather than dead center for a more natural look.
- Leave headroom: when cropping people, avoid cutting at joints such as wrists, elbows or knees.
- Straight horizons: if the horizon is tilted, a tighter crop can make it less noticeable.
- Remove distractions: cropping is the quickest way to get rid of clutter at the edges of a photo.
Precise cropping with numbers
The X and Y fields set the top-left corner of the selection in pixels, and Width and Height set its size. This is useful when you need several images cropped to exactly the same area, for example product photos for an online store or screenshots for documentation.
What format is the cropped file?
The cropped image keeps the format of the original: JPG stays JPG, PNG stays PNG (including transparency) and WebP stays WebP. Other formats such as GIF or BMP are saved as PNG.
Frequently asked questions
How do I crop an image to a square?
Choose the 1:1 ratio button. A centered square selection appears; drag it to the part of the photo you want to keep, then click Crop & download.
Does cropping reduce image quality?
No. Cropping only removes pixels outside the selection. The remaining pixels are kept at full resolution.
Can I enter exact crop coordinates?
Yes. Use the X, Y, Width and Height fields below the image to set the selection in pixels.
Does it work on phones?
Yes. You can drag the selection and its corner handle with your finger.