Image to Base64 Converter
Turn PNG, JPG, GIF, WebP and SVG images into Base64 strings and data URIs. Copy the result as a data URI, an HTML image tag, a CSS background or Markdown.
Free Image to Base64 Converter
Base64 is a way of writing binary data, such as an image, as plain text. A Base64 string can be placed straight into HTML, CSS, JSON or an email, so the image does not need to be a separate file. This Image to Base64 converter reads your picture in your browser and gives you the ready-to-use text. Your image is never uploaded to a server.
How to Convert an Image to Base64
- Drop an image onto the box, or click it and choose a file from your device.
- Check the preview and the size details above.
- Pick the output format you need from the list.
- Press Copy Output and paste it into your code, or press Download .txt to save it.
Output Formats
| Format | Looks like | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Data URI | data:image/png;base64,iVBOR... | Image sources, links and anywhere a URL is accepted. |
| Base64 only | iVBOR... | APIs and JSON fields that want the raw string. |
| HTML image tag | <img src="data:..."> | Pasting an image directly into a web page or email template. |
| CSS background | background-image: url("data:..."); | Small icons and patterns in a stylesheet. |
| Markdown image |  | Markdown documents and README files. |
When Base64 Images Make Sense
- Small icons and logos. Inlining a tiny image saves a separate request.
- HTML emails. Some email templates and signatures need the image inside the message.
- Single-file pages. A page or a demo that must work as one file with nothing to download.
- APIs and JSON. Sending an image as part of a text request or a stored record.
When to Avoid It
Base64 makes the data about 33% larger than the original file, and an inlined image cannot be cached on its own. For photos and other large images, a normal image file loaded from a URL is almost always faster. As a rule of thumb, keep inlined images under about 10 KB.
Privacy and Limits
The conversion happens in your browser with the file reader built into it. No image is uploaded, stored or shared. Files up to 5 MB are accepted, because a longer string can slow down the text box and the page you paste it into.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the Image to Base64 converter free?
Yes. It is free with no sign-up and no limit on how many images you convert.
Is my image uploaded anywhere?
No. The image is read on your device and never leaves your browser.
Which image types are supported?
Any image your browser can open, including PNG, JPG, GIF, WebP, SVG, BMP and ICO.
Why is the Base64 text bigger than my image?
Base64 turns every 3 bytes into 4 text characters, so the result is about one third larger than the original file.
What is a data URI?
A data URI is a link that contains the file itself instead of pointing to a file on a server. It starts with data: followed by the file type and the Base64 string.
Can I convert Base64 back to an image?
Not with this tool. It only converts images to Base64.