compress pdf
shrink a large pdf so it is easier to email or upload. pick a preset or tune resolution and quality yourself.
runs on your device · free · no sign-up
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how to compress pdf
- drop your pdf on the box above, or click it to choose a file.
- pick a target size like 200 kb, or switch to "choose quality" and set dpi and jpeg quality yourself.
- press compress pdf and wait while each page is rebuilt in your browser.
- check the new size and download the smaller pdf.
most large pdfs are big because of the images inside them: scanned pages, photos, or screenshots saved at full camera resolution. this tool redraws every page as a jpeg at a resolution you choose, which removes that hidden detail. for scans and photo-heavy files, a 10 mb pdf often ends up between 500 kb and 2 mb.
the trade-off is that pages become pictures. text can no longer be selected or searched and links stop working. if you need searchable text afterwards, run the result through our pdf ocr tool, or keep the original for archiving and send the compressed copy.
for documents people will read on screen, 96 to 110 dpi looks sharp on phones and laptops. for anything that will be printed, stay at 150 dpi or more. if a form or portal has a hard limit, use target file size mode and let the tool find the setting for you.
features
- target file size mode: hit 100 kb, 200 kb, 1 mb or any size you type
- manual mode with dpi and jpeg quality sliders and three presets
- shows the before and after size before you download
- opens password-free pdfs of any page count, scanned or digital
- 100% in your browser: no upload, no account, no watermark
popular uses
frequently asked questions
how does the compression work?
each page is rendered to an image at the dpi you choose, saved as a jpeg at your quality setting and rebuilt into a new pdf. lower dpi and quality mean smaller files but softer text.
what is the tradeoff?
text becomes part of the image, so it can no longer be selected or searched, and links are lost. pdfs that are already small or mostly text can even get bigger, so we show the result size before you download.
are my files uploaded?
no. rendering and rebuilding run in your browser using pdf.js and pdf-lib. nothing leaves your device.
how does target file size mode work?
you pick a size such as 200 kb. we compress the pdf with a middle setting, check the result, then go sharper or smaller and repeat, about four times. you get the clearest version that still fits.
is there a file size or page limit?
there is no fixed limit, but everything happens in your browser memory. a few hundred pages is fine on a laptop. on a phone, very large scans can run out of memory, so split them first.
why is my compressed pdf blurry?
the resolution is too low for the page. raise the dpi to 130 or 150 and keep quality above 60. small print and diagrams need more dpi than plain text pages.