Upscale Image

Upscale your photo by 2x, 3x or 4x with sharpening, compare the result side by side and download it — all in your browser, no uploads.

Drag your images here
or click to select — JPG, PNG or WebP. You can pick several at once.
Scale
Sharpening0.5
Smooth noise (before upscaling)0
Output format
⇆
Before
After
Drag the handle to compare a plain upscale with the processed result.
— → —

How to upscale an image online

Start by dragging the file into the upload area or click "Choose Images" to pick a photo from your computer or phone. The tool accepts JPG, PNG and WebP and works entirely in your browser. As soon as the image loads, the bar just above the preview shows the original resolution, the final resolution that will be produced and how many megapixels the result will have — numbers that update with every adjustment you make.

The main control is Scale. Pick 2x, 3x or 4x to multiply width and height, or tap "Width" to type an exact pixel count when the destination platform requires a specific measurement. The upscale is not done in one go: the image is doubled in successive 2x steps, with high quality smoothing at each one, which preserves far more detail than a single jump to the final size. The preview shows the whole photo with a handle in the middle: a plain upscale on the left, the processed result on the right, and you just drag the handle to compare them. Since the preview is scaled down to fit your screen, the difference visible there is smaller than in the final file — the download comes out at full resolution, where the gain in definition is far more obvious.

Two fine adjustments round out the process. Sharpening re-emphasises the edges that every upscale softens, and it is what separates a stretched photo from a usable one — values between 1 and 3 suit most cases, and above 5 bright halos may appear along contours. Noise smoothing, in turn, acts before the upscale, damping grain and JPEG artefacts that would otherwise be enlarged along with everything else. The "Reset Settings" button returns everything to the default.

Once the result looks right, pick the output format — PNG for maximum quality and transparency, JPG for smaller files or WebP for the best balance between size and quality — and click "Download Image". At that point the whole image is processed at the final resolution, which can take a few seconds on large upscales, and the download starts right after, without the file ever leaving your device.

With more than one image loaded, each file becomes a tab above the preview: click a tab to see that image, click the "×" to remove it, and use "Add more images" to include new ones — files already in the list are skipped. Scale, sharpening, noise smoothing and output format apply to the whole batch, so "Download all (.zip)" processes every image at the final resolution and delivers them in a single compressed file.

Frequently asked questions

Are my images uploaded to a server?
No. All upscaling happens locally in your browser, using Canvas and JavaScript. No image is ever uploaded to or stored on our servers.
Is there a size limit for the upscaled image?
Yes, because of a technical limit in browsers. The result is capped at 8000 pixels on the longest side and at a maximum area that varies by device — around 16 megapixels on iPhone and iPad, and 50 megapixels on desktop. If your chosen scale goes past that, the tool scales it down automatically and lets you know.
Can I upscale several images at once?
Yes. Select or drag as many images as you like — files already loaded are skipped automatically. Scale, sharpening, noise smoothing and output format apply to every image at once, and the Download all (.zip) button delivers the whole batch in a single compressed file.
Does the tool work on mobile?
Yes. The interface is responsive and works in any modern browser. On phones, stick to 2x for large images, since the browser memory limit is lower there.
Does the tool use AI to invent detail that isn't in the photo?
No. Upscaling is done by progressive resampling in 2x steps, followed by sharpening — no new detail is invented. That makes the image larger with better defined edges, but it cannot recover information the camera never captured. A heavily blurred 200x200 photo will still be limited even at 4x.
Which scale should I use to print a photo well?
Professional printing calls for around 300 DPI, meaning 300 pixels per inch. A 4x6 inch photo needs roughly 1200x1800 pixels: if yours is 600x900, a 2x upscale already gets you close. Set sharpening between 1 and 3 and export as PNG so you don't stack compression losses before printing.
How do I upscale a photo for a YouTube thumbnail or social cover?
Use the custom width option and type the value the platform requires: 1280 pixels for a YouTube thumbnail, 1200 for a Facebook cover and 1080 for an Instagram post. Height is calculated automatically to keep the aspect ratio; if you need an exact crop, run it through the crop image tool first.
Why does sharpening after upscaling improve the result so much?
Every upscale calculates the new pixels by averaging neighbours, which softens edges and gives that stretched look. Sharpening re-emphasises exactly those contrast transitions, bringing back the sense of focus. Values between 1 and 3 work for most photos; above 5 you may see bright halos along the edges.
Continue with another tool
Sharpen Image
Enhance edges and detail in your photo
Resize Image
Adjust dimensions and aspect ratio
Image Compressor
Shrink the upscaled file size
Crop Image
Cut to the exact format you need
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