How to Resize an Image in GIMP

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a powerful free alternative to Photoshop. Here's how to resize images in GIMP.

Resize image in GIMP (step-by-step)

1. Open GIMP and load your image: File → Open or press Ctrl+O (Cmd+O on Mac).
2. Go to Image → Scale Image in the menu bar.
3. In the Scale Image dialog, you'll see Width and Height fields with a chain link icon between them.
4. Click the chain link to lock aspect ratio (recommended).
5. Enter your desired width or height. The other dimension will adjust automatically.
6. Choose your interpolation method: Cubic or Lanczos for best quality when downscaling.
7. Click Scale to apply the changes.
8. Save your resized image: File → Export As (not Save, which saves in GIMP's native format).

Resize canvas vs. scale image

GIMP offers two resize options:

• Scale Image (Image → Scale Image): Resizes the actual image content. Use this for resizing photos.
• Canvas Size (Image → Canvas Size): Changes the canvas size without scaling the image. Use this to add borders or crop areas.

Free alternative for bulk resizing

Need to resize multiple images quickly? Use our free Bulk Image Resizer tool:

1. Upload up to 50 images at once.
2. Set your desired dimensions.
3. Download all resized images as a ZIP file.

Perfect for batch processing without opening each image in GIMP individually.

Try it online (free)

• Bulk Image Resizer - Resize multiple images at once
• Resize Image for Instagram - Optimize for Instagram
• Resize Image for Facebook - Perfect Facebook dimensions
• Change image background

Tips for resizing in GIMP

• Use Lanczos interpolation for best quality when downscaling.
• Use Cubic interpolation for upscaling (though quality loss is inevitable).
• For print, set resolution to 300 DPI in the Scale Image dialog.
• For web, 72-150 DPI is sufficient.
• Always work on a copy of your original image to preserve the source file.
• Use View → Zoom → Fit Image in Window to see the full resized image.

FAQ