What is the BMP format?
Windows' basic bitmap that stores pixels as they are, without compression
- MIME type
- image/bmp
- Extensions
- .bmp, .dib
- Introduced
- 1990
- Compression
- Uncompressed
- Transparency
- No
- Animation
- No
- Shown directly in browsers
- Yes
- On this site
- Read (input) · Save (output)
Overview
BMP is a bitmap format from Windows that mostly stores pixel values as they are, without compression. Its simple structure makes it easy for programs to read, but the files are so large that it is rarely used on the web.
For example, a 1920×1080 image saved as BMP is about 6MB, while the same image as JPG is a few hundred KB. Unless old equipment or software demands BMP, other formats are recommended.
History
BMP is the bitmap graphics format of Windows. It matured into the device-independent DIB format around Windows 3.0 (1990) and was the default format of Windows Paint for a long time.
Its simple structure makes it easy to read and write, but because it isn't compressed the files are large, and it gave way to JPG and PNG as the web spread.
Pros
- Simple structure with broad compatibility
- No decompression step needed
Cons
- Very large files
- Transparency support is inconsistent (saved as opaque here)
Best used for
- Input for legacy equipment and software
- Simple image-processing exercises
Compatibility
Opens on Windows and in most image viewers, and web browsers can display it too.
Convert BMP
Convert from BMP
Convert to BMP
BMP: frequently asked questions
+Which programs can open BMP files?
Opens on Windows and in most image viewers, and web browsers can display it too.
+Does BMP support transparent backgrounds?
No, BMP doesn't support transparency. Saving a transparent image in this format fills the transparent areas with a solid color.
+How do I convert BMP to another format?
Upload your BMP file to AnyPicToAnyPic and pick one of PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF, ICO, SVG. It is converted right in your browser and the file is never uploaded.
+How does BMP compare with JPG in file size?
For the same photo, BMP is roughly 12× the JPG size. It varies a lot with image content and quality settings, so check the actual size in the result screen.