SEO6 min read·Updated

Do WebP Images Rank Better in Google?

Google does not give a 'WebP bonus'. It measures page experience, including LCP. WebP helps SEO when it makes the LCP image and the rest of the page lighter. If you convert and the page is still blocked by 800 KB of JS, rankings will not move.

Format is a means

Think of WebP as a compression choice, like gzip for HTML. The ranking system sees speed and usefulness, not the letters W-E-B-P.

Why it matters

  • People quote 'Google recommends next-gen formats' — that is Lighthouse, which feeds performance, which feeds experience.
  • A slow WebP (too many pixels) does not help.
  • Relevance still wins over a 50 KB thumbnail.

How to do it

  1. Convert images that are actually in templates that get traffic.
  2. Measure LCP before/after on mobile.
  3. Keep writing good pages. WebP is hygiene.

Settings that work

Prioritise LCP and listing-page images, not a forgotten 2014 archive.

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Put it into practice

Convert your images to WebP right now, free and privately in your browser.

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Frequently asked questions

Unlikely overnight. It removes a penalty-like drag when images were the bottleneck.

Only if it is faster in practice. WebP is enough for the next-gen audit.

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