How to make a PDF smaller
Email attachment limits and upload caps are usually 10–25 MB, and a scan-heavy PDF blows past that fast. Compressing it re-encodes the images and strips waste so the file shrinks while staying readable.
Open Compress PDFStep by step
- Open the Compress PDF tool and drop your file in.
- Pick a level: heavier compression for the smallest file, or a higher setting to keep images crisp.
- Download the smaller PDF. You'll see the before and after size so you know how much you saved.
Why PDFs get so big
Most of the weight in a large PDF is images, especially scanned pages, which are stored as full-resolution photos. Fonts, duplicated resources, and leftover edit history add more.
Compression re-encodes those images at a sensible resolution and removes the waste. Text stays sharp because text isn't an image; it's the pictures that shrink.
How small can it go without looking bad?
For something you'll only read on screen or email, the heaviest setting is usually fine. If it will be printed, choose a higher-quality setting so photos don't look blocky.
There's no single right answer, so compare the before and after size and open the result to check it still looks good.
FAQ
- Will compressing reduce the quality?
- It can, a little, depending on the level you pick. Lighter settings shrink the file more; higher settings keep images crisp. You choose the balance.
- Is it safe to compress a private document?
- Compression runs on the server, where your file is processed in a temporary folder and deleted right after. Nothing is kept or shared.
- Is it free?
- Yes, completely free, with no account.