The simplest way to resize an UIImage?

The simplest way is to set the frame of your UIImageView and set the contentMode to one of the resizing options.

Or you can use this utility method, if you actually need to resize an image:

+ (UIImage *)imageWithImage:(UIImage *)image scaledToSize:(CGSize)newSize {
    //UIGraphicsBeginImageContext(newSize);
    // In next line, pass 0.0 to use the current device's pixel scaling factor (and thus account for Retina resolution).
    // Pass 1.0 to force exact pixel size.
    UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(newSize, NO, 0.0);
    [image drawInRect:CGRectMake(0, 0, newSize.width, newSize.height)];
    UIImage *newImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext();    
    UIGraphicsEndImageContext();
    return newImage;
}

Example usage:

#import "MYUtil.h"
…
UIImage *myIcon = [MYUtil imageWithImage:myUIImageInstance scaledToSize:CGSizeMake(20, 20)];

Proper Swift 3.0 for iOS 10+ solution: Using ImageRenderer and closure syntax:

func imageWith(newSize: CGSize) -> UIImage {
    let image = UIGraphicsImageRenderer(size: newSize).image { _ in
        draw(in: CGRect(origin: .zero, size: newSize))
    }
        
    return image.withRenderingMode(renderingMode)
}

And here's the Objective-C version:

@implementation UIImage (ResizeCategory)
- (UIImage *)imageWithSize:(CGSize)newSize
{
    UIGraphicsImageRenderer *renderer = [[UIGraphicsImageRenderer alloc] initWithSize:newSize];
    UIImage *image = [renderer imageWithActions:^(UIGraphicsImageRendererContext*_Nonnull myContext) {
        [self drawInRect:(CGRect) {.origin = CGPointZero, .size = newSize}];
    }];
    return [image imageWithRenderingMode:self.renderingMode];
}
@end

Here's a Swift version of Paul Lynch's answer

func imageWithImage(image:UIImage, scaledToSize newSize:CGSize) -> UIImage{
    UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(newSize, false, 0.0);
    image.drawInRect(CGRectMake(0, 0, newSize.width, newSize.height))
    let newImage:UIImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()
    UIGraphicsEndImageContext()
    return newImage
}

And as an extension:

public extension UIImage {
    func copy(newSize: CGSize, retina: Bool = true) -> UIImage? {
        // In next line, pass 0 to use the current device's pixel scaling factor (and thus account for Retina resolution).
        // Pass 1 to force exact pixel size.
        UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(
            /* size: */ newSize,
            /* opaque: */ false,
            /* scale: */ retina ? 0 : 1
        )
        defer { UIGraphicsEndImageContext() }

        self.draw(in: CGRect(origin: .zero, size: newSize))
        return UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()
    }
}

A more compact version for Swift 4 and iOS 10+:

extension UIImage {
    func resized(to size: CGSize) -> UIImage {
        return UIGraphicsImageRenderer(size: size).image { _ in
            draw(in: CGRect(origin: .zero, size: size))
        }
    }
}

Usage:

let resizedImage = image.resized(to: CGSize(width: 50, height: 50))

Swift solution for Stretch Fill, Aspect Fill and Aspect Fit

extension UIImage {
    enum ContentMode {
        case contentFill
        case contentAspectFill
        case contentAspectFit
    }
    
    func resize(withSize size: CGSize, contentMode: ContentMode = .contentAspectFill) -> UIImage? {
        let aspectWidth = size.width / self.size.width
        let aspectHeight = size.height / self.size.height
        
        switch contentMode {
        case .contentFill:
            return resize(withSize: size)
        case .contentAspectFit:
            let aspectRatio = min(aspectWidth, aspectHeight)
            return resize(withSize: CGSize(width: self.size.width * aspectRatio, height: self.size.height * aspectRatio))
        case .contentAspectFill:
            let aspectRatio = max(aspectWidth, aspectHeight)
            return resize(withSize: CGSize(width: self.size.width * aspectRatio, height: self.size.height * aspectRatio))
        }
    }
    
    private func resize(withSize size: CGSize) -> UIImage? {
        UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(size, false, self.scale)
        defer { UIGraphicsEndImageContext() }
        draw(in: CGRect(x: 0.0, y: 0.0, width: size.width, height: size.height))
        return UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()
    }
}

and to use you can do the following:

let image = UIImage(named: "image.png")!
let newImage = image.resize(withSize: CGSize(width: 200, height: 150), contentMode: .contentAspectFill)

