Format comparison
TIFF vs ICO
How do TIFF and ICOcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
.tiff
Full guide →Tagged Image File Format
TIFF is a flexible, high-quality image format widely used in publishing, photography, and archival. It supports lossless compression, multiple layers, and high bit depths, making it the standard for professional imaging.
.ico
Full guide →Icon File Format
ICO is the icon file format used by Windows for application icons and website favicons. It can contain multiple image sizes and color depths in a single file.
| Specification | TIFF | ICO |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tagged Image File Format | Icon File Format |
| Extension | .tiff | .ico |
| MIME type | image/tiff | image/x-icon |
| Category | Image | Image |
| Developer | Aldus Corporation (now Adobe) | Microsoft |
| Year introduced | 1986 | 1985 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
TIFF advantages
- Lossless quality — industry standard for print
- Supports layers, pages, and metadata
- High bit depth (up to 64-bit)
- Flexible compression options
TIFF limitations
- Very large file sizes
- Not supported in web browsers
- Complex format with many variations
- Slow to process compared to simpler formats
ICO advantages
- Multiple sizes in one file
- Standard for Windows icons and favicons
- Widely supported by all browsers
- Small file sizes
ICO limitations
- Limited to small image dimensions
- Primarily Windows-focused format
- Being replaced by PNG favicons in modern web
- Complex internal structure for a simple purpose
Which should you use?
Both TIFF and ICO have their strengths. TIFF excels at professional photography and print production, while ICO is better for website favicons.
Best uses for TIFF
Professional photography and print production
Medical and scientific imaging
Document archival and scanning
GIS and satellite imagery
Best uses for ICO
Website favicons
Windows application icons
Desktop shortcuts
Taskbar and system tray icons
Convert between TIFF and ICO
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.