Which preset gets me under 1MB?

The balanced default in almost all cases — it keeps images at ebook quality. Only very image-heavy files need the Smallest setting for a 1MB target.

Will a 1MB PDF look worse than the original?

Usually you can't tell on screen. Text is untouched, and ebook-quality images look normal on monitors and phones. Print-proof photography is the only place you'd notice.

Is this free, and is my file uploaded?

Free, no account. The file is compressed on the server in a temporary folder and deleted right after processing.

Compress a PDF to 1MB

1MB is a generous target: nearly every document fits with good image quality. Use the balanced preset — you rarely need the harshest setting for a 1MB budget — and expect scans of twenty-plus pages and image-rich reports to make it comfortably.

Compress the PDF

How to do it

1Open the Compress PDF tool with the balanced (default) preset.
2Drop your PDF in and compress. You'll see the before and after size, so you know immediately whether you hit the target.
3In the rare case you're still over, re-run with Smallest file — or split truly enormous scans.

What fits in 1MB

Practically everything: long contracts with scanned signature pages, twenty-to-forty page scans at screen-to-ebook quality, presentations with charts and photos, illustrated reports. At this budget, compression is about trimming waste rather than sacrificing quality.

The files that still miss 1MB are the extremes — hundred-page scans, print-resolution photo books, architectural drawings with embedded imagery. For those, split by chapter or purpose rather than degrading every page.

Email is why 1MB matters

Attachment limits are typically 10–25MB, but nobody thanks you for a 12MB attachment on mobile. Under 1MB, a PDF opens instantly, forwards painlessly, and never bounces. It's the courteous size for anything you send to more than one person.

If your target is specifically an email chain with many recipients or slow connections, our guide on reducing PDF size for email covers the details.

FAQ

Which preset gets me under 1MB?: The balanced default in almost all cases — it keeps images at ebook quality. Only very image-heavy files need the Smallest setting for a 1MB target.
Will a 1MB PDF look worse than the original?: Usually you can't tell on screen. Text is untouched, and ebook-quality images look normal on monitors and phones. Print-proof photography is the only place you'd notice.
Is this free, and is my file uploaded?: Free, no account. The file is compressed on the server in a temporary folder and deleted right after processing.

Other size targets

Compress a PDF to 50KB · Compress a PDF to 100KB · Compress a PDF to 200KB · Compress a PDF to 500KB · Compress a PDF without losing quality