Thanks to abdullahselek for his original solution.

Trevor Howard has some UIImage categories that handle resize quite nicely. If nothing else you can use the code as examples.

Note: As of iOS 5.1, this answer maybe invalid. See comment below.

I've also seen this done as well (which I use on UIButtons for Normal and Selected state since buttons don't resize to fit). Credit goes to whoever the original author was.

First make an empty .h and .m file called UIImageResizing.h and UIImageResizing.m

// Put this in UIImageResizing.h
@interface UIImage (Resize)
- (UIImage*)scaleToSize:(CGSize)size;
@end

// Put this in UIImageResizing.m
@implementation UIImage (Resize)

- (UIImage*)scaleToSize:(CGSize)size {
UIGraphicsBeginImageContext(size);

CGContextRef context = UIGraphicsGetCurrentContext();
CGContextTranslateCTM(context, 0.0, size.height);
CGContextScaleCTM(context, 1.0, -1.0);

CGContextDrawImage(context, CGRectMake(0.0f, 0.0f, size.width, size.height), self.CGImage);

UIImage* scaledImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext();

UIGraphicsEndImageContext();

return scaledImage;
}

@end

Include that .h file in whatever .m file you're going to use the function in and then call it like this:

UIImage* image = [UIImage imageNamed:@"largeImage.png"];
UIImage* smallImage = [image scaleToSize:CGSizeMake(100.0f,100.0f)];

This improvement to Paul's code will give you a sharp high res image on an iPhone with a retina display. Otherwise when scaling down it's blurry.

+ (UIImage *)imageWithImage:(UIImage *)image scaledToSize:(CGSize)newSize {
if ([[UIScreen mainScreen] respondsToSelector:@selector(scale)]) {
    if ([[UIScreen mainScreen] scale] == 2.0) {
        UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(newSize, YES, 2.0);
    } else {
        UIGraphicsBeginImageContext(newSize);
    }
} else {
    UIGraphicsBeginImageContext(newSize);
}
[image drawInRect:CGRectMake(0, 0, newSize.width, newSize.height)];
UIImage *newImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext();    
UIGraphicsEndImageContext();
return newImage;
}

Here is a simple way:

    UIImage * image = [UIImage imageNamed:@"image"];
    CGSize sacleSize = CGSizeMake(10, 10);
    UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(sacleSize, NO, 0.0);
    [image drawInRect:CGRectMake(0, 0, sacleSize.width, sacleSize.height)];
    UIImage * resizedImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext();
    UIGraphicsEndImageContext();

resizedImage is a new image.

Here's a modification of the category written by iWasRobbed above. It keeps the aspect ratio of the original image instead of distorting it.

- (UIImage*)scaleToSizeKeepAspect:(CGSize)size {
    UIGraphicsBeginImageContext(size);

    CGFloat ws = size.width/self.size.width;
    CGFloat hs = size.height/self.size.height;

    if (ws > hs) {
        ws = hs/ws;
        hs = 1.0;
    } else {
        hs = ws/hs;
        ws = 1.0;
    }

    CGContextRef context = UIGraphicsGetCurrentContext();
    CGContextTranslateCTM(context, 0.0, size.height);
    CGContextScaleCTM(context, 1.0, -1.0);

    CGContextDrawImage(context, CGRectMake(size.width/2-(size.width*ws)/2,
        size.height/2-(size.height*hs)/2, size.width*ws,
        size.height*hs), self.CGImage);

