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Reduce PDF file size

Counter Reduce PDF size
Drop your files here .pdf

Compression turns pages into images, so text in the result cannot be selected or searched. A file that does not get smaller is kept as it was.

    If your PDF is too big for an upload form or an email, drop it here: it shrinks by itself and the row shows its new size. Not small enough? Lower the setting and compress again.

    • Free
    • No sign-up
    • No watermark

    Why reduce a PDF’s size?

    ID copies, diplomas, transcripts or a signed letter: documents scanned with a phone often take several MB per page, and upload forms refuse anything above their limit. Drop the PDF on the counter above; it starts shrinking by itself and the row shows the new size.

    If you are aiming for a set number of MB, try the default setting first. If the result is still too big, lower the resolution to 100 or 72 DPI and the quality to 50%, then press Compress again with these settings. When there are many pages, taking out the ones you do not need with the PDF split tool also brings the size down fast.

    Reducing saves the pages again as images: scanned and photo pages shrink several times, while text PDFs typed on a computer are usually small already. The writing in the smaller PDF stays readable but cannot be selected; keep the original too if you need selectable text.

    How to make a PDF smaller

    1. Add your PDF

      Drag the PDF you want to make smaller onto the counter or pick it with Choose files; several files work too.

    2. Check the new size

      Reducing starts by itself. The row shows the old and new size and how much smaller the file got.

    3. Lower the setting if needed

      If the file is still over the limit, lower the resolution or the quality and press Compress again with these settings.

    4. Download

      Get the smaller PDF with Download; several files download together as one ZIP.

    Which setting for which limit

    Which setting for which limit
    Email attachment (20–25 MB)The default (150 DPI, 60%) is usually enough.
    Upload form (e.g. 2–5 MB)Try 100 DPI at 50% quality.
    Under 1 MB72–100 DPI at 50% quality; cut the page count if needed.
    Document to print200 DPI; the file shrinks less but prints sharp.

    A scanned page at 100 DPI and 50% quality usually takes 30–150 KB. Photo pages sit near the top of that range.

    About PDF

    PDF

    Portable Document Format

    PDF makes a document look exactly the same on every device. It fixes fonts, images and page layout in place and is the shared language of official letters, invoices and applications.

    All PDF conversions

    Frequently asked questions

    Is reducing PDF size free?

    Yes, completely free. No account, no daily limit, no watermark and no queue.

    How do I make a PDF smaller?

    Drop the PDF on the counter on this page and it shrinks by itself. If it is not small enough, lower the resolution and quality and compress again. There is nothing to install.

    How do I get a PDF under 2 MB?

    A scanned document of a few pages usually comes in under 2 MB at 100 DPI and 50% quality. With many pages, try 72 DPI or keep only the pages you need with the PDF split tool.

    Does reducing a PDF lower its quality?

    Pages are saved again at the resolution you choose, so some sharpness is lost. The default 150 DPI looks sharp on screen and prints legibly; at 72 DPI small print can blur. Text in the smaller PDF cannot be selected.

    Is reducing a PDF different from compressing it?

    No, both do the same job: they bring the PDF’s size down. This page is about fitting a size limit, the Compress PDF page goes into the settings in detail, and the same tool runs on both.

    What if my PDF does not get smaller?

    PDFs typed on a computer and made mostly of text are already small, and as images they can grow. When the result is not smaller, your original file is kept as it was.

    Does it work on a phone?

    Yes. It works on iPhone, iPad and Android, with no app to install. Pick your PDFs from the Files app or your downloads.

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