compress pdf
How to reduce PDF file size
Why is my PDF file so large?
PDF size depends on what is inside the document. High-resolution scanned pages, photographs, embedded fonts, duplicated resources and complex graphics can all increase file size. A PDF exported from a word processor may be relatively small, while a scan of the same pages can be much larger because every page is stored as an image.
Compress PDFs for email
Large attachments are inconvenient for email and may exceed provider limits. Compressing a PDF before attaching it can make the message easier to send and download. If a document is extremely large, splitting it into logical sections or reducing the resolution of image-heavy pages may be more effective than structural optimization alone.
Compress PDFs for portals and online forms
Government, insurance, school and business portals often impose upload limits. A smaller PDF is more likely to upload successfully on a slower connection. PDF85 optimizes the document structure where possible. Because every PDF is different, the amount of reduction cannot be guaranteed for every file.
Image-heavy PDFs usually offer more opportunity
Scanned documents and PDFs containing large photographs often have more potential for size reduction than text-only files, but they may also require image recompression or resolution changes to achieve aggressive targets. A document that has already been optimized may shrink only slightly.
Compression and document quality
The goal of compression is to reduce storage requirements while keeping the document useful. Structural PDF optimization can reduce redundant data without intentionally changing page appearance. More aggressive target-size compression, when offered, may require tradeoffs between image quality and file size.
How to use Compress PDF Online
- Upload the PDF you want to reduce.
- Choose Compress PDF.
- Wait while the document structure is optimized.
- Download the compressed PDF and compare its size with the original.
Frequently asked questions
How much smaller will my PDF become?
It depends on the original PDF. Already-optimized files may shrink only a little.
Can I compress a scanned PDF?
Yes, although scanned PDFs may require image-level optimization for very large reductions.
Will compression remove pages?
No. Compress PDF is intended to optimize the file rather than remove document pages.
Can I compress a PDF for email?
Yes. Reducing file size can make email attachments easier to send.
Why did my PDF barely shrink?
The file may already be compressed or may contain content that cannot be reduced significantly without changing quality.
Can I edit the PDF after compression?
If you need an editable document, try PDF to Word after compression.
Is there a guaranteed target size?
The standard compression tool does not promise a specific target size because PDFs vary widely.