Compress PDF
Shrink a PDF in your browser. Choose a smaller, balanced, or clearer result. Nothing is uploaded.
Your files stay in the browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Each page is redrawn as an image and placed back into the PDF. Text cannot be selected afterward. A small file that is mostly text can become larger.
Use cases and practical choices
Try reducing scanned reports, image-heavy email attachments or upload documents. Choose a level according to text density and destination limits rather than always using maximum reduction. Use another workflow when searching, copying or interactive document behavior must survive.
When this PDF compressor is useful
This tool renders PDF pages as images and builds a new PDF. It can help with scanned documents or image-heavy attachments. The output loses selectable text, links and other interactive document features. Text-heavy PDFs can become larger, and a target size such as 100 KB or 1 MB is not guaranteed. Keep the original when you need searchable text.
- Split PDF Online — remove unneeded pages before compressing
- Merge PDF Files Online — combine documents before producing a smaller copy
Reduce PDF file size online
- Reduce PDF size locally
- Three compression levels
- The original file stays on your device
How to compress a PDF
- Decide whether rasterized pages are acceptable. Keep the original and use another workflow if selectable text, links or interactive forms must remain. Then select the PDF.
- Start with Balanced. Choose the smaller-file option for stronger reduction or the clearer-text option for finer detail. Levels change render scale and JPEG compression.
- Run compression and wait for each page rather than clicking repeatedly. Long or high-resolution scanned documents can need substantial browser memory.
- Compare the downloaded size and zoom in on small type, stamps and table lines. Reject an output that is larger or unreadable; remove unneeded pages first or retain the original instead.
Compress PDF FAQ
Which PDFs are likely to shrink, and which may grow?
Scans and photo-heavy PDFs may benefit from reducing page-image resolution and quality. A compact text-based PDF can become larger when converted into full-page images. Compare the actual download; completion means processing finished, not that a smaller size is guaranteed.
Can I still select text, follow links or fill forms afterward?
No original text or interactive structure is preserved by this image-based workflow. Each page is rendered and placed into a new PDF, losing selectable text, links and interactive forms. Keep the source when those features, signature properties or archival characteristics matter.
Can it guarantee 100 KB, 500 KB or 1 MB?
No. Page count, image complexity and acceptable readability determine the achievable result. Test a smaller-file level and inspect it. If the file still exceeds the destination limit, remove unneeded pages or split the document rather than making essential details illegible.
How do I choose a level and detect excessive compression?
Balanced is a useful first trial, smaller file prioritizes size and clearer text prioritizes detail. Inspect the smallest type, totals, thin rules and stamps at a useful zoom, and check print preview if printing. A readable thumbnail does not guarantee readable printed detail.
More PDF tools
Merge PDF Files Online
Merge PDF files online in your browser. Use the arrow buttons to set the file order, then download one combined PDF. No upload or signup.
Split PDF Online
Extract a page range from a PDF in your browser. Keep only the pages you need. No upload.
PDF to images
Convert every PDF page to JPG or PNG images and download them in a ZIP. Choose render size and process the PDF locally without uploading it.
PDF encrypt / decrypt
Password-protect contracts, or remove a known password.