Lazy-load images below the fold except largest contentful paint image.
- Lazy-load images below the fold except largest contentful paint image2 cited sources1 category
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Why this matters
Lazy loading delays off-screen images, speeding initial load and reducing resource use, but LCP images should load eagerly.
Hypothetical standard operating procedure
Adapt this example to your site, access, tools, and change process. It is our suggested procedure, informed by the sources below.
- Identify which images are above-the-fold including LCP.
- Add loading="lazy" attribute to images below the fold.
- Exclude hero or largest contentful paint images from lazy loading.
- Test speed improvements with PageSpeed Insights.
- Incorporate lazy-loading rules into CMS or asset pipeline.
Watch for
Lazy-loading hero or above-the-fold images causes delayed visual load and poor page speed signals.
Definition of done
Below-the-fold images have loading="lazy"; hero and LCP images load eagerly.
Sources & attribution
Original checklist wording and example SOP by Best SEO Checklist, using source-grounded AI assistance. Editorial contact: Ted Kubaitis, @tedkubaitis on Teams. Check current source guidance before implementation.