Sharp as an AWS Lambda Layer (x86_64 and arm64)

Prebuilt Sharp AWS Lambda Layer for Node.js 18, 20, and 22. Optimized, bundled, and minified Sharp binaries for x86_64 and arm64 architectures. Improve cold starts with lightweight Sharp builds, ready for Serverless Framework, AWS SAM, and SST deployments.

About

A pre-built sharp AWS Lambda layer optimized for cold start performance.

• Supports x86_64 and arm64 architectures.
• Compatible with Node.js 18.x, 20.x, and 22.x runtimes.
• Automatically updated and tested using GitHub Actions.
• Bundled and minified with esbuild.
• Lightweight layer files (~7MB).

Features

• Separate builds for x64 and arm64.
• Daily checks designed to auto-release on new sharp versions.
• Optimized for cold starts on AWS Lambda.
• Ideal for use with AWS CDK, AWS SAM, SST and Serverless Framework.

Why Separate Builds?

Bundling dependencies and targeting the correct architecture reduces cold start latency dramatically. See Optimizing Node.js dependencies in AWS Lambda for more.

Download

Releases include:

• release-arm64.zip
• release-x64.zip
• release-all.zip

Each file contains a ready-to-use layer for deployment.

Usage

Basic Import

import sharp from 'sharp';

AWS Lambda Layer Setup

Check AWS Lambda Layers documentation.

Publishing a Layer (CLI Example)

aws lambda publish-layer-version \
  --layer-name sharp-lambda-x64 \
  --description "Sharp Layer for x86_64" \
  --license-info "Apache-2.0" \
  --zip-file fileb://release-x64.zip \
  --compatible-runtimes nodejs18.x nodejs20.x nodejs22.x \
  --compatible-architectures x86_64

aws lambda publish-layer-version \
  --layer-name sharp-lambda-arm64 \
  --description "Sharp Layer for arm64" \
  --license-info "Apache-2.0" \
  --zip-file fileb://release-arm64.zip \
  --compatible-runtimes nodejs18.x nodejs20.x nodejs22.x \
  --compatible-architectures arm64

AWS CDK Usage Example

import * as lambda from 'aws-cdk-lib/aws-lambda';
import { Stack, StackProps } from 'aws-cdk-lib';
import { Construct } from 'constructs';

export class MyLambdaStack extends Stack {
  constructor(scope: Construct, id: string, props?: StackProps) {
    super(scope, id, props);

    const sharpLayer = new lambda.LayerVersion(this, 'SharpLayer', {
      code: lambda.Code.fromAsset('layers/sharp'),
      compatibleArchitectures: [lambda.Architecture.ARM_64],
      compatibleRuntimes: [
        lambda.Runtime.NODEJS_18_X,
        lambda.Runtime.NODEJS_20_X,
        lambda.Runtime.NODEJS_22_X,
      ],
      description: 'Sharp Lambda Layer for ARM64',
      license: 'Apache-2.0',
    });

    const myFunction = new lambda.Function(this, 'MyFunction', {
      runtime: lambda.Runtime.NODEJS_20_X,
      handler: 'index.handler',
      code: lambda.Code.fromAsset('lambda-handler-directory'),
      architecture: lambda.Architecture.ARM_64,
      layers: [sharpLayer],
    });
  }
}

SST Usage Example

layers: [
  new lambda.LayerVersion(stack, "SharpLayer", {
    code: lambda.Code.fromAsset("layers/sharp"),
    compatibleArchitectures: [lambda.Architecture.ARM_64],
  })
]

Serverless Framework Usage Example

In your serverless.yml:

functions:
  myFunction:
    handler: handler.main
    runtime: nodejs20.x
    architecture: arm64
    layers:
      - arn:aws:lambda:us-west-2:123456789012:layer:sharp-v0-34-arm64:1

AWS SAM Usage Example

SharpLayer:
  Type: AWS::Serverless::LayerVersion
  Properties:
    LayerName: sharp
    ContentUri: layers/sharp/release-arm64.zip
    CompatibleArchitectures:
      - arm64
    CompatibleRuntimes:
      - nodejs18.x
      - nodejs20.x
      - nodejs22.x

Building (Optional)

Layers are built automatically by GitHub Actions when a new Sharp version is released.

If needed manually:

git clone https://github.com/cbschuld/sharp-aws-lambda-layer.git
cd sharp-aws-lambda-layer
# Follow the GitHub Actions workflows for build instructions.

License

Released under Apache 2.0 by @cbschuld.

References

• Sharp Installation Guide
• AWS Lambda Layers
• Optimizing Node.js Dependencies in Lambda