EXIF tag · IFD0

BitsPerSample

Number of bits per colour channel.

0x0102
Tag ID (258 decimal)
IFD0
IFD / group
int16u!
Data type
EXIF
Table

What BitsPerSample means#

Number of bits per colour channel.

Read, write and remove it#

# read
exiftool -BitsPerSample photo.jpg
# write
exiftool -BitsPerSample="…" photo.jpg
# remove
exiftool -BitsPerSample= photo.jpg
# all files in a folder, as CSV
exiftool -csv -BitsPerSample -r ./photos > bits-per-sample.csv

In Python with Pillow:

from PIL import Image
exif = Image.open("photo.jpg").getexif()
value = exif.get(0x0102)  # BitsPerSample
print(value)

Frequently asked questions#

What is the EXIF tag ID of BitsPerSample?

0x0102 (258 decimal), in the IFD0 directory.

How do I see BitsPerSample in a photo?

Run exiftool -BitsPerSample photo.jpg, or open the file's info panel in Lightroom, Photoshop, Windows (Properties → Details) or macOS Preview (Tools → Show Inspector).

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources