How to Compress a Video (Make It Smaller)
Last updated: June 12, 2026
“This video is too big to email.” “The upload takes forever.” When that happens, compress the video to make it lighter. This guide explains how to reduce the size while keeping as much quality as possible.
Why videos get so big
A video's size mainly comes down to its resolution (frame dimensions), bitrate (data per second) and length. Modern phones record in high quality, so even a short clip can be hundreds of MB. To shrink it, you adjust one of these.
How to compress a video
With our video compressor, just pick a resolution and quality. Your video is never uploaded — it's processed in your browser.
- Choose a video (drag & drop).
- Pick a resolution and quality (e.g. “480p · Standard”).
- Compress and download: you'll see the before/after sizes, then download the smaller file.
Which settings should I use?
| Use case | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Email / chat | 480p · Standard |
| Social media | 720p · Standard |
| Smallest possible | 360p · Low |
3 tips to reduce size
1. Lowering resolution helps most
Going from 1080p to 720p or 480p cuts size dramatically without a big visual hit — plenty for phones and email.
2. Drop the bitrate a notch
Lower bitrate = smaller file. Don't overdo it or it gets blocky; start at “Standard” and adjust.
3. Cut what you don't need
Shorter = smaller. Trim the unneeded parts first with the trim tool, then compress.
FAQ
- Q. How much does quality drop?
- A. It depends on the settings. “Standard” keeps it looking good while reducing size.
- Q. Is my video uploaded?
- A. No. Everything is processed in your browser and never sent to a server.
- Q. What's the output format?
- A. WebM, which plays in major browsers and apps.