# Compress a Signature or Photo to 20 KB

Exam and job application forms often want a signature under 20 KB, sometimes 10 KB. Get a clean JPG that fits, in one click, without the image turning to mush.

_Source: https://sharelargefilesfree.com/tools/compress-image-to-20kb · Updated 2026-09-29_

## How to use it

1. Sign on plain white paper with a dark pen and take a well-lit photo, or scan it.
2. Crop it close to the signature (your phone's photo editor is fine), then add it here.
3. Keep the 20 KB target, or choose 10 KB, and press Compress to 20 KB.
4. Download the JPG and upload it to the form.

## Settings made for tiny files

This page saves as JPG (the format almost every form accepts), limits the image to 800 pixels on its longest side and then finds the highest quality that fits under the limit. Signatures and simple photos have little fine detail, so they stay sharp even at 10 to 20 KB.

The biggest enemy of a small file is noise: grey paper, shadows and uneven light all add detail the compressor has to keep. A photo of the signature taken by a window in daylight, on bright white paper, compresses far better than one taken under a lamp.

## Typical requirements

| Upload | Common limit | Common size |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Signature | 10–20 KB | about 140 × 60 px to 350 × 150 px |
| Photograph | 20–50 KB | about 200 × 230 px to 600 × 600 px |
| Thumb impression | 10–20 KB | about 240 × 240 px |

These are only examples: always follow the exact numbers in your form's notice. If it asks for exact pixels, set them with [Resize image](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/tools/resize-image) before compressing. For a photograph with a 50 KB limit, use [compress to 50 KB](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/tools/compress-image-to-50kb).

## Nothing is uploaded

Your signature is a sensitive thing to hand to a random website. Here it never leaves your device: the image is compressed by your browser, and the result is saved straight to your downloads.

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I make my signature 20 KB?

Photograph or scan it on white paper, crop it tightly, add it here and press Compress. You get a JPG under 20 KB.

### Can I get under 10 KB?

Yes. Choose the 10 KB target. A cropped signature easily fits.

### Why is my result blurry?

The original probably had a lot of background or noise. Crop closer and use a brighter, evenly lit photo, then try again.

### Is the file a JPG?

Yes. This page always saves JPG, the format application forms expect.