Sample BMP File Download — 1 MB to 5 MB or Any Size

Bitmap is the uncompressed native raster format of Windows GDI and many embedded display systems. Because every pixel is stored as raw bytes with no compression, a BMP file reveals the true relationship between image dimensions and file size that compressed formats hide. That makes it uniquely useful for testing embedded system display drivers, legacy imaging software, and any system where you need to reason precisely about pixel counts and memory footprint. Generate a valid Windows DIB BMP at any exact byte count here, in your browser.

Common BMP Image test sizes

Each preset is generated in your browser at exactly that many bytes (decimal: 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes). For any other size, use the generator above.

1 MB sample BMP Image file

A 1 MB uncompressed bitmap represents a modest-resolution image when stored as BMP — far fewer pixels than a 1 MB JPEG would encode. That predictable relationship between file size and pixel count makes BMP useful for validating image-processing code that reasons about pixel dimensions from file size. Valid Windows BITMAPINFOHEADER format, generated in your browser.

5 MB sample BMP Image file

Five megabytes of uncompressed BMP data is a screen-sized image at 24-bit color — the kind of file Windows GDI applications and embedded display drivers work with directly. Use it to test legacy imaging software, validate that your image processing pipeline does not silently skip BMP files, and check disk I/O performance with a large uncompressed raster. Valid DIB format, generated in your browser.

Common use cases for BMP Image test files

Testing legacy Windows imaging software and GDI-based display drivers
Validating embedded system display tooling that expects raw bitmap data
Stress-testing disk I/O with uncompressed raster files at large sizes
Checking image processing pipelines that must handle all common raster formats

Related formats

Sample File Generator — all 20 formats, any exact size, free in-browser download.

Frequently asked questions

What header format does the generated BMP use?

The file uses the standard Windows BITMAPINFOHEADER (40 bytes), which is the most compatible DIB variant. It is recognized by Microsoft Paint, GIMP, Photoshop, ImageMagick, and every Windows GDI application.

Will this BMP open in Microsoft Paint and GIMP?

Yes. Both applications use the BITMAPINFOHEADER format as their primary BMP target. Open it, inspect the pixel dimensions, and confirm your imaging code handles the file correctly.

Why is a BMP file so much larger than an equivalent JPEG?

BMP stores every pixel uncompressed. JPEG achieves 10:1 or better compression on photographic content. A 1 MB BMP represents far fewer pixels than a 1 MB JPEG — which is exactly why BMP is useful when you need to reason about raw pixel data without compression artifacts.

Download a Sample BMP File (Any Size)