Platforms6 min read·Updated

Speed Up Squarespace with WebP Images

Squarespace compresses images on its CDN, but photographers still upload 20 MP camera files. The template then serves derivatives that start from those giants. Convert to WebP at 1600–2000 px first and most Squarespace sites drop 40–70% of image bytes.

Will Squarespace display WebP?

Yes, modern Squarespace 7.1 sites serve WebP to supporting browsers when you upload a compatible file, and they generate smaller formats from JPEG/PNG too. Pre-converting still wins because you control quality and maximum width instead of hoping the platform guesses.

Why it matters

  • Portfolio and gallery pages load 12–30 large images at once.
  • Blog list pages reuse cover images at thumbnail size but still inherit a huge original.
  • There is no official bulk optimiser inside Squarespace.

How to do it

  1. Download current images from the Asset Library if you are remastering an existing site.
  2. Bulk convert with max width 2000 px (galleries) or 1400 px (blog covers).
  3. Re-upload and replace each block image. Squarespace keeps layout; only the file changes.
  4. Re-test a gallery page on mobile PageSpeed, not the logo-only home page.

Settings that work

Quality 80 for photography. If you sell prints, keep a separate full-resolution original offline — the website never needs it.

Common mistakes

  • Uploading WebP and also leaving the RAW-derived JPEG in the same gallery.
  • Using a third-party 'optimisation' embed that loads another script.
Convert a batch in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Open the converter

Put it into practice

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

Open the converter

Frequently asked questions

Yes on 7.1. If an older template rejects the file, convert to a high-quality JPEG as a fallback, but try WebP first.

No. Keep print masters in Lightroom. The website copy should be web-sized WebP only.

Convert the files in the browser in batches of 100, then replace them in the gallery. Squarespace has no folder-level replace.

Keep reading

Workflow6 min read

Portfolio photos to WebP

How photographers can convert portfolio JPEGs to WebP without flattening grain or killing blacks.

Read more
Tutorial5 min read

Bulk convert to WebP

The fastest way to batch convert hundreds of PNG and JPG images to WebP: drag, drop, set quality once, download a ZIP. Private, browser-based, no command line.

Read more
Performance6 min read

Good image file size

Target KB sizes for heroes, content photos and thumbnails, and how to hit them with WebP.

Read more