PDF Compressor

How to Compress a PDF File

Large PDF files are hard to email, slow to upload, and take up too much storage space. Here is how to shrink them without losing quality.

Step 1: Upload Your PDF

Drag and drop your PDF file into the upload area. You can also click to select a file from your computer.

Step 2: Choose Compression Level

Pick how much you want to compress:

• Low compression keeps the best quality but reduces file size by about 30%
• Medium compression balances quality and size, reducing by about 50%
• High compression shrinks the file by up to 80%, good for email attachments

Step 3: Download Your Compressed PDF

Click the compress button and your smaller PDF will be ready in seconds. Compare the before and after sizes to see how much you saved.

Why You Should Compress PDF Files

Email services like Gmail and Outlook have attachment limits of 25 MB. A compressed PDF fits within those limits easily. Smaller files also upload faster to cloud storage, download quicker for recipients, and take up less space on your hard drive.

Since the tool runs in your browser, your document stays private. No uploads to any server.

Common Questions About PDF Compression

Will compression reduce the quality of text?

No. Text is compressed using lossless methods, so it stays sharp and clear at any compression level. Images inside the PDF may be compressed more aggressively depending on the level you choose.

What is the maximum file size I can compress?

There is no limit. The tool processes everything locally in your browser, so the only limit is your computer's available memory.

Can I compress a password protected PDF?

You need to remove the password protection first, then compress the file. The tool cannot process encrypted files.

How much smaller will my PDF be?

Most PDFs compress by 40% to 80% depending on the content. A 20 MB scanned document might shrink to 4 MB with high compression. A text heavy PDF might go from 5 MB to 1 MB.