Image Blur

Apply Gaussian blur to images with an adjustable radius slider. Preview the result and download a PNG. Client-side.

Image Blur tool

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Example

Input: An 800 x 600 PNG, Blur Radius 5, Blur Method Gaussian Approximation

Result: An 800 x 600 PNG named <file>-blurred-r5.png in which hard edges fade into soft gradients

Three box-blur passes in each direction closely approximate a Gaussian blur. A larger radius averages more neighboring pixels.

  1. Upload an image to apply the blur effect to.
  2. Adjust the blur radius slider to control the intensity of the Gaussian blur.
  3. Optionally switch the Blur Method between the Gaussian approximation and a single-pass box blur.
  4. Click Reprocess to apply your settings and preview the blurred result.
  5. Download the blurred image as a PNG file.

How Gaussian Blur Softens an Image

Image Blur softens a whole picture with an adjustable blur radius from 1 to 50 pixels. Upload the image, set the radius, click Reprocess to see the effect, and download the result as a PNG.

Blur works by averaging each pixel with its neighbors. The radius sets how far that averaging reaches, so a bigger radius makes a softer image. The default method gives a Gaussian look using three passes of a fast box blur, a standard shortcut that runs quickly in the browser even on large photos. A single-pass box blur is also available. It is a little harsher and more even.

A radius of 2 to 5 pixels gently softens texture and noise. Around 10 to 20 pixels gives a dreamy background behind text, such as a hero banner or a slide. At 30 to 50 pixels only soft patches of color remain, which makes a good abstract backdrop. Try a few values, since the effect also depends on the image size. A 10 pixel blur looks much stronger on a small image than on a large one.

The tool blurs the whole image. It cannot blur just one area, such as a face or a license plate. Be careful about using blur to hide private details. A light blur can leave text readable, so for anything sensitive, cover the area with a solid box in an editor.

The PNG output keeps full quality but can be large. Convert it with the Image Compressor for a smaller JPEG or WebP. Images up to 20 MB are processed in your browser. For a muted background, try the Grayscale Converter too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Use 2 to 5 pixels for gentle softening, 10 to 20 for a background behind text, and 30 to 50 for an abstract wash of color. The radius works in image pixels, so large photos need a higher value to look as soft as small ones. Click Reprocess after each change to compare.
No. This tool always blurs the entire image. To blur one area, you need an editor with selection tools, or you can blur a copy here and combine the two in an editor. For hiding private details, a solid black box is safer than blur.
Not always. A light blur can leave the shapes of letters and numbers readable, and small blurred text can sometimes be guessed. For passwords, account numbers or addresses, cover the area with a solid box or crop it out before sharing the image.
A box blur gives equal weight to every neighboring pixel within the radius. A Gaussian blur gives more weight to closer pixels, which looks smoother and more natural. The default method here runs three box blur passes, which produces a very close match to a true Gaussian blur.

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