    UIImage* scaledImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext();

    UIGraphicsEndImageContext();

    return scaledImage;
}

If you just want an image smaller and don't care about exact size:

+ (UIImage *)imageWithImage:(UIImage *)image scaledToScale:(CGFloat)scale
{
    UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(self.size, YES, scale);
    CGContextRef context = UIGraphicsGetCurrentContext();
    CGContextSetInterpolationQuality(context, kCGInterpolationHigh);
    [self drawInRect:CGRectMake(0, 0, self.size.width, self.size.height)];
    UIImage *newImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext();
    UIGraphicsEndImageContext();
    return newImage;
}

Setting scale to 0.25f will give you a 816 by 612 image from a 8MP camera.

Here's a category UIImage+Scale for those who needs one.

Why so complicated? I think using system API can achieve the same result:

UIImage *largeImage;
CGFloat ratio = 0.4; // you want to get a new image that is 40% the size of large image.
UIImage *newImage = [UIImage imageWithCGImage:largeImage.CGImage
                                        scale:1/ratio
                                  orientation:largeImage.imageOrientation];
// notice the second argument, it is 1/ratio, not ratio.

The only gotcha is you should pass inverse of target ratio as the second argument, as according to the document the second parameter specifies the ratio of original image compared to the new scaled one.

For Swift 5:

extension UIImage {
  func resized(to newSize: CGSize) -> UIImage? {
    UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(newSize, false, 0)
    defer { UIGraphicsEndImageContext() }

    draw(in: CGRect(origin: .zero, size: newSize))
    return UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()
  }
}

This is an UIImage extension compatible with Swift 3 and Swift 4 which scales image to given size with an aspect ratio

extension UIImage {

    func scaledImage(withSize size: CGSize) -> UIImage {
        UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(size, false, 0.0)
        defer { UIGraphicsEndImageContext() }
        draw(in: CGRect(x: 0.0, y: 0.0, width: size.width, height: size.height))
        return UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()!
    }

    func scaleImageToFitSize(size: CGSize) -> UIImage {
        let aspect = self.size.width / self.size.height
        if size.width / aspect <= size.height {
            return scaledImage(withSize: CGSize(width: size.width, height: size.width / aspect))
        } else {
            return scaledImage(withSize: CGSize(width: size.height * aspect, height: size.height))
        }
    }

}

Example usage

let image = UIImage(named: "apple")
let scaledImage = image.scaleImageToFitSize(size: CGSize(width: 45.0, height: 45.0))

I found a category for UIImage in Apple's own examples which does the same trick. Here's the link: https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/samplecode/sc2273/Listings/AirDropSample_UIImage_Resize_m.html.

You'll just have to change the call:

UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(newSize, YES, 2.0);

in imageWithImage:scaledToSize:inRect: with:

UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(newSize, NO, 2.0);

In order to consider the alpha channel in the image.

For my fellow Xamarians, here is a Xamarin.iOS C# version of @Paul Lynch answer.

private UIImage ResizeImage(UIImage image, CGSize newSize) 
{
    UIGraphics.BeginImageContextWithOptions(newSize, false, 0.0f);
    image.Draw(new CGRect(0, 0, newSize.Width, newSize.Height));
    UIImage newImage = UIGraphics.GetImageFromCurrentImageContext();
    UIGraphics.EndImageContext();
    return newImage;
}

 func resizeImage(image: UIImage, newWidth: CGFloat) -> UIImage 
{
        let scale = newWidth / image.size.width
        let newHeight = image.size.height * scale
        UIGraphicsBeginImageContext(CGSizeMake(newWidth, newHeight))
        image.drawInRect(CGRectMake(0, 0, newWidth, newHeight))
        let newImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()
        UIGraphicsEndImageContext()
        return newImage
}

