SizeSpec

How to crop a photo into a circle

Updated · 2 min read

Short answer

In PowerPoint or Word, crop the picture to a 1:1 square, then use Crop to Shape > Oval. In Canva, drag the photo into a circle frame. To keep the corners transparent, save the result as a PNG, not a JPEG.

PowerPoint and Word

  1. 01Click the picture, then open Picture Format.
  2. 02Click the arrow under Crop, choose Aspect Ratio, then 1:1. This makes the frame a square.
  3. 03Drag the picture inside the frame until the subject is where you want it, then press Esc.
  4. 04Click the arrow under Crop again, choose Crop to Shape, then pick the Oval. Because the frame is square, the oval is a circle.

Google Slides

Click the picture and use the crop handles to make it a square first. Then click the arrow next to the crop icon (Mask image), choose Shapes and pick the oval. A mask on a picture that is not square gives an oval, not a circle.

Canva

Open Elements, search for circle frame, add it to your design, and drag your photo into the frame. Drag the photo inside the frame to reposition it.

Save it with transparent corners

A circle sits inside a rectangular picture. A JPEG cannot hold transparency, so the corners turn white. Save as a PNG to keep them clear. In PowerPoint or Word, right-click the circle and choose Save as Picture, then pick PNG.

On an iPhone

The iPhone Photos app crops to rectangles only, with no circle. Use a design app such as Canva, or crop to a square on the phone and let the website or app round the corners. Profile picture fields usually add the circle mask for you, so upload a square.

Circle crops suit avatars and logos. Marketplace listing photos should stay rectangular, usually square. See how to crop a photo to a square.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my circle crop come out as an oval?
The picture was not square when you applied the shape. Crop it to 1:1 first, then apply the oval.
How do I get a transparent background around a circle photo?
Save the picture as a PNG. JPEG fills the corners with a solid colour.
Can I crop a photo into a circle for free online?
Yes, several free tools do it in the browser. Check that the tool does not upload your photos if they are private.

Selling online? Do a whole batch at once

SizeSpec crops and resizes a batch of product photos to the size each marketplace asks for and gives you one ZIP. It crops from the centre or pads the image on white, and it works in your browser, so your files are never uploaded. It does not offer free-hand cropping of a single picture.

Try it free

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