How to Convert an SVG Icon to PNG, JPG or PDF for Free
Turn an SVG icon into a PNG, JPG or PDF at any size without installing software, plus how to do it in Inkscape, Figma and Canva.
SVG is the best format for icons, but plenty of tools will not take it. Google Slides, most email editors, many social schedulers and some print services want a PNG, a JPG or a PDF. Converting is quick once you know which size to pick.
The fastest way: download the format you need
Every icon page on this site converts the icon for you, in your browser.
- Open the icon.
- Choose a color with the Colour box. Do this first, because image files cannot be recolored easily later.
- Choose a Size from 32 to 1024 pixels.
- Press PNG, JPG or PDF under the outline or solid version.
Nothing is uploaded. The file is made on your own device and saved straight away.
- PNG has a transparent background.
- JPG has a white background.
- PDF is a vector file, so the size setting does not matter. It stays sharp at any scale.
Which size should you pick?
A PNG or JPG has a fixed number of pixels. Too few and it looks blurry. Choose at least double the size it will appear at, so it holds up on high resolution screens.
- Buttons and lists on a website: 64
- Documents and slides: 256 or 512
- Social media graphics: 512 or 1024
- Small print items, such as labels: 1024, or use the PDF
For anything printed larger than a few centimeters, use the PDF or the SVG. A 1024 pixel image prints cleanly up to about 3.4 inches (8.5 cm) wide at 300 dpi.
Convert an SVG you already have
If your SVG came from somewhere else, these free tools do the job.
Inkscape
- Open the SVG in Inkscape.
- Go to File > Export.
- Choose PNG, set the width in pixels and click Export.
Inkscape can also save as PDF through File > Save As.
Figma
- Drag the SVG onto the canvas and select it.
- In the right panel, scroll to Export and click the plus sign.
- Choose PNG, JPG or PDF. For PNG, set the scale, for example 4x, to get a larger image.
- Click Export.
Canva
Upload the SVG, place it on a blank design sized to your needs, then use Share > Download and choose PNG, JPG or PDF. A transparent PNG background is a paid Canva feature.
Keep the SVG too
Save the original SVG next to the converted file. If you later need a different size or color, you can make a new export in seconds instead of stretching the old image.
Questions
Does converting SVG to PNG lose quality?
Not if you export large enough. The loss happens only when a small PNG is stretched afterwards.
Why does my JPG have a white box around the icon?
JPG cannot store transparency, so the empty area becomes white. Use PNG if the icon needs to sit on a colored background.
Is the PDF a real vector file?
Yes. The PDF contains the icon's shapes, not a picture of them, so a print shop can scale it to any size. There is more on choosing a format in SVG vs PNG vs JPG vs PDF.
Every icon on this site is free to download. If this guide helped, you can say thanks by buying a pack from the LinearAndLoom Etsy shop.