If you want to make a thumbnail of a UIImage (with proportional resizing or maybe some cropping involved), check out UIImage+Resize category that allows you to use concise, ImageMagick-like syntax:

UIImage* squareImage       = [image resizedImageByMagick: @"320x320#"];

[cf Chris] To resize to a desired size:

UIImage *after = [UIImage imageWithCGImage:before.CGImage
                                     scale:CGImageGetHeight(before.CGImage)/DESIREDHEIGHT
                               orientation:UIImageOrientationUp];

or, equivalently, substitute CGImageGetWidth(...)/DESIREDWIDTH

Rogerio Chaves answer as a swift extension

func scaledTo(size: CGSize) -> UIImage{
    UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(size, false, 0.0);
    self.draw(in: CGRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: size.width, height: size.height))
    let newImage:UIImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()!
    UIGraphicsEndImageContext()
    return newImage
}

And also bonus

func scaledTo(height: CGFloat) -> UIImage{
    let width = height*self.size.width/self.size.height
    return scaledTo(size: CGSize(width: width, height: height))
}

Swift 3.0 with failsafe option (returns the original image in case of error):

func resize(image: UIImage, toSize size: CGSize) -> UIImage{
    UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(size,false,1.0)
    image.draw(in: CGRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: size.width, height: size.height))
    if let resizedImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext() {
        UIGraphicsEndImageContext()
        return resizedImage
    }
    UIGraphicsEndImageContext()
    return image
}

(Swift 4 compatible) iOS 10+ and iOS < 10 solution (using UIGraphicsImageRenderer if possible, UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext otherwise)

/// Resizes an image
///
/// - Parameter newSize: New size
/// - Returns: Resized image
func scaled(to newSize: CGSize) -> UIImage {
    let rect = CGRect(origin: .zero, size: newSize)

    if #available(iOS 10, *) {
        let renderer = UIGraphicsImageRenderer(size: newSize)
        return renderer.image { _ in
            self.draw(in: rect)
        }
    } else {
        UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(newSize, false, 0.0)
        self.draw(in: rect)
        let newImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()
        UIGraphicsEndImageContext()
        return newImage!
    }
}

Effective approach without stretching image Swift 4

// Method to resize image
func resize(image: UIImage, toScaleSize:CGSize) -> UIImage {
                UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(toScaleSize, true, image.scale)
                        image.draw(in: CGRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: toScaleSize.width, height: toScaleSize.height))
                        let scaledImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()
                        UIGraphicsEndImageContext()
                        return scaledImage!
                }

// Call method

    let resizedImage = self.resize(image: UIImage(named: "YourImageName")!, toScaleSize: CGSize(width: 290, height: 390))

When using iOS 15 or newer, you can use the new prepareThumbnail method of UIImage:

sourceImage.prepareThumbnail(of: thumbnailSize) { thumbnail in
    // Do something with the resized image
    DispatchQueue.main.async {
        cell.imageView?.image = thumbnail
    }
}

More info here: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/uikit/uiimage/3750845-preparethumbnail

@Paul Lynch's answer is great, but it would change the image ratio. if you don`t want to change the image ratio, and still want the new image fit for new size, try this.

+ (UIImage *)imageWithImage:(UIImage *)image scaledToSize:(CGSize)newSize {

// calculate a new size which ratio is same to original image
CGFloat ratioW = image.size.width / newSize.width;
CGFloat ratioH = image.size.height / newSize.height;

CGFloat ratio = image.size.width / image.size.height;

CGSize showSize = CGSizeZero;
if (ratioW > 1 && ratioH > 1) { 

    if (ratioW > ratioH) { 
        showSize.width = newSize.width;
        showSize.height = showSize.width / ratio;
    } else {
        showSize.height = newSize.height;
        showSize.width = showSize.height * ratio;
    }

} else if (ratioW > 1) {

    showSize.width = showSize.width;
    showSize.height = showSize.width / ratio;

} else if (ratioH > 1) {

    showSize.height = showSize.height;
    showSize.width = showSize.height * ratio;

