About this conversion
Convert BMP to JPG to dramatically shrink legacy bitmap files. BMP is uncompressed Windows Bitmap — bytes-per-pixel storage that produces enormous files. A 1080p BMP photo can easily be 6+ MB; the same photo as JPG is typically 200–500 KB with no visible quality difference.
When this conversion is useful
- Modernising a folder of legacy BMP screenshots from older Windows versions
- Trimming the file size of scanned documents or images
- Converting BMP exports from older Windows software for modern use
- Preparing BMP images for the web, email, or any size-constrained channel
Quality and tradeoffs
BMP can store extra channels and alpha in some variants, but most BMPs are RGB only. Any transparency is lost in the JPG conversion. Expect a file-size reduction of around 90–95% for typical photo content.
Frequently asked questions
Why are BMP files so large?
BMP stores every pixel uncompressed. A 1920×1080 image at 24-bit colour is around 6 MB — even though JPG could express the same picture in 500 KB.
Is BMP higher quality than JPG?
BMP is lossless, so technically yes. But the difference is invisible to the eye on photographs. For graphics with crisp edges or text, prefer PNG over BMP or JPG.
Where do BMP files even come from these days?
Mostly older Windows software exports, embedded systems, and some scanning pipelines. Modern apps default to PNG or JPG, but BMP still appears in legacy workflows.