diff --git a/beetsplug/convert.py b/beetsplug/convert.py
index 6145fdb74..81c6f4eb8 100644
--- a/beetsplug/convert.py
+++ b/beetsplug/convert.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ from beets import ui, util, plugins, config
 from beets.plugins import BeetsPlugin
 from beets.util.confit import ConfigTypeError
 from beets import art
+from beets.util.artresizer import ArtResizer
 
 _fs_lock = threading.Lock()
 _temp_files = []  # Keep track of temporary transcoded files for deletion.
@@ -132,6 +133,7 @@ class ConvertPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
             u'paths': {},
             u'never_convert_lossy_files': False,
             u'copy_album_art': False,
+            u'album_art_maxwidth': 0,
         })
         self.import_stages = [self.auto_convert]
 
@@ -305,8 +307,8 @@ class ConvertPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
                              dest=converted, keepnew=False)
 
     def copy_album_art(self, album, dest_dir, path_formats, pretend=False):
-        """Copies the associated cover art of the album. Album must have at
-        least one track.
+        """Copies or converts the associated cover art of the album. Album must
+        have at least one track.
         """
         if not album or not album.artpath:
             return
@@ -336,14 +338,31 @@ class ConvertPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
                            util.displayable_path(album.artpath))
             return
 
-        if pretend:
+        resize = False
+        maxwidth = None
+
+        if self.config['album_art_maxwidth']:
+            maxwidth = self.config['album_art_maxwidth'].get(int)
+            size = ArtResizer.shared.get_size(album.artpath)
+            self._log.debug('image size: {}', size)
+            if size:
+                resize = size[0] > maxwidth
+            else:
+                self._log.warning(u'Could not get size of image (please see '
+                                  u'documentation for dependencies).')
+
+        if resize:
+            self._log.info(u'Resizing cover art from {0} to {1}',
+                           util.displayable_path(album.artpath),
+                           util.displayable_path(dest))
+            if not pretend:
+                ArtResizer.shared.resize(maxwidth, album.artpath, dest)
+        else:
             self._log.info(u'cp {0} {1}',
                            util.displayable_path(album.artpath),
                            util.displayable_path(dest))
-        else:
-            self._log.info(u'Copying cover art to {0}',
-                           util.displayable_path(dest))
-            util.copy(album.artpath, dest)
+            if not pretend:
+                util.copy(album.artpath, dest)
 
     def convert_func(self, lib, opts, args):
         if not opts.dest:
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 349d484b9..4e3b12893 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@ Changelog
 1.3.18 (in development)
 -----------------------
 
+New features:
+
+* :doc:`/plugins/convert`: A new `album_art_maxwidth` option which will
+  downsize destination images if the `copy_album_art` switch is true and the
+  image is too wide.
+
 Fixes:
 
 * Fix a problem with the :ref:`stats-cmd` in exact mode when filenames on
diff --git a/docs/plugins/convert.rst b/docs/plugins/convert.rst
index 7480bacbb..b93227b62 100644
--- a/docs/plugins/convert.rst
+++ b/docs/plugins/convert.rst
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ file. The available options are:
   Default: none (system default),
 - **copy_album_art**: Copy album art when copying or transcoding albums matched
   using the ``-a`` option. Default: ``no``.
+- **album_art_maxwidth**: Downscale album art if it's too big. The resize
+  operation reduces image width to at most ``maxwidth`` pixels. The height is
+  recomputed so that the aspect ratio is preserved.
 - **dest**: The directory where the files will be converted (or copied) to.
   Default: none.
 - **embed**: Embed album art in converted items. Default: ``yes``.