Compress PDF - Online PDF Compressor

Compression happens entirely in your browser. Your PDF is not uploaded to our servers.

How to reduce PDF file size When email attachments fail or an upload has a strict size limit, shrinking the PDF is often the only option. Compress in your browser without installing anything. When possible, files stay on your device. Useful for office workers and students. Useful when: • emailing PDFs • submitting forms with limits • saving storage space

Reduce PDF file size while keeping text and images readable. Useful for email attachments, uploads, and storage.

Show detailed guide & explanations

Why you may need this tool

PDF uploads often fail due to size limits in email, portals, and document management systems. Scans and image - heavy PDFs are especially prone to large file sizes. When deadlines are tight, recreating the file is costly; compression is usually the fastest first step. Compression is a practical way to reduce size while keeping the content readable for submission or sharing.

How to use

Upload the PDF, choose a compression level if available, and then verify readability on key pages after compression.

  1. Upload your PDF file by clicking or dragging
  2. Select compression level (low, medium, or high)
  3. Click 'Compress' to reduce file size
  4. Download your compressed PDF

Examples

Meeting portal upload limits for scanned documents
Portals often enforce strict size limits. Compressing a scan can make the difference between repeated failures and a successful upload.
Emailing a PDF without exceeding attachment limits
Email systems commonly reject large attachments. Compressing first reduces friction and avoids switching to alternative delivery methods at the last minute.

Benefits & differentiators

Reducing file size improves upload and delivery success. Smaller PDFs also reduce storage overhead and speed up sharing, especially on slower networks. A careful review step matters: compression can affect image clarity, so verifying legibility and important details helps ensure the compressed file still fits the purpose.

Who this is for

Recommended if you: - upload PDFs to portals with size limits - share scans and image - heavy documents - need faster delivery and smaller storage footprints - want a quick first step before recreating a file

FAQ

How much can I reduce my PDF size?
Depending on the content, you can reduce PDF size by 50 - 90%. PDFs with many images see the biggest reductions.
Will compression reduce the quality?
Our smart compression algorithms minimize quality loss. Choose 'Low' compression for maximum quality or 'High' for maximum size reduction.
Can I compress to a specific file size?
If the tool provides a target size option, you can set a goal like 1MB or 2MB and compress toward it while checking readability.
Are my files safe and private?
Yes. Compression happens entirely in your browser. Your PDF is not uploaded to our servers.
What's the maximum file size I can compress?
Large PDFs may be slow or fail depending on your device. If possible, try smaller files first or split the PDF before compressing.

Related Tools

Merge PDF
Combine multiple PDF files into one document instantly. Secure and works in your browser. No signup required.
Split PDF
Extract pages from PDF or split into multiple files instantly. Works in your browser. No signup required.
PDF to JPG
Convert PDF pages to JPG images instantly. Useful for sharing, presentations, and previews.
Compress Image
Reduce image file size and compress to a target KB/MB range. Useful for email, uploads, and storage.

Found a bug or have feedback? Let us know