How to reduce a video's file size
Updated 26 September 2026
Tool for this guide: Compress video
Short answer: lower the resolution first, then the quality. Going from 1080p to 720p removes more than half the pixels and makes the biggest difference. If you need to hit a limit, such as 25 MB for an email attachment, set a target size instead.
The three settings that matter
| Setting | What it does | Effect on size | Effect on quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Fewer pixels per frame | Biggest | Softer on large screens |
| Compression level | Stronger compression of each frame | Large | Blockier in fast motion |
| Target size | Picks the bitrate to hit a size in MB | Exactly what you ask | Depends on video length |
A real example
We compressed a 12-second 1280 × 720 MP4 clip (8.8 MB) with our video compressor on the Recommended level, keeping the original resolution. It came out at 2.1 MB, 77% smaller, as an MP4 that plays on any device.
Step by step
- Open the video compressor and add your video.
- Choose a level. Recommended is a good start.
- For long or high-resolution videos, choose 720p or 480p under Resolution.
- To fit a limit, choose Target size and enter it in MB.
- Download the compressed MP4.
Everything runs in your browser, so the video isn't uploaded. Files up to about 120 MB work best; larger videos need a desktop computer with plenty of memory.
How long a video fits in a size?
File size is roughly bitrate × length. Longer videos need a lower bitrate for the same size, so they need a lower resolution to stay clear. As a rough guide, a few minutes of 720p video can fit in 25 MB at reasonable quality; much longer videos need 480p or less.
Other tricks
- Trim it. Cutting unneeded seconds reduces size proportionally.
- Use MP4 (H.264). It's efficient and plays everywhere.
- Share a link instead. For long videos, cloud storage links avoid attachment limits entirely.
For email specifically, use compress a video for email, which starts with a 25 MB target.
Try it now
Make videos smaller by quality level, resolution, or a target size in MB.
Open compress video