Compress TAR Files
Reduce TAR file size while maintaining quality. Fast, free, and secure.
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✨ Key Benefits
- Compresses plain .tar into .tar.gz using gzip level 9 (maximum)
- Re-gzips existing .tar.gz/.tgz files at maximum level for extra savings
- No external tools required — file permissions and structure preserved
- Clear notice when the output extension changes from .tar to .tar.gz
- No watermarks, nothing to install
💡 Why Use This?
- Turn a plain .tar backup into a compact .tar.gz for storage or transfer
- Re-gzip a server backup that was archived at a fast, low compression level
- Shrink a source code or log archive before uploading it
- Reduce a deployment bundle before pushing it to a remote server
- Free up space on a backup server by re-compressing old .tar.gz files
How to Compress TAR Files
Upload File
Select or drag your TAR file to the upload area above.
Compress
Your file is automatically compressed to reduce size.
Download
Download your compressed file instantly.
What Is a TAR File?
TAR (Tape Archive) is the standard Unix and Linux way to bundle a directory tree into one file. It dates back to 1979 and does exactly one job: concatenate files and folders together, preserving permissions, ownership, and symlinks. Crucially, plain TAR does not compress anything — it's a container, not a compressor. That's why TAR is almost always paired with gzip, producing the familiar .tar.gz or .tgz you see in software releases and server backups.
Why a Plain .tar Never Shrinks on Its Own
If you've opened a .tar file and found it's exactly as large as the files you put in, that's expected — TAR intentionally adds no compression of its own. Compression only enters the picture when a second step, almost always gzip, is applied on top. This is the single most common point of confusion with the format, and it's why 'compressing a TAR' actually means something different from compressing a ZIP or 7Z.
How Our TAR Compressor Works
MiCompress applies gzip at its maximum setting (level 9) using Node's built-in zlib. If you upload a plain, uncompressed .tar, the output becomes a .tar.gz — that transformation from uncompressed to gzipped is the compression itself, and the file extension changes to reflect it. If you upload a file that's already gzipped (.tar.gz or .tgz), it's decompressed and re-gzipped at level 9, since many tools default to a faster, lower compression level to save time when the archive was first created.
When to Expect the Biggest Savings
The size drop you'll see depends entirely on your starting point.
- Plain, uncompressed .tar → the biggest jump, since gzip is being applied for the first time
- A .tar.gz or .tgz made at a fast/low gzip level → a real but smaller further reduction from re-gzipping at level 9
- A .tar.gz already created at maximum gzip level → little to no further savings
Lightning Fast
Cloud-powered processing delivers results in seconds, not minutes.
Bank-Level Security
256-bit SSL encryption. All files automatically deleted after 1 hour.
100% Free
No hidden costs, no registration required. Compress files instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a plain TAR file compress anything by itself?
No. TAR only bundles files together — it adds no compression of its own. Compression comes from a second step, almost always gzip, which is what our tool applies.
Why did my output file become .tar.gz instead of staying .tar?
Because gzip compression is what actually shrinks the archive, and a gzipped tar is conventionally named .tar.gz. That extension change is expected and is noted on your result.
I uploaded a .tar.gz — will it get smaller?
It depends on the gzip level it was created with. Many tools default to a fast, lower level to save time. Our compressor decompresses and re-gzips at level 9 (maximum), which recovers real savings if the original wasn't already at that level.
Will file permissions and ownership be preserved?
Yes. The TAR structure — file permissions, ownership metadata, and directory layout — is preserved exactly; only the outer gzip compression layer changes.
Is there a file size limit?
You can compress TAR, TAR.GZ, and TGZ files up to 100 MB for free.
What about .tar.bz2 or .tar.xz archives?
Those use bzip2 or xz compression instead of gzip and aren't supported yet — only .tar, .tar.gz, and .tgz can be uploaded.
Are my uploaded files kept private?
Yes. Uploads travel over a 256-bit SSL encrypted connection and every file is automatically deleted from our servers within one hour.
