Compress PDF
Make a PDF smaller for email or an upload form. The tool shrinks the photos and scans inside the PDF and keeps the text sharp. Your browser does the work, so the PDF is not uploaded.
- No upload
- No sign-up
- No watermark
Drop a PDF here
Nothing is uploaded: your browser does the work.
How to use the Compress PDF tool
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Choose the PDF
Tap Choose a PDF, or drop the file on the box. The tool shows the size and the number of pages.
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Choose a level
Medium is good for email. Small gives the smallest file. Light reduction keeps the best quality.
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Compress
Tap Compress PDF. The tool shows the old size, the new size and the percentage that you saved.
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Download
Tap Download. The new file has " (compressed)" in its name, and your original file does not change.
Which compression level should you choose?
Each level sets the largest size of an image in the PDF and the JPG quality. These are the same levels as the Compress tool in the PDFriend app.
| Level | Longest side of an image | JPG quality | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small file | 1000 px | 50% | A strict size limit, a chat message |
| Medium | 1600 px | 70% | Email, most upload forms |
| Light reduction | 2400 px | 85% | Print, small text in a scan |
What gets smaller, and what stays the same?
The photos and scanned pages make a PDF large, so the tool works on them. It makes each large image smaller and saves it again as a JPG. The text, the fonts, the links and the vector drawings stay as they are, so the text stays sharp and you can still search it.
Some images stay unchanged: an image that is already small, a CMYK image for print, and an image that works as a mask. When the tool cannot make the file smaller, it tells you and gives you no new file.
How do you hit an exact size, for example 200 kB?
Try Small file first. If the PDF is still too large, split it into two files. For an exact limit, the PDFriend app for Android and iPhone has Size limit (Pro): choose 100 kB, 200 kB, 500 kB or 1 MB, or type a number, and the app keeps the best quality that fits.
The compressor in numbers
- 3 levels: 1000, 1600 and 2400 px.
- JPG quality of 50%, 70% and 85%.
- 0 changes to text and fonts.
- 0 uploads.
Questions and answers
How do I compress a PDF?
Choose the PDF on this page, choose Medium, then tap Compress PDF and Download. The browser compresses the file, and nothing is uploaded.
How can I reduce the size of a PDF without losing quality?
Choose Light reduction. It keeps images up to 2400 px at 85% JPG quality, which is good for print. Text and fonts do not change at any level.
Why did my PDF not get smaller?
A PDF with only text is already small, because text takes little space. The tool works on images. When it cannot make the file smaller, your file stays as it is.
How do I compress a PDF to 200 kB?
Try the Small file level. For an exact limit such as 200 kB, use Size limit in the PDFriend app for Android and iPhone, which keeps the best quality that fits.
Is it safe to compress a PDF online here?
Yes. This tool does not upload the PDF. Your browser compresses it on your device, so a contract or a bank statement stays private.