Compress PDF

Compress PDF Files Online

This free online PDF compressor allows you to reduce the size of PDF documents quickly and securely. Large PDF files are difficult to send by email or upload to websites. Our tool uses professional-grade compression to shrink your file while keeping the content clear and readable.

How to Compress a PDF

• 1 Upload your PDF file
• 2 Choose a compression level (medium is recommended for most files)
• 3 Click Compress PDF and wait a few seconds
• 4 Download the reduced file

Compression Levels Explained

Low: Minimal size reduction with the best possible quality. Best for archiving important documents where every detail matters.

Medium: A balanced setting that noticeably reduces file size while keeping text sharp and images clear. Suitable for most everyday uses.

High: Stronger reduction by downsampling images to 72 DPI. Ideal for documents shared digitally where print quality is not needed.

Extreme: Maximum compression. Converts images to grayscale and reduces resolution to 50 DPI. Best when file size matters more than visual quality — for example, scanned documents shared via messaging apps.

When Should You Compress a PDF?

Email attachments: Most email providers reject attachments over 10–25 MB. Compressing your PDF ensures it arrives without bouncing.

Online form uploads: Government portals, HR systems, and application forms often have strict file size limits. Compression helps you stay within them.

Cloud storage: If you archive hundreds of PDFs, compression can free up gigabytes of storage space over time.

Faster sharing: Smaller files upload and download faster, making sharing via links or messaging apps much quicker.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will compression reduce the quality of my text?

No. Text in PDF files is stored as vector data, not as images, so it is never affected by image compression. Only embedded images may be reduced in resolution depending on the level you choose.

How much smaller will my PDF be?

It depends on the content. Image-heavy PDFs can shrink by 50–90%. Text-only PDFs typically reduce by 10–30%. If your PDF was already heavily optimised, the reduction may be under 5%.

Is it safe to compress a PDF I will print later?

Use Low or Medium compression if you plan to print. These settings preserve enough resolution for quality print output. Avoid Extreme mode for documents that need to be printed.

Can I compress a password-protected PDF?

You will need to remove the password first, then compress the file, and optionally re-protect it afterwards using our Protect PDF tool.

Are there any limits on file size?

The maximum upload size is 10 MB. If your file is larger than this, try using our email-optimised compressor which is tuned for large files, or split the document first and compress each part separately.