}

//UIGraphicsBeginImageContext(newSize);
// In next line, pass 0.0 to use the current device's pixel scaling factor (and thus account for Retina resolution).
// Pass 1.0 to force exact pixel size.
UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(showSize, NO, 0.0);
[image drawInRect:CGRectMake(0, 0, showSize.width, showSize.height)];
UIImage *newImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext();
UIGraphicsEndImageContext();
return newImage;}

use this extension

extension UIImage {
    public func resize(size:CGSize, completionHandler:(resizedImage:UIImage, data:NSData?)->()) {
        dispatch_async(dispatch_get_global_queue(QOS_CLASS_USER_INITIATED, 0), { () -> Void in
            let newSize:CGSize = size
            let rect = CGRectMake(0, 0, newSize.width, newSize.height)
            UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(newSize, false, 1.0)
            self.drawInRect(rect)
            let newImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()
            UIGraphicsEndImageContext()
            let imageData = UIImageJPEGRepresentation(newImage, 0.5)
            dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue(), { () -> Void in
                completionHandler(resizedImage: newImage, data:imageData)
            })
        })
    }
}

Yet another way of resizing an UIImage:

// Resize to height = 100 points.
let originalImage = UIImage(named: "MyOriginalImage")!
let resizingFactor = 100 / originalImage.size.height
let newImage = UIImage(cgImage: originalImage.cgImage!, scale: originalImage.scale / resizingFactor, orientation: .up)

Swift 2.0 :

let image = UIImage(named: "imageName")
let newSize = CGSize(width: 10, height: 10)

UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(newSize, false, 0.0)
image?.drawInRect(CGRectMake(0, 0, newSize.width, newSize.height))
let imageResized = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()
UIGraphicsEndImageContext()

Here my somewhat-verbose Swift code

func scaleImage(image:UIImage,  toSize:CGSize) -> UIImage {
    UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(toSize, false, 0.0);

    let aspectRatioAwareSize = self.aspectRatioAwareSize(image.size, boxSize: toSize, useLetterBox: false)


    let leftMargin = (toSize.width - aspectRatioAwareSize.width) * 0.5
    let topMargin = (toSize.height - aspectRatioAwareSize.height) * 0.5


    image.drawInRect(CGRectMake(leftMargin, topMargin, aspectRatioAwareSize.width , aspectRatioAwareSize.height))
    let retVal = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()
    UIGraphicsEndImageContext()
    return retVal
}

func aspectRatioAwareSize(imageSize: CGSize, boxSize: CGSize, useLetterBox: Bool) -> CGSize {
    // aspect ratio aware size
    // http://stackoverflow.com/a/6565988/8047
    let imageWidth = imageSize.width
    let imageHeight = imageSize.height
    let containerWidth = boxSize.width
    let containerHeight = boxSize.height

    let imageAspectRatio = imageWidth/imageHeight
    let containerAspectRatio = containerWidth/containerHeight

    let retVal : CGSize
    // use the else at your own risk: it seems to work, but I don't know 
    // the math
    if (useLetterBox) {
        retVal = containerAspectRatio > imageAspectRatio ? CGSizeMake(imageWidth * containerHeight / imageHeight, containerHeight) : CGSizeMake(containerWidth, imageHeight * containerWidth / imageWidth)
    } else {
        retVal = containerAspectRatio < imageAspectRatio ? CGSizeMake(imageWidth * containerHeight / imageHeight, containerHeight) : CGSizeMake(containerWidth, imageHeight * containerWidth / imageWidth)
    }

    return retVal
}

Swift 4 answer:

func scaleDown(image: UIImage, withSize: CGSize) -> UIImage {
    let scale = UIScreen.main.scale
    UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(withSize, false, scale)
    image.draw(in: CGRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: withSize.width, height: withSize.height))
    let newImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()
    UIGraphicsEndImageContext()
    return newImage!
}