Compress an image to 15 KB

Pixel sizes for 15 KB, measured

This is the JPEG quality the tool reached when we fitted each size into 15 KB. In our side-by-side checks, losses were hard to spot from about quality 50 upward, and below 40 fine detail began to smear.

Going from 250 x 300 to 300 x 375 cost the street photo almost half its quality, because the pixel count grows by half again while the file cannot. When a form leaves the size to you, stay near 250 x 300 for a busy photo.

Where a 15 KB target comes from

We have not found a widely used official form that sets exactly 15 KB. The number usually sits inside a range: MSTC, NIOT and the SSC CHSL 2022 notice all ask for a signature of 10 to 20 KB, and a file near 15 KB sits well inside it, clear of both edges. If your form really says 15 KB, use it as the maximum here.

For a range, the range chip is more exact than a single number. The 10 to 20 KB chip keeps the file above 10,240 bytes and below 20,000, the safe reading at each end.

JPG or WebP at 15 KB

WebP packs more picture into the same space, though how much depends on the photo. Our portrait at 300 x 375 came to 7.8 KB as WebP at quality 80, against 13.2 KB as JPG at the same quality. For the busy street scene the gap was small: 30.4 KB against 33.2 KB.

Most application forms still accept only JPG or JPEG, so keep JPG unless the instructions list WebP.

Sources, checked 13 October 2026: MSTC Limited, steps for uploading images and documents; NIOT recruitment, instructions to candidates; Staff Selection Commission (KKR), CHSL 2022 notice on photographs and signatures (PDF).