PDF Compressor

Common questions

How do I compress a PDF to 200 KB?

Choose the PDF with the target left at 200 KB. The lossless rewrite runs first and keeps the text; if it cannot get there, pick Image compression and press Compress as images. The search tries the quality you set and then every multiple of 5 below it, builds the real file, and keeps the highest quality that fits. If even quality 10 is too big, lower the DPI and search again.

Why can't my PDF reach the target size?

A PDF of text and vector drawings is usually compact already, and the lossless rewrite can only drop objects nothing in the file refers to, store identical streams once, compress streams that were stored uncompressed and pack the file's structure more tightly. Image compression goes further on scans and photos, but every page still needs its picture, so a long document at a high DPI can stay over a small target. When that happens the tool says the target is out of reach, shows the smallest size it reached and keeps your original.

Does compressing a PDF remove the text?

The lossless rewrite does not: text, links, form fields and bookmarks stay as they were. Image compression does, because it redraws each page as a picture, so text can no longer be selected, searched or copied, links stop working and form fields can no longer be filled in. The tool lists what your file would lose before you run it, and it never switches to image compression on its own.

Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?

No. The file is read, compressed and previewed in this browser tab, and nothing is sent to a server. The only thing remembered between visits is the target, DPI and quality you last used; the file and the mode are not stored.

What DPI should I use for image compression?

DPI is how many pixels each inch of the page gets when it is redrawn. 150 is the default and a common choice for reading on screen; 96 or 72 makes a smaller file when a readable copy is all a form needs; 200 or 300 keeps fine print sharper at a larger size. A page too big for a browser canvas at the chosen DPI is drawn at a lower one, and the result names those pages.

Why is the compressed file sometimes not offered?

If the result is the same size as your PDF or larger, there is nothing to gain, so the Download button stays off and your original is kept. If it is smaller but misses your target, the main download stays off too, and Download anyway saves it only if you ask.

Is 200 KB the same as 200,000 bytes?

Not here: 1 KB is 1,024 bytes, so 200 KB is 204,800 bytes, and the exact number is shown under the target field. If an upload form counts 1 KB as 1,000 bytes, type 195 KB, which is 199,680 bytes, or type 200000 bytes.

How do I compress a PDF to 1 MB, 500 KB or another upload limit?

Type the target in the size field, or select a target chip. The reference below lists common limits. Here 1 MB means 1,048,576 bytes; if a form requires no more than 1,000,000 bytes, enter 1000000 bytes instead. Run the lossless rewrite first. If it misses the target, image compression can try lower quality or DPI, but it may still be impossible to fit the document.

Can I reduce a PDF without losing quality?

The lossless mode rewrites the PDF structure while preserving its text and page content. It can save space in some files and almost none in an already optimized document. A fixed limit such as 1 MB or 200 KB cannot be guaranteed without quality loss. Image compression makes a new picture of each page; it can blur fine details and removes selectable text, links and form fields.

How do I make a PDF small enough to email?

Check the attachment limit for the mail service and set a target below it, leaving room for the rest of the message and attachment encoding. Compress the document, inspect the before-and-after previews, and attach the downloaded PDF yourself. This tool does not send email, and meeting a file-size target does not guarantee that a mail service will accept the message.

Can I compress PDFs on a Mac, iPhone, Windows PC or Linux?

Open this page in a modern browser and choose a PDF from the device. On a phone, use the file picker to select a document from Files or another available location. Processing happens in the browser; Adobe Acrobat, Preview and a native compressor app are not required. Large image-heavy documents may need more memory than a phone tab can provide.

How large can the source PDF be?

This tool accepts one PDF at a time, up to 50 MB and 200 pages. Those are input limits, not promises about the compressed size. If a document is larger, use PDF Merger in Split mode to make smaller parts and then compress each part. Encrypted or malformed PDFs must be resolved before the compressor can read them.

How do I combine several PDFs and compress the result?

Use PDF Merger to select and combine the documents, download its merged PDF, and then choose that file here. Set the target and compare the compressed result before downloading it. Merging and compression are separate steps; this compressor does not combine files or process a batch at once. Keep the original documents, especially when forms or signatures matter.

How do I turn JPG images into a PDF under a size limit?

Use Image to PDF to arrange the JPG or other supported pictures and download the PDF. Then open that PDF here and set a target such as 200 KB or 1 MB. Image conversion and compression are separate steps, and the final target may be unreachable. If you need a smaller JPG file rather than a PDF, use Image Compressor instead.

What does PDF compression change?

It reduces the number of bytes used to store a PDF. The lossless mode repacks the existing document; image compression replaces each page with a JPEG picture at the DPI and quality you choose. A PDF remains a PDF. It is not turned into a ZIP archive or a set of JPG image files.

How do I try stronger compression for a scanned PDF?

Choose Image compression, lower the DPI to 96 or 72, and run the search again. Inspect small text and page previews before accepting a result. Lower quality or DPI can save more space, but an extreme reduction may make the document unreadable, and a long PDF can remain above a small target even at the lowest quality.

Can I compress a PDF that is already compressed?

You can try the lossless rewrite, but a PDF that is already optimized may stay the same size or get larger. The tool reports that outcome and does not offer a larger file as an improvement. Re-encoding pages with image compression can reduce size further at the cost of detail and selectable text; repeated lossy passes can compound that loss.