Compress a PDF
Compress a PDF to get it under an email or upload limit. Pick a level, and you’ll see the size before and after so you know exactly how much you saved. Nothing is uploaded.
or drop a file here
One PDF, up to 250 MB.
Processed on your device. Nothing is uploaded.
How to compress a PDF
Add the PDF
Its current size appears next to the preview.
Pick a level
Start with Recommended. Go to Strong if it’s still too big.
Compress and compare
You get the old size, the new size and the percentage saved, then the download button.
How the compression works
It goes after the photos
Images are nearly always what makes a PDF big. Large ones are scaled down (to about 2,000 pixels on the longest side at Recommended) and re-saved as JPEG. Small images and logos are left alone.
It tidies the file too
Leftover objects from earlier edits are removed, anything stored uncompressed gets compressed, and the file is rewritten more compactly.
It won’t make a file bigger
If your PDF is already efficient, you get your original back with a note saying so, not a “compressed” copy that’s larger.
Maximum is for scans
It turns each page into a compressed image. Great for scanned letters you only need to read; it also means the text can’t be selected or searched any more, which we warn you about before you choose it.
How much smaller will my PDF get?
Mostly on what’s inside. Scans and photo-heavy PDFs usually shrink a lot. In one of our tests, a three-page file of high-resolution photos saved at near-top JPEG quality went from 3.9 MB to 171 KB on Recommended. Your scans won’t always do that well, but halving the size is common.
Text-only PDFs from Word or Google Docs are a different story. They’re often close to as small as they’ll go, so saving 5% is normal and doesn’t mean anything went wrong. If one of those is still large, embedded fonts are the likely cause, and those can’t be safely stripped out.
Still too big?
- Try Strong. On screen it usually looks the same as Recommended.
- Cut pages you don’t need with Delete Pages.
- Colour scans shrink further in greyscale.
- If the limit is per file, split it into parts.
There’s more on this in why some PDFs are so large.
Privacy and security
Compression happens on your device, so payslips and bank statements never leave it. Apart from the Maximum level, text and links are kept exactly as they were, and so are form fields; only images and file structure are rewritten.
Read more in our privacy policy.
Compress PDF FAQs
Will the quality drop?
Photos can lose a little detail, more so on Strong. Text and line drawings aren’t touched on Light, Recommended or Strong. Have a look at the result before you delete the original.
Why did my file barely shrink?
Probably because it was compact already, or most of its size is fonts rather than images. That’s typical for PDFs exported from office software.
Which level should I use for email?
Recommended. Most email services cap attachments at around 20 to 25 MB per message, so if you’re sending several files at once, Strong is worth a go.
Can I compress a password-protected PDF?
Not as it is. Remove the password with Unlock PDF, compress it, then add a password again with Protect PDF.