Img Hut How to crop an image
- Choose an image, drop it onto the page or paste it from the clipboard.
- Optionally pick an aspect ratio. As soon as you choose one, the largest centered selection with that shape appears on the picture.
- Drag on the image to draw a new selection, drag inside the selection to move it, or drag one of the round corner handles to resize it. With a fixed ratio, the shape stays locked while you resize.
- Watch the Selection line under the picture. It shows the size and position of the crop in pixels of the original file, not in screen pixels, so you know exactly what you will get.
- Click Crop image to see the result, then Download cropped image. Use Reset selection to start over.
How the crop tool works
The picture is shown scaled down to fit the page, but the tool keeps track of your selection in the coordinates of the original image. When you crop, it copies exactly that rectangle of original pixels onto a new canvas. Nothing is resampled, so the part you keep retains its full resolution and sharpness. Selections are clamped to the edges of the picture, and they follow the image correctly if you rotate your phone or resize the window.
The cropped file keeps the original format where possible: JPEG is saved as JPEG at quality 92, PNG stays PNG with its transparency, WebP stays WebP if your browser can encode it, and other formats are saved as PNG. The selection works with a mouse, a touchscreen or a pen.
Because the result is a new file drawn only from the selected pixels, the areas you cropped away are genuinely gone from it; nothing outside the selection is hidden inside the file. EXIF metadata such as GPS location is not copied either.
Which aspect ratio should you use?
| Ratio | Typical uses |
|---|---|
| 1:1 | Profile pictures, square social posts, product thumbnails, app and favicon artwork |
| 4:5 | Portrait posts in social feeds, which take up more screen height than square ones |
| 3:4 and 2:3 | Portrait photos and prints (4×6 inch prints are 2:3), tall pins |
| 9:16 | Stories, Reels, Shorts and other full-screen vertical formats |
| 16:9 | Video thumbnails, presentation slides, widescreen banners and wallpapers |
| 4:3 | The default photo shape of most phone cameras; classic slides |
| 3:2 | The native shape of most DSLR and mirrorless camera photos |
| 1.91:1 | Link preview images for social networks and messaging apps, such as 1200 × 630 |
| 3:1 | Wide profile headers, such as the 1500 × 500 header on X |
Platform sizes change from time to time; our social media image size guide lists the common ones and explains which parts of an image get covered.
Tips for a better crop
- Crop first, then resize. Cropping sets the shape; Resize Image then sets the exact pixel size, for example 1080 × 1350 for a 4:5 post.
- Check the pixel count. If the selection is smaller than the size you need, the image will have to be enlarged later and will look soft. Start from a larger original when you can.
- Leave room around important details. Profile pictures are displayed as circles and stories have buttons and captions laid over the top and bottom, so keep faces and text away from the edges.
- Use the rule of thirds. Placing the subject roughly a third of the way in from an edge, rather than dead center, often makes a more natural composition.
- Crop out private details. Screenshots frequently include notifications, email addresses or open tabs at the edges. Cropping them out before sharing is quick and, with this tool, permanent.
Limitations
- No rotation or straightening. Rotate the photo in your phone’s gallery or an editor first if the horizon is tilted.
- Selections are rectangular. For circular profile pictures, crop a 1:1 square; the platform applies the circle.
- You cannot type coordinates, although the exact size and position of the selection are displayed while you drag.
- On small screens the picture is shown small, which makes fine adjustments harder; a larger screen or a zoomed-in page helps.
- One image at a time, and animated GIFs keep only their first frame.
Frequently asked questions
Does cropping reduce image quality?
The pixels you keep are copied at full resolution without resampling. PNG output is lossless; JPEG output is re-encoded at quality 92, which is very hard to tell apart from the original.
How do I crop an image to exactly 1080 x 1080 pixels?
Choose the 1:1 ratio, position the square and crop. Then open Resize Image and set the width to 1080; the height follows automatically. If the cropped square is smaller than 1080 pixels, it will be enlarged.
Can I crop an image into a circle?
Not directly. Crop a 1:1 square instead: profile pictures on social networks are uploaded as squares and the platform displays them as circles.
Can I rotate or straighten the picture?
No, this tool only crops. Rotate the image in your gallery app or an editor first, then crop it here.
Does the crop tool work on phones and tablets?
Yes. You can draw, move and resize the selection with your finger, and choosing an aspect ratio gives you a ready-made selection that you only need to move.
Are the cropped-away parts still hidden in the file?
No. The result is a new file created only from the selected pixels, so the rest of the picture is not contained in it. EXIF metadata such as location is not copied either.
Is my image uploaded to a server?
No. The whole crop happens in your browser and the image never leaves your device.
Related tools
Resize Image
Change width and height in pixels or by percentage, with an aspect-ratio lock and smooth downscaling.
Compress Image
Reduce JPG, PNG or WebP file size by re-encoding at the quality you choose, with a before-and-after comparison.
Favicon Generator
Create favicon.ico, 16/32/48 px PNG favicons, an Apple touch icon and 192/512 px app icons.
Related guides
- Social Media Image Sizes in 2026: Dimensions, Aspect Ratios and Cropping – Common image sizes for Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube and Pinterest as of 2026, safe zones that get covered or cropped, and how to prepare an image in three steps.