Compress PDF
Make PDF files smaller by re-encoding photos and scans at a lower resolution while text, links and bookmarks stay; or rasterize scanned pages. Optionally aim for a target size, such as an email attachment limit.
Process locally
Files stay in this browser session. Closing or clearing releases them.
Choose files
PDF, up to 10
Drop files here, or
Adjust settings
Optional: Method, Compression, Target size
Run
Processes in this browser; cancel at any time
About this tool
Compress PDF files so they are small enough for email, upload forms and chat apps. Photos and scanned pages inside the PDF are re-encoded as JPEG at a lower resolution, matched to the size each image is shown on the page, while text, links, bookmarks and form fields stay exactly as they were.
Pick a compression level, or enter a target size such as 9000 KB for an email attachment, and the tool lowers quality step by step until the file fits. Everything runs in your browser: your PDF is never uploaded, and up to 10 files of 80 MB in total are compressed at once.
How to use it
- Choose one or more PDF files, or drop them on the page.
- Pick a “Method”: “Compress images, keep text” suits most documents; “Rasterize every page (for scans)” redraws each page as one image, for scans whose images cannot be re-encoded otherwise.
- Pick a “Compression” level: Light keeps images at 220 DPI, Recommended at 150 DPI and Strong at 110 DPI. Optionally enter a “Target size” in KB, or leave 0 for none.
- Select Run. The report shows the size before and after, the percentage saved and the quality and resolution used.
- Download the compressed PDF, or all files together as a ZIP.
Formats and limits
- Input
- PDF, up to 10 files
- Output
- Size limit
- 80 MB per file
- Page limit
- 500 pages
- Settings
- Method (Compress images, keep text, Rasterize every page); Compression (Light: best quality, 220 DPI, Recommended: 150 DPI, Strong: smallest file, 110 DPI); Target size
- Privacy
- Files stay in the current browser session. No file bytes are uploaded.
- Price
- Free, no sign-up
Common questions
How much smaller will my PDF get?
It depends on what makes the file large. PDFs full of photos or scans often shrink by 50 to 90 percent, while PDFs that are mostly text and fonts are already compact and change little. If the result would not be smaller, you get the original file back unchanged and the report says NOT_SMALLER.
Will the text still be selectable and searchable?
Yes, with “Compress images, keep text”: only images are re-encoded, and text, links, bookmarks, form fields and document information are kept. “Rasterize every page” turns each page into a single image, so its text can no longer be selected; use it for scans, or when a target size cannot be met otherwise.
How does the target size work?
With a target, the tool tries lower quality and resolution levels, down to 60 DPI, and keeps the best result that fits. If even the smallest setting is too large, you still get the smallest file it found, and the run is marked partially complete with the code TARGET_UNREACHED. When rasterizing, the target is shared between the pages.
Which images can it compress?
Gray and colour images stored as JPEG, Flate or uncompressed data. Black-and-white scans (CCITT and JBIG2), JPEG 2000 and CMYK images, transparency masks and very small images are kept as they are; rasterizing the pages compresses those PDFs as well.
Why is my PDF refused?
Password-protected PDFs must be unlocked first, and digitally signed PDFs are refused because any change would invalidate the signature. Damaged files, files over 80 MB and documents over 500 pages are refused with a message saying why.
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. The PDF is compressed in your browser and stays on your device until you close or clear the page.
Workflows that use this tool
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