How do I compress AVI files?

Run "npx optimo video.avi" to compress AVI with lossless optimization. For stronger compression, add --lossy. For size reduction through resizing, add --resize followed by a percentage, dimensions, or target file size.

What is the best way to reduce AVI file size?

The two biggest levers are resizing (reducing dimensions to match display size) and lossy compression. Resizing usually has a larger impact than codec-level compression. Sometimes converting to a more efficient format is the best approach.

Compress AVI files

AVI is a legacy container. The best way to “compress AVI” is usually converting it to MP4/WebM with modern codecs.

Last updated: 2026-03-18

To compress AVI files, run npx optimo video.avi. Optimo applies FFmpeg-powered compression by default. For stronger reduction, use --lossy or --resize to shrink dimensions — often the single biggest lever for file size.

Start with optimo

First, run optimo on your video file:

npx optimo video.avi

This is safe: optimo keeps the original if the output isn't smaller.

Two big levers

1) Lossy mode

npx optimo video.avi --lossy

2) Resize (dimensions)

npx optimo video.avi --resize w1280

Practical tips

Convert AVI to MP4 for compatibility and typically smaller files.
Resize down if the source is larger than your playback needs.
Mute if audio is unnecessary to save bytes and simplify autoplay.

Optimize AVI Resize AVI AVI format guide

Consider converting

Sometimes the best compression is picking a better delivery format.

AVI → MP4 AVI → WebM AVI → MOV AVI → MKV AVI → OGV

Popular conversions

Convert AVI to MP4 Convert AVI to WebM Convert MP4 to AVI Convert MOV to AVI Convert MKV to AVI Convert AVI to MOV Convert AVI to MKV

Frequently asked questions

How do I compress AVI files?: Run "npx optimo video.avi" to compress AVI with lossless optimization. For stronger compression, add --lossy. For size reduction through resizing, add --resize followed by a percentage, dimensions, or target file size.
What is the best way to reduce AVI file size?: The two biggest levers are resizing (reducing dimensions to match display size) and lossy compression. Resizing usually has a larger impact than codec-level compression. Sometimes converting to a more efficient format is the best approach.