memegen

Image to Base64 Converter

Encode any image into a Base64 data URI right in your browser — free, instant, and private. Drop in a PNG, JPG, GIF, WebP, or SVG and copy a ready-to-paste data URI, CSS background, or HTML <img> tag. Your file is read locally and never leaves your device.

Updated June 2026

What a Base64 data URI is for

A data URI embeds an image directly inside your code as a long text string — `data:image/png;base64,…` — instead of pointing to a separate file. Because the bytes travel inline, the browser doesn't make a second network request to fetch the image, which is handy for tiny icons, email templates, single-file HTML, or inlining an asset into a CSS or JSON payload.

This tool passes your file through untouched: it reads the original bytes and Base64-encodes them, so the data URI is a faithful copy of exactly what you uploaded, with no re-compression.

When not to inline an image

Base64 encoding makes the data about 33% larger than the original file, and inlined images can't be cached separately by the browser — every page that contains the string re-downloads it. That makes data URIs a poor fit for large photos or images reused across many pages.

As a rule of thumb, inline only small assets (roughly a few KB — icons, sprites, simple logos). For anything bigger, a normal `<img src>` pointing at a real file will load faster and cache better.

Frequently asked questions

Does this tool upload my image anywhere?

No. The file is read locally with your browser's FileReader and encoded in-page — it is never sent to a server, so it's instant and completely private.

How do I use the Base64 string?

Pick a flavor and copy it. The Data URI tab gives the raw `data:…` string for an <img src> or JSON; the CSS tab wraps it in `background-image: url(...)`; the HTML tab gives a complete <img> tag. Paste it straight into your code.

Why is the Base64 string larger than my image file?

Base64 represents binary data using only text characters, which adds about 33% overhead. That's inherent to the encoding — the tool shows the encoded size so you can decide whether inlining is worth it.

Which image formats can I encode?

Any image your browser recognizes — PNG, JPG, GIF, WebP, AVIF, and SVG all work. The data URI keeps the original format and bytes; it doesn't convert between formats.

Should I inline large images as Base64?

Usually not. Inlined images add ~33% size and can't be cached separately, so each page reloads the whole string. Reserve data URIs for small assets like icons and logos; serve larger images as normal files.

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