How to Compress a PDF File

Follow the tool below to compress your PDF in three easy steps — select, choose a target size, and download.

Drop your PDF file here

or click below to select from your device

100% free • Works in your browser • No uploads to any server

How it works

Add your PDF

Drag the document in or browse for it. Processing happens in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.

Pick a quality level

Choose stronger compression for email attachments, lighter compression for documents you will print.

Download the smaller file

You see the old and new size side by side before saving.

How to compress a PDF, step by step

Add the file, choose how aggressive the compression should be, and download the result. The important part is choosing the right level: 'strong' for email and web uploads, 'light' for anything destined for a printer, where losing image detail is visible on paper.

Compression targets exactly that overhead. It re-encodes the images at a sensible resolution for screen reading and removes duplicated resources, which is why the text of the document stays crisp while the file gets several times smaller.

Choosing the right compression level

Email attachments and web portals: use strong compression — screen reading only needs about 100 DPI. Documents for printing: use light compression, since print needs closer to 200–300 DPI. Legal or archival copies: keep the original and store the compressed version separately for sharing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does PDF compression actually work?+

Almost all of a large PDF's weight is embedded images. The compressor re-encodes those images at a lower quality setting and strips redundant data, while leaving text, fonts and vector shapes exactly as they were.

How much smaller will my file get?+

Scanned or photo-heavy documents typically drop 60–90%. A text-only PDF is already efficient and may only shrink slightly — there is simply less to remove.

Is the compressed PDF still printable?+

Yes. For printing, use the lighter compression level so images keep enough resolution for paper output.

Are my files private?+

Yes. The document never leaves your computer, so confidential contracts and medical scans are safe to compress here.

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