Median original-size WordPress upload by upload year (served on top 1M pages, Sept 2026)
| Upload year | Median, all pages | Median, homepages | Median resized variant | Requests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 16.0 KB | 16.7 KB | 12.2 KB | 34,674 |
| 2020 | 17.7 KB | 20.2 KB | 11.5 KB | 78,737 |
| 2022 | 19.6 KB | 21.9 KB | 16.1 KB | 132,715 |
| 2024 | 26.5 KB | 29.9 KB | 20.7 KB | 265,407 |
| 2025 | 35.1 KB | 39.4 KB | 22.5 KB | 387,160 |
| 2026 | 71.8 KB | 74.2 KB | 32.6 KB | 711,887 |
Source: PageSpeed Matters, HTTP Archive, Sept 2026. Requests counts original-size uploads on all pages. Survivorship applies to older years.
Summary
Images are usually the heaviest part of a WordPress page, and most of them start life as an upload in the media library. WordPress files every upload under a year folder, so we could compare the size of images uploaded in different years that are still served today.
The median original-size image uploaded in 2026 and served on top 1M pages is 71.8 KB. The median 2020 upload still in use is 17.7 KB, and the median 2024 upload is 26.5 KB. That makes this year's uploads about twice as heavy as 2025's (35.1 KB). The gap to 2020 looks bigger still, but older images still in use are a survivor sample, so that comparison overstates the trend.
What we measured
We looked at HTTP Archive's Sept 2026 mobile crawl of the top 1M sites by Chrome traffic. We took image requests whose URL contains /wp-content/uploads/YYYY/ and used that folder as the upload year. Resized variants, which WordPress names with the width and height before the extension, are excluded from the main figures and reported separately. Size medians are per request.
The format findings use a separate cut: distinct upload files with a raster image extension (JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF or AVIF), with SVG excluded. Counting distinct files gives higher medians than counting requests, so the two sets of numbers should not be compared directly.
Survivorship applies. We only see older images that are still being served. Heavy older images may have been replaced or deleted, so these figures do not show that older uploads were always lighter.
2026 uploads are about twice as heavy as 2025 uploads
The median original-size 2026 WordPress upload served on top 1M pages is 71.8 KB, across 711,887 requests. The median 2020 upload still in use is 17.7 KB (78,737 requests), and the median 2024 upload is 26.5 KB (265,407 requests).
Upload weight climbed slowly, then jumped. The median is 16.0 KB for 2018 uploads, 17.7 KB for 2020, 19.6 KB for 2022, 26.5 KB for 2024, 35.1 KB for 2025 and 71.8 KB for 2026. Homepage figures follow the same curve, at 74.2 KB for 2026 uploads.
Part of the jump is likely survivorship: the oldest images still in use may be the small ones, such as logos and icons, that nobody had a reason to replace. But even the step from 2025 to 2026 is large.
Recent uploads are the most served
New images are not just heavier, they are also what visitors actually load. 711,887 requests hit original-size 2026 uploads, against 387,160 for 2025 and 78,737 for 2020. So the heaviest year of uploads is also the most requested.
Resized variants grew too, but they stay smaller. The median resized variant is 32.6 KB for 2026 uploads (511,153 requests), against 11.5 KB for 2020 uploads (32,018). Themes and blocks that serve a resized size instead of the original keep pages lighter, which is a good reason to check which size your templates request.
PNG is where uploads ballooned
Among distinct raster upload files, PNG shows the biggest change. The median 2026 PNG is 107.7 KB (138,750 files), against 9.9 KB for 2020 PNGs (23,587). The 2026 WebP files hold a 43.4 KB median.
PNG is lossless, so a photo or screenshot saved as PNG is usually much heavier than the same image as JPEG or WebP.
Modern formats are gaining but are not yet the norm. WebP makes up 22.5% of distinct 2026 raster uploads (134,729 of 599,734), against 6.8% of 2020 uploads. AVIF accounts for 0.8% of 2026 uploads.
What this means for your site
Every heavy upload adds weight to every page that shows it, and the newest uploads are the ones most often served. A few habits keep the media library in check.
- Resize images to the largest size your theme actually displays before you upload them, instead of uploading straight from a camera or design tool.
- Save photos as JPEG or WebP, not PNG. Keep PNG for logos, icons and graphics with sharp edges and few colors.
- Use an image optimization plugin or your host's image service to compress uploads and serve WebP or AVIF automatically.
- Check that your templates request a resized size from WordPress rather than the full original.
- Review your largest recent uploads in the media library and replace the worst offenders on high-traffic pages.
Sources
- HTTP Archive crawl of the top 1M sites by Chrome traffic, September 2026, mobile
- web.dev, Choose the right image format: https://web.dev/articles/choose-the-right-image-format
Embed this research
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<p style="font:14px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif">Source: <a href="https://www.pagespeedmatters.com/resources/data-studies/wordpress-upload-size">WordPress Upload Size: Images Doubled in Weight in One Year - PageSpeed Matters</a></p>
Frequently asked questions
How big are WordPress images on average?
The median original-size WordPress upload from 2026 served on top 1M pages is 71.8 KB. The median 2024 upload is 26.5 KB and the median 2020 upload still in use is 17.7 KB.
Are WordPress images getting bigger?
Recent uploads are much heavier: the median rises from 16.0 KB for 2018 uploads to 35.1 KB for 2025 and 71.8 KB for 2026. Survivorship applies, since heavy older images may have been replaced, so older uploads were not necessarily always lighter.
How do I make WordPress uploads smaller?
Resize images to the size your theme displays before uploading, save photos as JPEG or WebP rather than PNG, and use an optimization plugin or image service to compress uploads and serve modern formats.
Heavy uploads are one of the easiest speed problems to fix, and a few media library habits stop them from coming back. Need help with this? See our WordPress support services.