Images & Format

Images typically account for the largest share of page weight on sites, and getting this category right delivers more impact on your Squarespace performance optimization score than almost anything else you can do.

If you can only focus on one area, your IMAGES are the ones to prioritize.

Choose the right format…
before you upload images!

The recommended formats for web images break down like this:

• WebP is the safest modern default, typically 25 to 35 percent smaller than JPG. If possible, start with WebP at quality 80 as your reliable default for photos, product shots, and hero images.

• JPG remains the fallback for legacy compatibility. But if you choose to upload a JPG, your original JPG file stays safe in your asset library. Squarespace automatically converts JPGs into the WebP format by default.

• One of the most common mistakes is uploading camera-original files that are 4,000 pixels wide or larger when the image displays at 1,200 pixels on screen.

• Squarespace generates size variants, but the source file size still affects processing and initial delivery.

• Resize images to their intended display dimensions before uploading rather than relying entirely on Squarespace to handle the downscaling.

• Think of it this way: Squarespace’s job is fast delivery.

  Your job is to upload a correctly formatted image file.