How to compress a PDF
Choose your PDF
Pick the file you want to make smaller.
Pick a level
Recommended suits most files. Choose Smallest file if you need to get under a strict limit.
Download
See how much smaller it is, then save the new file.
About this tool
Large PDFs are usually large because of scanned pages or photos. The Recommended and Smallest levels redraw each page as an optimized image, which can cut scanned documents down dramatically. The trade-off is that text in the compressed file can't be selected or searched, so keep your original if you need that.
The Light level keeps everything selectable and only removes waste inside the file, which works best for documents made mostly of text. If a file can't be made meaningfully smaller, we'll tell you rather than give you a bigger one.
Questions
How much smaller will my PDF get?
It depends on what's inside. Scanned documents and photo-heavy PDFs often shrink by 50 to 90 percent. Files that are mostly text are often already small and may not shrink much.
Will the text still be selectable?
With the Light level, yes. The Recommended and Smallest levels turn each page into an image, so the text can be read but not selected or searched.
Which level should I choose for email?
Start with Recommended. If the file is still over the limit, try Smallest file. Most email services accept attachments up to 20 or 25 MB.
Is my PDF uploaded to compress it?
No. Compression runs entirely in your browser on your own device. Your file is never sent anywhere.