Compress PDF Files
Reduce PDF file size online in seconds. Upload your file, choose a compression level, and download a smaller PDF in seconds.
How to Compress a PDF
Choosing a Compression Level
Different files need different levels of compression, so we give you a choice rather than a single fixed setting.
High compression
Smallest file size. Best when you just need to send or store the file and image quality isn't critical.
Medium compression
A balance between size and quality. Good for most everyday documents.
Low compression
Keeps quality close to the original. Best for files with detailed images or graphics you want to preserve.
What Happens When You Compress a PDF
A PDF compressor works by reducing image resolution inside the file, removing unused fonts and metadata, and cleaning up other data that adds to file size without adding to content. The text and layout stay intact, only the overall file size goes down. This is different from resizing a PDF's page dimensions, which changes the physical size of the pages rather than the file size, though the two terms often get used interchangeably when people search for ways to make a PDF smaller.
Why Reduce PDF Size
The common reasons to compress PDFs are below:
Email attachments often have size limits, and a smaller file is easier to send
Websites and portals sometimes reject large uploads
Smaller files save storage space on your device or cloud drive
Compressed PDFs open and load faster, especially on mobile
Shrinking scanned documents that came out larger than expected
Reducing report or portfolio files before emailing them
Getting a presentation PDF under an upload limit
Preparing files for a website or online form
Freeing up storage space on a shared drive
Frequently Asked Questions
Some quality loss is possible with higher compression, mainly in images. Text stays sharp at every level. If quality matters most, choose the low compression option.
It depends on the content. Files with a lot of images or scanned pages usually compress the most. Text heavy PDFs are often smaller to begin with, so the reduction is less noticeable.
Not exactly. Compressing reduces file size while keeping the page dimensions the same. Resizing changes the physical size of the pages. Most people searching for a PDF size reducer are actually looking to compress, not resize.
Yes. Your file is encrypted during upload and processing, and it's removed from our servers once your compressed PDF is ready. You don't need an account to use the tool.
The tool supports most standard PDF file sizes. Very large files may take a little longer to process.
Yes, scanned documents are usually images and often compress well, especially at medium or high settings.
Yes, there's no cost to use the tool and no watermark is added to your file.