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BMP to PNG Converter

Compress a bulky BMP losslessly - the same pixels, typically 50-90% smaller.

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Up to 50 MB per file. Sign up free to convert files up to 100 MB.

What to expect when converting BMP to PNG

Typical file-size change
50–90% smaller (typically)
Example

A 20 MB BMP typically becomes 2 – 10 MB as PNG.

Quality: None, both lossless. PNG preserves every pixel from the BMP exactly, just with efficient compression.

Best for: modernizing legacy BMP images while preserving full quality.

Avoid when: rare, PNG is strictly better than BMP for almost every use case.

Tip: BMP to PNG is one of the safest conversions: lossless, smaller, broader compatibility, supports transparency.

BMP to PNG: lossless compression of raw pixels

BMP stores raw uncompressed pixels while PNG applies lossless DEFLATE compression with prediction filters. The conversion reads the BMP pixel array, applies PNG's row-level prediction filters (Sub, Up, Average, Paeth) that exploit spatial redundancy, then DEFLATE-compresses the filtered data. The result is typically 50-80% smaller than the BMP with zero quality loss, every pixel is preserved bit-for-bit.

Convert BMP to PNG when you want to reduce file size without any quality loss. This is the right choice for screenshots, diagrams, text images, and any content where lossy JPG compression would produce visible artifacts. PNG is universally supported across all modern platforms and browsers.

BMP vs PNG: Side-by-side

Technical comparison of the two formats, useful for deciding which to use, or for confirming what changes during conversion.

Property BMP PNG
Full name Bitmap Portable Network Graphics
Year introduced 1990 1996
Developer / standard body Microsoft PNG Development Group / W3C
MIME type image/bmp image/png
File extension .bmp .png
Compression Uncompressed (typically) Lossless (DEFLATE)
Color / data depth 1 to 32-bit 24-bit truecolor + 8-bit alpha
Max dimensions / size 32,767 × 32,767 px 2,147,483,647 × 2,147,483,647 px
Transparency Yes Yes
Animation No APNG extension only
Standard / specification Microsoft Windows W3C / ISO/IEC 15948
Best for Legacy Windows applications, raw pixel data Logos, screenshots, graphics with transparency or sharp edges

Frequently asked questions

Can I convert BMP to PNG without losing quality?

PNG is a lossless format with transparency support. Converting to a lossless target such as PNG, TIFF or BMP preserves every pixel exactly. Converting to a lossy one such as JPG or WebP re-encodes the image, and iFormat uses a high default quality so the difference is invisible at normal viewing size. For the sharpest result, always convert from the highest-quality source you have.

What is BMP?

BMP is an uncompressed Windows bitmap, typically used for raw pixel data with no compression. Converting it to PNG produces a file that opens on systems without BMP support.

BMP vs PNG - which format should I use?

BMP is an uncompressed Windows bitmap best for raw pixel data with no compression. PNG is a lossless format with transparency support best for logos, screenshots, and graphics with sharp edges. Choose PNG when the site or application you are submitting to asks for it, or when you need lossless quality and transparency.

How do I open BMP files?

On Windows: Photos, or Paint. On a Mac: Preview. Opens everywhere but is uncompressed, so files are enormous for what they contain.

BMP vs PNG - which format should I use?

BMP is an uncompressed Windows bitmap best for raw pixel data with no compression. PNG is a lossless format with transparency support best for logos, screenshots, and graphics with sharp edges. Use PNG when a website, form, or app requires it, or when you need lossless quality and transparency.

Is PNG better than BMP?

Yes, in almost every way. PNG is lossless (like BMP) but uses compression, so files are 50–80% smaller. PNG also supports transparency and is universally supported by web browsers. BMP has no advantages over PNG in modern use.

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Image guides and fixes

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