How to Optimize SVG Files: Reduce Size by 30-70%
SVG files can be surprisingly large if not optimized. Here's how to shrink them by 30-70% without losing quality.
Why Optimize SVG?
Unoptimized SVG: 150KB Optimized SVG: 45KB Savings: 70%, 3x faster loading
Every KB matters for:
- Page load speed (SEO ranking factor)
- Mobile users (data costs)
- Performance scores (Lighthouse)
Quick Optimization Wins
1. Remove Editor Metadata
Design tools add hidden data:
<!-- Adobe Illustrator exports -->
<metadata>...</metadata>
<sodipodi>...</sodipodi>
Safe to delete. Can save 20-40% immediately.
2. Simplify Precision
Don't need 6 decimal places:
Before: M 123.456789,456.123456
After: M 123.5,456.1
Reduces file size with no visual difference.
3. Remove Whitespace
Minify the code:
Before:
<svg>
<circle cx="50" cy="50" r="40" />
</svg>
After:
<svg><circle cx="50" cy="50" r="40"/></svg>
4. Use Shorthand
<!-- Long form -->
<path fill="#000000" />
<!-- Shorthand -->
<path fill="#000"/>
Optimization Tools
SVGO (Best, Free)
Command line tool:
npm install -g svgo
svgo input.svg -o output.svg
Typical savings: 40-60%
SVGOMG (Web Interface)
- Upload SVG
- Toggle optimization options
- Download optimized version
URL: jakearchibald.github.io/svgomg
Figma/Illustrator Export Settings
- "Decimal places: 1"
- "Minify"
- "Remove invisible elements"
- "Merge paths"
Advanced Techniques
Use <use> for Repeated Elements
Before (50KB):
<circle cx="10" cy="10" r="5"/>
<circle cx="20" cy="20" r="5"/>
<circle cx="30" cy="30" r="5"/>
After (15KB):
<defs>
<circle id="dot" r="5"/>
</defs>
<use href="#dot" x="10" y="10"/>
<use href="#dot" x="20" y="20"/>
<use href="#dot" x="30" y="30"/>
Combine Paths
Multiple paths → One path when possible
Reduces nodes and file size.
Remove Invisible Elements
- Shapes outside viewBox
- 0% opacity elements
- Hidden groups
What NOT to Optimize
⚠️ Don't sacrifice:
- IDs you're using in CSS/JS
- Accessibility attributes (aria-*, role)
- Animation elements
- Semantic grouping you need
AI-Generated SVG Optimization
AI tools like SVG Genie typically output clean SVG already:
- No editor metadata
- Reasonable precision
- Minimal unnecessary elements
But you can still:
- Run through SVGO for extra 10-20% reduction
- Remove any unused defs
- Simplify if overly complex
Testing Optimization
Before optimizing:
- Note original file size
- Take screenshot of rendering
After optimizing:
- Compare file sizes
- Visual diff (should look identical)
- Test in browser
- Validate SVG syntax
Optimization Checklist
☑ Remove metadata and comments ☑ Reduce decimal precision ☑ Minify/remove whitespace ☑ Use shorthand properties ☑ Combine similar paths ☑ Remove invisible elements ☑ Test visual output ☑ Validate SVG
Real-World Impact
Example: Website with 10 logos/icons
Before optimization:
- 10 files @ 80KB each = 800KB
- Load time: 2-3 seconds on 4G
After optimization:
- 10 files @ 25KB each = 250KB
- Load time: 0.5-1 second
SEO impact: Measurable improvement in Lighthouse score
Key Takeaways
✅ Optimization can reduce SVG by 30-70% ✅ SVGO is best free tool ✅ Don't over-optimize (keep needed IDs) ✅ AI-generated SVGs often cleaner than exported ✅ Test visually after optimizing
Quick win: Run all your SVGs through SVGOMG before deployment.
Related: What is SVG | SVG vs PNG