Reddit accepts image posts up to 20 MB, but that does not mean you should upload 20 MB images. Reddit re-encodes uploaded images using its own compression, and uploading a very large source file can result in inconsistent quality in the compressed output. More importantly, mobile Reddit users on slower connections will experience faster loading with smaller images. This guide covers the right sizes, formats, and compression settings for every type of Reddit image.

Reddit Image Upload Limits

Maximum image file size: 20 MB per image post
Gallery posts: up to 20 images per gallery, each up to 20 MB
Supported formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF (animated GIF posts have a 100 MB limit, but animated GIFs are converted to MP4 videos on Reddit)
Minimum resolution: no enforced minimum, but images below 600 px wide display poorly in the feed

Best Image Format for Reddit

JPEG: ideal for photos, screenshots with gradients, and most visual content. Compress to quality 85 before uploading — Reddit re-encodes at roughly 85 quality anyway, and providing a higher-quality source reduces double-compression artifacts
PNG: best for memes, text-heavy images, comics, diagrams, and screenshots of UIs. PNG preserves sharp edges and text that JPEG ruins with compression artifacts
GIF: Reddit converts animated GIFs to MP4 videos automatically. For animations, it is more efficient to use video to GIFthen upload, but the conversion to MP4 happens on Reddit's end regardless

How to Compress Images for Reddit Step by Step

Check your current file size: right-click the image and view properties (Windows) or Get Info (Mac). If it is over 5 MB, compress it. If it is over 20 MB, you must compress it to post on Reddit
Resize if needed: use image resizer to scale down images wider than 1920 px. Reddit thumbnails in the feed rarely exceed 600 px, so uploading an 8000 px wide image provides no visual benefit
Compress: use image compressor. For photos (JPEG), target quality 85. For screenshots and memes (PNG), use lossless compression — this reduces file size without any quality loss
Verify size: the compressed file should be under 5 MB for most posts. Under 2 MB loads near-instantly on mobile
Upload to Reddit: create post → Images & Video → upload the compressed file

Memes and PNG Optimization for Reddit

Memes are the most common image type on Reddit, and most are PNGs with text overlays. PNG compression does not reduce quality — it only removes redundant data. A 2 MB meme can often be compressed to 400–600 KB without any visible change. Use image compressor with PNG lossless mode to reduce meme file sizes before sharing in high-volume subreddits where upload speed matters.

Reddit GIF Best Practices

Animated GIFs are automatically converted to MP4 by Reddit after upload, which is why they loop silently like videos in the feed. The GIF you upload can be large (up to 100 MB), but Reddit recommends keeping source GIFs under 10 MB. Large source GIFs take longer to upload and the MP4 conversion can sometimes produce inconsistent results with very large files. Use video to GIF to create optimized GIFs from video clips, then upload to Reddit.

Troubleshooting Reddit Image Quality Issues

Image looks blurry after posting: Reddit re-encoded your image at lower quality. Upload a higher-resolution source (1080 px or wider) for crisper output after re-encoding
PNG looks washed out: you may have converted to JPEG before uploading. Use PNG for all memes and text-based images
Upload fails near 20 MB limit: Reddit's upload can be temperamental near the limit. Compress your image to under 15 MB to be safe, or under 5 MB for reliable uploads on slow connections

How to Compress Images for Reddit: Size Limits & Best Format