# Find the Heaviest Posts by Content Size (WP-CLI)

> Adds a "wp heaviest-posts" command listing the posts and pages with the largest stored content, revisions excluded, to track down pasted base64 images or page builder bloat slowing the editor.

- Type: PHP
- Runs: Run everywhere
- Category: [Developer](https://wpide.com/library/category/developer/)
- Tags: wp-cli, database, performance
- Author: WPIDE Team
- Installs: 0
- Updated: 2026-10-28
- Page: https://wpide.com/library/cli-heaviest-posts/

## Code

```php
if ( ! defined( 'WP_CLI' ) || ! WP_CLI ) {
    return;
}

WP_CLI::add_command( 'heaviest-posts', function ( $args, $assoc_args ) {
    global $wpdb;

    $limit = max( 1, min( 200, (int) ( $assoc_args['limit'] ?? 15 ) ) );
    $rows  = $wpdb->get_results( $wpdb->prepare(
        "SELECT ID, post_type, post_status, post_title, LENGTH(post_content) AS bytes, post_content LIKE '%%data:image/%%' AS has_base64 FROM {$wpdb->posts}
        WHERE post_type NOT IN ('revision','attachment','nav_menu_item','customize_changeset') ORDER BY bytes DESC LIMIT %d",
        $limit
    ), ARRAY_A );

    foreach ( $rows as &$row ) {
        $row['size']       = size_format( (int) $row['bytes'], 1 );
        $row['base64_img'] = $row['has_base64'] ? 'yes' : 'no';
        unset( $row['bytes'], $row['has_base64'] );
    }

    WP_CLI\Utils\format_items( $assoc_args['format'] ?? 'table', $rows, array( 'ID', 'post_type', 'post_status', 'size', 'base64_img', 'post_title' ) );
}, array(
    'shortdesc' => 'Lists posts with the largest content.',
    'synopsis'  => array(
        array( 'type' => 'assoc', 'name' => 'limit', 'optional' => true, 'default' => 15 ),
        array( 'type' => 'assoc', 'name' => 'format', 'optional' => true, 'default' => 'table', 'options' => array( 'table', 'csv', 'json' ) ),
    ),
) );
```

## Notes

Example "wp heaviest-posts --limit=20 --format=csv".

## How to use it

Install the free WPIDE plugin (https://wordpress.org/plugins/wpide/), find "Find the Heaviest Posts by Content Size (WP-CLI)" in its snippet library and add it in one click; or create a new PHP snippet in WPIDE (or any code snippets plugin) and paste the code above. More snippets: https://wpide.com/library/