How to Resize an Image Without Stretching It

By Faheem Ali · Updated 1 October 2026

An image stretches when its width and height are changed by different proportions. A 1200 × 800 photo has a 3:2 aspect ratio; forcing it into 1000 × 1000 squashes it.

Keep the ratio locked

Set only the width or only the height, and let the other value follow. In Resize Image, “Keep proportions” is on by default, so 1200 × 800 at width 600 becomes exactly 600 × 400.

When you need an exact size in a different shape

  • Fit inside: the whole image fits within your box; one side may come out smaller than the box.
  • Fill and crop: fills the exact size and trims the edges that don't fit. Good for thumbnails.
  • Pad: fills the exact size and adds a background color around the image. Nothing is cut off.

Pixels or percentage?

Use pixels when a website or form specifies dimensions. Use a percentage to shrink a batch of different-sized photos by the same amount, as in Bulk Resize.

Making images larger

A normal resize can enlarge, but it can only stretch existing pixels, so results get soft. For real enlargement, AI Image Upscaler predicts new detail. See AI Upscaling vs Normal Image Resizing.

Tools for this

Resize ImageExact pixels or a percentageCrop ImageFree crop or 1:1, 4:3, 16:9 and moreSocial Media ResizeInstagram, YouTube, LinkedIn sizesAI Image UpscalerAIEnlarge photos and graphics 2× or 4× with AI

Related guides

Crop vs Resize: What’s the Difference?Resizing scales the whole picture; cropping removes part of it to make a new frame.Image Resolution Explained: Pixels, Dimensions, PPI and DPIWhat pixel dimensions, megapixels, PPI and DPI actually mean, which one matters for screens and print, and how to get the size you need.AI Upscaling vs Normal Image ResizingWhat actually happens when you enlarge an image normally versus with an AI upscaler, where AI helps, and where it can make things worse.