How to Convert HDR to EXR — Quick & Free
Fast, instant HDR to OPENEXR conversion. No signup required. Just drop your .hdr file and get .exr in seconds.
Batch Settings
About HDR to OPENEXR Conversion
Short answer: yes, you can convert HDR to EXR online for free, and quality is well preserved with the right settings. Just upload your .hdr file to CocoConvert, pick EXR as the output, and click Convert. The whole process takes seconds.
Now for the details. HDR (Radiance) is a high-dynamic-range image format used in lighting and rendering. EXR (OpenEXR) is a high-dynamic-range format used in VFX, film, and 3D rendering pipelines. Converting between these two formats lets you convert between formats quickly.
Full Name: HDR uses Radiance HDR Image, while EXR uses OpenEXR Image. Compression: HDR uses Lossless, while EXR uses Lossy & Lossless. Transparency: HDR uses No, while EXR uses Yes.
Your HDR file is decoded and re-encoded as EXR. Converting HDR to EXR maintains high quality with CocoConvert's optimised encoder settings.
CocoConvert runs entirely online — no software to install, no account to create. Your files are encrypted during upload (TLS), processed on isolated servers in Germany, and permanently deleted after 24 hours. It works in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, and all mobile browsers.
Need to convert more than one file? Free users can do 5 per hour. Pro gets 100 per hour with files up to 5 GB each.
How to Convert HDR to OPENEXR
- 1
1. Upload HDR
Drop your .hdr file onto the page (or tap "Browse" on mobile). Add multiple files for batch conversion.
- 2
2. Select EXR
Choose .exr from the output dropdown. Settings are pre-configured for best results.
- 3
3. Convert
One click. The server handles all the heavy lifting using FFmpeg and Sharp.
- 4
4. Download
Your .exr file is ready. Download it directly or get all files as a zip archive.
What Happens When You Convert HDR to OPENEXR
Your HDR image is decoded into raw pixel data, then re-encoded as EXR.
Your HDR file is decoded — the compressed/stored pixel data is expanded into raw RGB pixels
Pixels are re-encoded using OpenEXR Image's lossless compression
Metadata (EXIF, ICC profiles) is transferred where EXR supports it
The EXR file is saved and ready for download
HDR vs OPENEXR — Detailed Comparison
| Feature | .HDR | .EXR |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Radiance HDR Image | OpenEXR Image |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossy & Lossless |
| Transparency | No | Yes |
| Animation | No | No |
| Color Depth | 32-bit float (RGBE encoding) | 16 or 32 bits/channel (half/full float) |
| HDR Support | Yes | Yes |
| Typical File Size | 5–50 MB | 50–500 MB |
| Platform Support | Very Limited | Very Limited |
| Browser Support | none | none |
| Year Created | 1985 | 2003 |
| Open Standard | Yes | Yes |
Should You Convert HDR to OPENEXR?
When to Convert
- ✓When you specifically need a EXR file for your workflow
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HDR to EXR conversion free?
Yes. CocoConvert offers free HDR to EXR conversion with generous daily limits — 25 minutes of processing time and up to 5 files per hour (250 MB each). Pro plans remove these limits.
How fast is HDR to EXR conversion?
Most files convert in 2–10 seconds depending on size. Large image files may take 30 seconds. Batch jobs process in parallel for maximum speed.
What happens to my files after conversion?
Your uploaded HDR file and the converted EXR file are both automatically deleted from our servers within 24 hours. They are never shared, sold, or analysed.
Does converting HDR to EXR lose quality?
Converting HDR to EXR maintains high quality with CocoConvert's optimised encoder settings.
Can I convert EXR back to HDR?
Yes, CocoConvert supports EXR to HDR conversion as well. However, if the original conversion involved lossy compression, converting back won't recover the lost data.
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