UtilibyWritten by the Utiliby editorial team · Last updated October 13, 2026 · Rules and formulas reviewed October 2026
What this free image splitter does
Sometimes one picture has to become several: a giant 3 × 3 mosaic on an Instagram profile, a panorama that swipes across a carousel, a poster printed on several sheets, a long screenshot cut into readable parts, or a sprite sheet divided into frames. This free online image splitter cuts a picture into equal tiles and gives you every piece in one ZIP.
You can split by rows and columns or by a tile size in pixels, preview the cut lines and tile numbers on the picture, number the tiles in Instagram posting order, and save PNG, JPG or WebP. The image is never uploaded, there is no sign-up and no watermark.
How to split an image in four steps
- Add your image. Drop a JPG, PNG or WebP onto the drop area or click to choose it.
- Choose the grid. Press a quick layout such as Instagram 3 × 3, or set the columns and rows yourself. Or switch to a tile size in pixels.
- Check the preview. The white lines show where the picture will be cut and the numbers show the tile order.
- Download. Press Download all tiles for a ZIP, or click a thumbnail to save one tile.
Making an Instagram grid or carousel
For a profile grid, cut one picture into a 3 × 1, 3 × 2 or 3 × 3 block. Instagram shows posts newest first, with three in each row, so you post the tiles from the bottom right to the top left. Turn on the Instagram numbering option and post the tiles in the order of their numbers, starting at 1.
For a carousel, split a wide picture into columns, such as 3 × 1, and add the tiles as slides in order from left to right. The picture then flows across the slides as the viewer swipes. Aspect ratios and the profile grid shape on social apps change from time to time, so check the current guidance before you plan a layout.
Common grids and sizes
| Use | Grid | Source size for 1080 px tiles |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram carousel panorama | 3 across, 1 down | 3240 × 1080 px |
| Instagram profile grid | 3 across, 2 down | 3240 × 2160 px |
| Instagram 3 × 3 mosaic | 3 across, 3 down | 3240 × 3240 px |
| Before and after pair | 2 across, 1 down | 2160 × 1080 px |
| Poster on four sheets | 2 across, 2 down | Any large picture |
| Long screenshot in parts | 1 across, 3 down | Any tall picture |
A source picture that is larger than the numbers above works too. The tiles are cut from the full-size picture, so they stay sharp.
Tips for a good split
- Start big: use the largest version of the picture so each tile stays sharp.
- Mind the cut lines: avoid faces and text on a line. Move the subject in your editor first if needed.
- Crop to square for grids: the square option gives equal tiles for 3 × 3 mosaics.
- Check the order: a wrong posting order breaks the picture on a profile.
- Use PNG for graphics: text and flat colors stay clean. Use JPG for photos.
Uneven sizes and rounding
When the width does not divide exactly by the number of columns, the cut lines fall on whole pixels, so some tiles are one pixel wider than others. Together they cover the picture with no gap and no overlap. In tile size mode the tiles on the right and bottom edges can be smaller than the rest, because they hold whatever is left. The summary tells you the typical tile size.
Splitting for printing
To print a large poster on several sheets of paper, split the picture into a grid that matches the number of sheets, for example 2 × 2 for four sheets. Print each tile at 100% on its sheet, then trim the margins and tape the pieces together. Printers leave a blank margin around each page, so allow some overlap or plan to trim, and test with one tile first.
Troubleshooting
- The tiles are not square: tick Crop the image so every tile is square, or choose the same number of rows and columns for a square picture.
- Too many tiles: the limit is 400. Use larger tiles or fewer rows and columns.
- The ZIP is large: save as JPG or WebP at a lower quality.
- The picture will not open: HEIC opens only in Safari. Try another format.
- A phone runs out of memory: use a smaller picture.
Image splitter or an editor's slice tool?
Design programs have slice and guide tools, and some social media planners offer grid cutting, but they usually need an account, a download or a paid plan. A browser splitter does the single job people actually need: choose the grid, check the lines and download all pieces together. It works on any device with a modern browser, and your picture is not sent to a server.
Cutting in an editor still wins when you need uneven cuts, such as one wide tile and two narrow ones, or when you want to nudge each cut line by hand. This tool makes equal tiles, which covers carousels, mosaics, posters and screenshots in parts. If you need uneven pieces, split first and then crop individual tiles with the Image Cropper.
Remember that the quality of each tile depends on the source. A 3 × 3 grid cut from a small picture gives small tiles. Use the largest version of the picture you have, and save as PNG if the picture contains text or flat graphics.
Privacy and how it works
Your browser opens the picture and draws it onto a canvas. For each tile, the tool copies the matching area to a new canvas and saves it. Nothing is uploaded, stored or logged. The saved tiles have no EXIF metadata.
Frequently asked questions
How do I split an image into equal parts online?
Add your picture, choose the number of columns and rows, and check the lines on the preview. Then press Download all tiles to get a ZIP, or click a thumbnail to save one tile. It all runs in your browser.
How do I make a 3 x 3 Instagram grid?
Press the Instagram 3 × 3 button, tick Crop the image so every tile is square if you want square tiles, and download the ZIP. Post tile 1 first, then 2, and so on, so the pieces line up on your profile.
In what order should I post the tiles?
Instagram shows the newest post at the top left, so post the tile from the bottom right first and finish with the top left. The Instagram numbering option labels the tiles in this order, starting at 1 for the first post.
Is my image uploaded anywhere?
No. Your browser cuts the picture on your own device. Nothing is sent to Utiliby or to any other server.
Can I split by a tile size in pixels?
Yes. Choose Tile size in pixels and enter a width and height. The tool makes as many tiles as needed to cover the picture, and tiles on the right and bottom edges may be smaller.
What size are the tiles?
The summary shows the tile size. In grid mode each tile is the picture size divided by the number of columns and rows. If the numbers do not divide evenly, a few tiles are a pixel larger.
Why do I need to crop the picture to square?
A 3 × 3 grid cut from a landscape photo makes wide tiles. Cropping to the largest centered area with equal cells gives square tiles. Choose this only if you want the tiles to be square.
What are good sizes for an Instagram grid?
A common choice is a picture 3240 pixels wide and 3240 pixels high for a square 3 × 3 grid, which gives 1080 × 1080 tiles. Instagram updates its sizes and profile layout over time, so check its current guidance.
Can I split an image into two halves?
Yes. Press 2 across for a left and right half, or 1 across, 2 down for a top and bottom half. Use any other count in the Columns and Rows fields.
Which file formats can I save?
You can save PNG, JPG or WebP. PNG keeps full quality. JPG and WebP have a quality slider and give smaller files.
Does splitting reduce the quality?
Not with PNG. With JPG or WebP each tile is compressed again, so use a quality of 90 or higher for the best results.
What is the largest number of tiles?
The tool allows up to 400 tiles at a time, which keeps your browser responsive. For more, use fewer rows or columns or a larger tile size.
Can I split a panorama for a carousel?
Yes. Choose 3 across and 1 down, or any number of columns, and post the tiles as a swipeable carousel. Each tile has the same height, so the pieces line up when swiped.
Can I put the tiles back together?
You can place them side by side in order in any editor. If you only need to join pictures, use a collage or merge tool. The tile files are not changed.
Does it work on phones?
Yes. Very large pictures may use a lot of memory on older phones. If an image does not open, try a smaller version.
Do the tiles keep camera and location data?
No. Each tile is drawn fresh and saved without EXIF metadata, so camera details and GPS location are not included.
What can I print or save from the page?
Print / save summary gives a page with the grid settings and a preview. Copy summary copies the settings as text. The tile files are the main download.
Sources and further reading
- MDN Web Docs, Canvas API and the drawImage method, for how browsers cut and draw parts of an image.
- Instagram Help Center, photo and carousel size guidance, for supported ratios and sizes.
- MDN Web Docs, Image file type and format guide, for PNG, JPEG and WebP.
- ZIP file format specification (PKWARE APPNOTE), for how tiles are bundled.
Sources were consulted in October 2026. Standards and rules can change, so always check the official page for your situation.