BMP to GIF Converter

Convert BMP to GIF and shrink bitmap files — free, batch, in your browser.

Images

Want an animated GIF from several pictures? Use the GIF Maker.

About

About the BMP to GIF Converter

Convert BMP bitmap images into GIF files that are a fraction of the size. Screenshots, Paint drawings and icons in BMP keep every pixel, and you can convert a batch at once.

BMP is the plain bitmap format Windows has used since the beginning. It usually stores every pixel with no compression at all, so a 1920×1080 BMP weighs about 6 MB. GIF stores the same picture with lossless compression, and for screenshots, Paint drawings, diagrams and icons — images with large areas of flat colour — the GIF is often well under a tenth of that size. As long as the BMP uses 256 colours or fewer, the conversion is pixel-perfect; older 8-bit and 4-bit BMPs always do. Photos saved as BMP have far more colours and are mapped to the best 256-colour palette. Most BMP files have no transparency. Everything is done in your browser.

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Guide

Using the BMP to GIF Converter

  1. 1

    Step 1

    Drop your .bmp files into the box, or click to pick them.

  2. 2

    Step 2

    Click "Convert to GIF".

  3. 3

    Step 3

    Download each result with its own button.

  • Turns uncompressed BMP files into compact, lossless GIFs
  • Pixel-perfect for BMPs with 256 colours or fewer, including old 8-bit and 4-bit bitmaps
  • Shows the before and after file sizes so you see the saving
  • Keeps each bitmap's original width and height
  • Batch conversion with a Download button for each file
  • Runs in your browser — nothing is uploaded

Old Paint drawings

Drawings saved from Microsoft Paint as BMP become small GIFs that open in any browser.

Screenshots from older tools

Screenshot tools that save BMP produce huge files; as GIFs they are small enough to email or post.

Legacy software assets

Developers convert BMP icons and sprites from older programs into GIFs for documentation or the web.

Freeing disk space

Converting a folder of BMP graphics to lossless GIF saves space without changing a pixel.

More GIF conversions

Any image to GIF PNG to GIF JPG to GIF WebP to GIF HEIC to GIF SVG to GIF AVIF to GIF TIFF to GIF Animated GIF from several images

Examples

BMP to GIF Converter examples

3 worked examples

01

Screenshot BMP

A 1920×1080 screen.bmp of about 6 MB converts at full size to a screen.gif a small fraction of that size.

02

Paint drawing

A 800×600 drawing.bmp made in Paint becomes drawing.gif with every pixel unchanged.

03

Old 8-bit icon

A 64×64 8-bit icon.bmp converts to a 64×64 icon.gif with its 256-colour palette kept exactly.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to common questions about the BMP to GIF Converter.

How do I convert BMP to GIF?

Add your BMP files above, click "Convert to GIF" and download each GIF.

Why is a BMP file so large?

Most BMP files store every pixel without compression. A 1920×1080 image at 24 bits per pixel is about 6 MB no matter what it shows.

How much smaller will the GIF be?

For screenshots, drawings and diagrams the GIF is usually many times smaller, because GIF compresses flat colours well. Photos shrink less. Both file sizes are shown after converting.

Is BMP to GIF lossless?

Yes, for any BMP with 256 colours or fewer, including all 8-bit and 4-bit BMPs. A full-colour photo BMP is reduced to 256 colours.

Will a photo saved as BMP look the same?

Close, but a photo has far more than 256 colours, so subtle shades are simplified and gradients can show bands. For photos, the Image Converter can turn a BMP into a JPG instead.

Does it keep transparency in a BMP?

Most BMPs have no transparency. If yours is a 32-bit BMP whose alpha channel your browser reads, transparent pixels are kept as clear in the GIF.

Can I convert many BMP files at once?

Yes. Add as many as you like; each is converted in turn and gets its own Download button.

Should I use GIF or PNG for my BMP?

Both are lossless. PNG keeps all colours and partial transparency, while GIF is limited to 256 colours but is accepted by even older software. Use the Image Converter for BMP to PNG.

Are my BMP files uploaded?

No. Each file is read and converted in your browser.

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