--- title: "WordPress Upload Size 2026: Median Image Hits 71.8 KB" url: https://www.pagespeedmatters.com/resources/data-studies/wordpress-upload-size description: "Original-size WordPress images uploaded in 2026 have a median of 71.8 KB on top 1M pages, against 17.7 KB for 2020 uploads and 26.5 KB for 2024." lang: en --- Data Study ยท Website Maintenance # WordPress Upload Size: Images Doubled in Weight in One Year Original-size WordPress images uploaded in 2026 and served on top 1M pages have a median of 71.8 KB, against 17.7 KB for 2020 uploads still in use and 26.5 KB for 2024 uploads. - WordPress uploads on top 1M pages - HTTP Archive, Sept 2026 Matt Suffoletto: https://www.pagespeedmatters.com/resources/author/matt-suffoletto Founder, PageSpeed Matters Published Oct. 19, 2026 6 min read ## Key Findings 1. The median original-size 2026 WordPress upload served on top 1M pages is **71.8 KB** (711,887 requests), against **17.7 KB** for 2020 uploads (78,737 requests) and 26.5 KB for 2024 uploads (265,407 requests). Copy stat 2. 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. Copy stat 3. 2026 uploads also dominate what is served: **711,887** requests hit original-size 2026 uploads, against 387,160 for 2025 and 78,737 for 2020. Copy stat 4. Resized variants grew too but 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). Copy stat 5. PNG is where uploads ballooned: among distinct raster upload files, the median 2026 PNG is **107.7 KB** (138,750 files) against **9.9 KB** for 2020 PNGs (23,587), while 2026 WebP files hold a 43.4 KB median. Copy stat 6. 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, and AVIF **0.8%**. Copy stat Median original-size WordPress upload by upload year 2018 16 KB 2020 17.7 KB 2022 19.6 KB 2024 26.5 KB 2025 35.1 KB 2026 71.8 KB Source: PageSpeed Matters. HTTP Archive top 1M crawl, Sept 2026, mobile. Per-request medians. Survivorship applies: only older images still in use are counted. In this study ## 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 Paste this on your site to embed the chart. It links back to the source automatically.

Source: WordPress Upload Size: Images Doubled in Weight in One Year - PageSpeed Matters

## 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 (https://www.pagespeedmatters.com/services/wordpress-maintenance). Share How we measured ## Methodology & Source Data source HTTP Archive crawl of the top 1M sites by Chrome traffic Collection date September 2026 Sample WordPress uploads on top 1M pages Release HTTP Archive, Sept 2026 Image requests under /wp-content/uploads/YYYY/ on top 1M pages, Sept 2026, mobile, with the folder year as the upload year. Resized variants are excluded from the main figures. Size medians are per request; format findings use distinct raster files, which gives higher medians. Survivorship applies: heavy older images may have been replaced, so these figures do not show that older uploads were always lighter. Using this data? ## Cite this study Link back to the study when you cite it. APA Matt Suffoletto. (2026). WordPress Upload Size: Images Doubled in Weight in One Year. PageSpeed Matters. https://www.pagespeedmatters.com/resources/data-studies/wordpress-upload-size Plain link WordPress Upload Size: Images Doubled in Weight in One Year - PageSpeed Matters - https://www.pagespeedmatters.com/resources/data-studies/wordpress-upload-size ## Related studies - Page Weight WebP Reached 16.6% of All Web Images. JPEG and PNG Still Hold 53%: https://www.pagespeedmatters.com/resources/data-studies/image-formats-of-the-web - Website Maintenance Page Weight Growth 2026: Same Sites 11.2% Heavier: https://www.pagespeedmatters.com/resources/data-studies/page-weight-growth - Page Weight The Average Page Size Is 2.6MB, Across 71 Requests: https://www.pagespeedmatters.com/resources/data-studies/page-weight - WordPress Only 38.4% of WordPress Sites Pass Core Web Vitals: https://www.pagespeedmatters.com/resources/data-studies/average-wordpress-site-speed ## Ready to Get Started? Get your site optimized in as little as 3 days. From $500. 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