Compress a PDF to a smaller file size
Make a PDF smaller so it fits in an email or under an upload limit. The photos and scans inside are shrunk while the text stays sharp. You choose how far to go, or type the size you need and let the tool work towards it.
How to do it
- Drop your PDF on the page, or press «Choose file».
- Choose «Amount» and pick «A little», «Medium» or «A lot». Or choose «Target size» and type the size to get under.
- Press «Compress» and compare the old and new size.
- Press «Save». If it is still too big, press «Shrink one step more».
Good to know
- PDF too large for email? Most email services stop attachments at around 20 to 25 MB. Choose «Target size», type a number safely below your limit, and the pictures are shrunk just enough to fit.
- A file that is mostly text has little to shrink, because the size comes from pictures. If the tool says it is already about as small as it gets, split the PDF by file size instead.
- For scans you will only print in black and white, turn on «Make pictures black and white» under more settings. It often saves a lot.
Questions
How do I compress a PDF to 1 MB?
Choose «Target size» and type 1. The tool lowers picture quality step by step until the file is under 1 MB. If the file cannot get that small without damaging the text, it tells you and gives you the smallest version it could make.
Will compressing a PDF make it blurry?
Text and line drawings stay sharp at every setting. Only photos and scanned pages are affected: «A little» keeps them crisp, «Medium» suits email and messaging, and «A lot» gives the smallest file with softer pictures.
Is it safe to compress a confidential PDF here?
The file is compressed by your browser on your own device and is never uploaded, so nobody else gets a copy. The original file is not changed; you save a new, smaller one.