Part of:Image Formats Explained: JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF and More
BMP to PNG Converter
Convert uncompressed BMP to lossless PNG, and understand which modern format to pick. One page for the whole BMP format.
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Supported formats: JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, SVG
Original Size
Output Size
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All processing happens locally on your device. Nothing is uploaded to a server, stored, or tracked.
BMP stores raw, uncompressed pixels, which is why the same image can be forty times larger than a modern file for identical quality. Converting it is not a quality decision, it is housekeeping. This page explains the format, why it is worth converting, and which of PNG, JPG, WebP, or AVIF is the right destination for what you have.
How it works
Why BMP files are so large
A BMP file stores raw, uncompressed pixel data. There is no compression at all in the common case, so a 1,920 by 1,080 image at 24 bits per pixel occupies almost exactly 6.2 million bytes, and there is nothing in the format to reduce that. Every modern format achieves the same picture in a fraction of the space, which is why a BMP arrives as a problem to be solved rather than a format to be chosen. Converting it is housekeeping, not a compromise.
| Format | Compression | Approximate size | Lossless? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMP | None, raw pixels | 6.2 MB | Yes, trivially |
| PNG | Lossless | 1.5 to 4 MB | Yes |
| WebP lossless | Lossless | 1.0 to 3 MB | Yes |
| JPG | Lossy | 200 to 500 KB | No |
| WebP lossy | Lossy | 60 to 150 KB | No |
| AVIF | Lossy | 40 to 120 KB | No |
NoteA BMP is large because it stores nothing but raw pixels. That is the whole reason to convert it.
Which format to convert to, and why
The destination depends on what the image is and what you will do with it, not on which is newest. PNG is the default for a reason: it is the modern lossless equivalent of what a BMP already is, so converting to it loses nothing and still shrinks the file enormously. JPG is smaller again but throws detail away, which is fine for a photograph and wrong for a logo or a diagram. WebP and AVIF are the web formats, dramatically smaller than either, and both support transparency.
| The image is | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A logo, diagram, or screenshot | PNG | Lossless, so edges and text stay exact |
| A scan you want to keep | PNG | Nothing is discarded, so it can be reused |
| A photograph for general use | JPG | Much smaller, and the loss is invisible at normal size |
| Anything going on a website | WebP or AVIF | Far smaller, with transparency supported |
| A file that must open everywhere | JPG | Universal support, including email |
| An image you will edit again | PNG | No further loss on each save |
NoteThe tool on this page outputs PNG. That is the right default from a BMP because it is the lossless equivalent.
Why PNG is the natural successor to BMP
Both formats store the same thing without discarding anything, which is why the conversion is free of quality decisions. A BMP holds raw pixels and a PNG holds the same pixels after lossless compression, so every pixel in the output is identical to the input. That is a rare property: almost every other conversion on this site is lossy and makes you choose how much to lose. This one does not, which is why it is the right default when you are not sure what the file is for yet.
- BMP holds raw pixels. PNG holds the same pixels, losslessly compressed.
- Every pixel in the output is identical to the input.
- No quality setting is needed because nothing is discarded.
- The file shrinks by 70 to 95 percent for an identical image.
NoteThis is the one conversion on the site with no quality decision to make.
When it is safe to discard detail, and what that buys
A BMP holds more information than almost any display or use requires, and JPG, WebP, and AVIF exploit that by discarding what cannot be seen. For a photograph destined for a web page, a JPG at balanced quality is indistinguishable from the BMP at normal viewing size and roughly twenty times smaller. That is not a compromise, it is the format working as intended. The trade is only worth taking when you know the image is photographic, because on a logo or a line drawing the discarded detail is exactly the part that carries the information.
- A photograph gains enormously from a lossy format and loses almost nothing visible.
- A logo or diagram loses exactly the detail that matters. Keep it lossless.
- Check the result at 100 percent, where lossy artefacts are visible.
- Keep the BMP if you may need the original pixels again.
NoteLossy conversion is the right call for a photograph and the wrong call for a logo.
Batch convert BMP to PNG
Convert a batch of BMP files to lossless PNG in one pass. Free, private, ZIP download, and nothing is uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
Is BMP to PNG lossless?
Yes. PNG preserves every pixel of a BMP exactly, because the BMP holds uncompressed pixel data and nothing is thrown away in the process. The result is usually many times smaller for identical pixels.
How much smaller is a PNG than a BMP?
Substantially. A BMP stores every pixel raw, so a screenshot or a scan is enormous. PNG compresses the same data losslessly, and typical reductions are between 70 and 95 percent depending on how much detail the image contains.
Should I convert BMP to JPG instead of PNG?
Only if you need a smaller file and the image is a photograph. JPG is lossy, so it discards detail the BMP held perfectly. PNG is the right destination for anything where the pixels matter, such as a logo, a diagram, a screenshot, or an archival scan.
Which format should I convert BMP to?
PNG for lossless fidelity and for anything with sharp edges. JPG for a photograph where a small file matters more than exact pixels. WebP or AVIF for the web, both far smaller than either. The table on this page covers the trade for each.
Is BMP still used anywhere?
Very little on the web, and the current formats are all better at the same job. BMP survives mainly in older software, some Windows system graphics, and archives of legacy material, which is exactly why knowing how to leave it matters.
Can I convert many BMP files at once?
Yes. Add a folder of BMP files and they are converted together, with a ZIP download. Everything is processed on your device and nothing is uploaded.