An image looks stretched when its width and height are changed by different amounts. Keep the original aspect ratio locked while resizing, and the subject stays in proportion.
Start with the destination
Check where the image will be used and look for a recommended pixel size. A profile picture, product listing, document, and presentation may each use different dimensions. If you only need a smaller image, reducing its dimensions can also reduce the amount of data the browser needs to display.
Resize without distortion
- Open the Image Resizer and choose your image.
- Turn on the aspect-ratio lock. This keeps width and height tied to the image's original proportions.
- Enter the width or height required by your destination. The other dimension should update to match.
- Preview the result. If the subject is still too wide or too tall, confirm the aspect-ratio lock is on and retry.
- Export the resized image in a format that suits its content.
Resize, crop, or stretch?
Resize changes the overall pixel dimensions while preserving the full image. Crop removes parts of the edges to achieve a different shape, such as a square thumbnail. Stretch forces the image into new proportions and usually makes people or objects look unnaturally wide or narrow.
Should you make an image larger?
Upscaling adds pixels, but it cannot recover detail that was not present in the original. If a small image looks soft at its new size, use a higher-resolution source when possible. Avoid enlarging a logo or screenshot unless the output size requires it.
Keep the right format
For a photograph, JPG or WebP can keep file sizes down. For graphics that need transparency or crisp edges, PNG may be a better fit. You can compare formats with the Image Converter.