How to Convert PNG to WebP (and Other Image Formats)

Convert PNG to WebP in your browser

WebP is a modern image format that usually produces smaller files than PNG or JPG at the same visible quality. Smaller images mean faster-loading pages, less bandwidth, and better Core Web Vitals scores. The catch is that most photo apps and operating systems still don't export WebP, so you need a converter. That's exactly the job of the image format converter on The Toolbox.

The nice part: the whole conversion runs locally in your browser. Your PNG is read, redrawn onto a canvas, and re-encoded as WebP entirely on your device. Nothing is uploaded to a server, there's no sign-up, and there's no file-count limit beyond what your browser can handle. It also works the other way and across other formats, so you can convert PNG to WebP today and PNG to JPG or WebP back to PNG tomorrow with the same tool.

How to convert PNG to WebP

1. Open the image format converter. It loads instantly and works on desktop and mobile browsers.
2. In the Conversion Settings card, find Convert To and click the WebP button so it's highlighted. The four options are JPG, PNG, WebP, and BMP.
3. A Quality slider appears for WebP (and JPG). Leave it around 80-85% for a strong balance of small size and clean detail, or push it higher if you need near-lossless output. Lower values shrink the file more but can soften edges and text.
4. Scroll to the Upload Image card. Click the dashed box to open your file picker, or drag a PNG straight onto it. The tool accepts JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, and BMP as input.
5. Conversion happens immediately. The Conversion Result card shows your original PNG and the new WebP side by side, plus the dimensions, original size, converted size, and the percentage change so you can confirm you actually saved space.
6. Click Download WebP to save the file. The tool keeps your original filename and just swaps the extension, so logo.png becomes logo.webp.
7. Not happy with the size or sharpness? Move the Quality slider, then click Re-convert with current settings to re-encode the same image without re-uploading it. Compare the new size against the old one and download when it looks right.

To convert several images, do them one at a time, downloading each result before loading the next. Clicking Clear resets the result panel so you can start fresh.

Converting to other formats

The same steps work for any direction the tool supports. Pick a different Convert To button before uploading:

• PNG to JPG: choose JPG when you want a smaller photo and don't need transparency. Because JPG can't store transparency, the tool fills transparent areas with a white background.
• PNG to BMP: choose BMP for an uncompressed bitmap. Expect a much larger file; this is only useful for specific software that demands BMP input.
• WebP back to PNG: load a WebP and choose PNG to get a widely compatible, lossless file again.

For HEIC photos straight off an iPhone, the format converter won't open them, but the dedicated HEIC to JPG converter will. And if you're moving between vector and raster, see SVG to PNG or PNG to SVG.

Tips

• Pick the right format for the job. WebP is great for the web. If a client, printer, or older app rejects it, deliver PNG or JPG instead and keep WebP only for your website.
• Quality only affects lossy formats. The slider shows up for WebP and JPG. PNG and BMP ignore it because they're encoded losslessly.
• Check the Size Change stat. A green negative number means you saved space; an orange positive number means the WebP came out larger, which can happen with tiny or already-optimized images. If WebP doesn't help, the original may already be efficient.
• Convert first, then squeeze further. For maximum savings, run the WebP through the image compressor afterward, or compress a PNG before converting. The image compression guide walks through how far you can safely push it.

Common problems

• The download is bigger than the original. PNGs with flat colors and few details sometimes beat WebP. Try a lower quality, or just keep the PNG.
• Transparency turned white. That only happens when converting to JPG or BMP, which don't support transparency. Use WebP or PNG to preserve see-through areas.
• My HEIC file won't load. The browser canvas can't decode HEIC. Convert it with the HEIC to JPG tool first, then bring the JPG here.

FAQ

Is WebP really smaller than PNG? Usually, yes, especially for photographs and detailed graphics, because WebP supports both lossy and lossless compression. The exact saving depends on the image. The result card shows the before-and-after size so you can verify it for your specific file rather than guessing.

Are my images uploaded anywhere? No. The conversion runs entirely in your browser using a canvas element. Your files never leave your device, there's no account to create, and nothing is stored on a server.

Does converting to WebP lose quality? At the default quality of around 85% the difference is hard to notice. WebP can be lossy or lossless; lower quality values trade visible detail for a smaller file. Use the side-by-side preview and the Re-convert button to find a setting you're happy with.

Will WebP work everywhere? All modern browsers display WebP, so it's safe for websites. Some older desktop apps and tools still don't, so keep a PNG or JPG copy when you need broad compatibility.

For a wider look at sizing, formats, and delivery, read the complete image optimization guide, or jump straight to the image compressor to shrink files further.