Compress PDF

How to compress a PDF

1. 1

   Choose a PDF

   Click Choose PDF or drag the file onto the page. It stays in your browser.

2. 2

   Choose a target

   Select a preset or enter a custom number of KB that matches the upload or attachment limit you need.

3. 3

   Compress PDF

   The tool compares structural rewriting, image reduction, font subsetting and page rendering, then keeps the smallest verified result.

4. 4

   Check and download

   The result is reopened to verify the page count and retained text before download.

What happens to text

The first three methods keep the original text layer. When pages are rendered, an invisible text layer is added. A result is accepted only if it retains at least 98% of the original text characters. A scanned PDF without OCR does not gain searchable text.

Choosing a sensible target

The target is a ceiling, not an estimate. Enter the actual limit instead of a needlessly lower number, because aggressive compression can reduce image quality.

The result shows the method used. Structural rewriting and font subsetting should not visibly alter pages, while image processing may soften photographs and scans.

Files that cannot reach the target

Long colour scans may remain above a very low limit even at 72 DPI because every page is stored as an image.

In that case, remove unneeded pages, split the document or share it by link instead of making important content unreadable.

Privacy

All processing takes place in your browser. Your PDF is never uploaded to a server, and no data remains after you close the page.

FAQ