Which uploads allow 250 KB?
| Form | Specification |
|---|---|
| Portals accepting document scans | Often 200–300 KB, because scanned text needs the headroom |
| Higher-resolution marketplace uploads | Well within every marketplace cap |
| Forms stating a 250 KB maximum | Photo and scanned document treated the same |
What is this size used for?
- Scanned documents, where text has to stay readable after compression
- Portals that set one limit for both photographs and document scans
- Trimming a large original down without touching its dimensions
How much changes at 250 KB?
Straight off the phone
6.4 MB
3500 × 4600, phone document scan
After one pass
247 KB
2000 × 2667 · JPEG quality 84
The dimensions barely move at this target — 3000 pixels wide becomes 2000, and quality stays at 84. That is the difference between this rung and the exam-photo ones: here you are shaving an oversized file, not reconstructing a photograph inside a tiny budget.
Why do scans get more room than photos?
Because scanned text needs more room than a face does. A photograph can lose fine detail and still read correctly; a scanned document cannot, because the reader has to make out individual characters and JPEG artefacts around thin black strokes make them ambiguous. Portals that accept both photographs and scans behind one upload field tend to set the limit for the scan, which is why 250 KB shows up where a photo-only form would have said 50.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 250 KB enough for a scanned document?
For a single A4 page of printed text, yes, provided you scan at 200 to 300 DPI and save as JPEG. What causes trouble is scanning at 600 DPI and then compressing hard to fit — better to scan at a sensible resolution in the first place than to throw the detail away afterwards.
Why is my photo already under 250 KB?
Because 250 KB is generous for a single photograph. If your file is already smaller, nothing needs doing — do not pad a file up to meet a limit, and do not re-compress an already small JPEG, which only degrades it further.
Does compressing to 250 KB reduce my image dimensions?
Usually only slightly. At this target the tool can reach the size by lowering JPEG quality alone on most photographs, so the pixel dimensions are largely preserved — which is the opposite of what happens at 20 or 30 KB.
Should I use 250 KB or 500 KB?
If the form caps at 250, use 250. If it caps higher and the file is already under 500 KB, leave it alone. Compressing a file that already fits gains nothing and loses a little quality every time.
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. Compression runs in your browser via the Canvas API and the file never leaves your device.