How to Optimize SVG Files for Web Performance (2025)

Why SVG Optimization Matters

Unoptimized SVGs can be larger than PNGs. A 500KB SVG defeats the purpose of using vectors. Proper optimization can reduce file sizes by 50-80%.

Real Impact on Performance

| Metric | Unoptimized | Optimized | Improvement |
|--------|-------------|-----------|-------------|
| File size | 45 KB | 8 KB | 82% smaller |
| Parse time | 120ms | 25ms | 79% faster |
| LCP impact | +0.3s | +0.05s | 83% better |

The SVG Optimization Checklist

1. Remove Editor Metadata ✂️

Design tools add unnecessary data:

Before (Illustrator export):

     xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"
     x="0px" y="0px"
     viewBox="0 0 100 100"
     style="enable-background:new 0 0 100 100;"
     xml:space="preserve">

After (optimized):

Savings: 40-60% from metadata alone

2. Simplify Paths 📐

Reduce decimal precision:

Before:

After:

Savings: 20-40%

3. Merge Paths 🔗

Combine similar paths:

Before:

After:

Savings: 50-70%

4. Use CSS Instead of Attributes 🎨

Before:

After:

Savings: 10-30% (more with repeated elements)

5. Remove Hidden Elements 👻

Delete anything not visible:

Elements outside viewBox

Fully transparent shapes

Empty groups

Unused definitions

Best SVG Optimization Tools

1. SVGO (Best Overall)

Command-line tool, most configurable:

npx svgo input.svg -o output.svg

Typical savings: 50-80%

2. SVGOMG (Web Interface)

Online version of SVGO with visual preview:

jakearchibald.github.io/svgomg/

3. ImageOptim (Mac)

Drag-and-drop optimization:

Processes SVG, PNG, JPG

Lossless compression

4. VectoSolve (During Conversion)

SVGs from VectoSolve are pre-optimized:

Clean paths

Minimal code

No metadata

SVGO Configuration for Maximum Savings

// svgo.config.js
module.exports = {
  plugins: [
    'removeDoctype',
    'removeXMLProcInst',
    'removeComments',
    'removeMetadata',
    'removeEditorsNSData',
    'cleanupAttrs',
    'mergeStyles',
    'inlineStyles',
    'minifyStyles',
    'cleanupIds',
    'removeUselessDefs',
    'cleanupNumericValues',
    'convertColors',
    'removeUnknownsAndDefaults',
    'removeNonInheritableGroupAttrs',
    'removeUselessStrokeAndFill',
    'cleanupEnableBackground',
    'removeHiddenElems',
    'removeEmptyText',
    'convertShapeToPath',
    'convertEllipseToCircle',
    'moveGroupAttrsToElems',
    'collapseGroups',
    'convertPathData',
    'convertTransform',
    'removeEmptyAttrs',
    'removeEmptyContainers',
    'mergePaths',
    'removeUnusedNS',
    'sortDefsChildren',
    'removeTitle',
    'removeDesc'
  ]
};

Before/After Examples

Logo Optimization

| Stage | Size | Reduction |
|-------|------|-----------|
| Original (Illustrator) | 125 KB | - |
| Remove metadata | 52 KB | 58% |
| Simplify paths | 28 KB | 78% |
| Merge paths | 18 KB | 86% |
| Final (SVGO) | 12 KB | 90% |

Icon Set (50 icons)

| Stage | Total Size |
|-------|------------|
| Original | 450 KB |
| Optimized | 85 KB |
| Savings | 81% |

Advanced Techniques

1. Use SVG Sprites

Combine multiple icons into one file:

  ...
  ...

Benefits:

Single HTTP request

Browser caching

Smaller total size

2. GZIP Compression

SVGs compress exceptionally well:

| File | Original | Gzipped |
|------|----------|---------|
| Logo.svg | 12 KB | 3.2 KB |
| Icons.svg | 85 KB | 18 KB |

Configure server:

gzip on;
gzip_types image/svg+xml;

3. Lazy Loading

For below-fold SVGs:

Core Web Vitals Impact

Optimized SVGs directly improve:

LCP (Largest Contentful Paint)

Smaller files = faster load

Target: < 2.5 seconds

FID (First Input Delay)

Less parsing = faster interactivity

Target: < 100ms

CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift)

SVG with viewBox = stable dimensions

Target: < 0.1

Conclusion

SVG optimization is essential for web performance. A few minutes of optimization can reduce file sizes by 80% and significantly improve your Core Web Vitals scores.

Quick wins:

1. Run all SVGs through SVGO

2. Enable GZIP on your server

3. Use SVG sprites for icons

4. Use VectoSolve for pre-optimized conversions

Start optimizing: Convert and optimize your images with VectoSolve for instant, web-ready SVGs.