Compress PDF
Drop your PDF, pick a compression level, download the smaller file. This tool runs on our server. Your file is deleted when the job ends, and within 1 hour at the latest.
Drop files here
or choose from your computer
How it works
- Choose your PDF file or drag it into the drop area.
- Pick a compression level: light, recommended or strong.
- Press Compress, compare the two sizes and download.
Why this tool
- Three levels: 300 dpi for print, 150 dpi for screen, 72 dpi for email.
- The size before and after is shown side by side.
- Text stays vector, so the letters stay sharp.
- The file goes to our server and is deleted within 1 hour.
- Free limits: 50 MB per file and 20 jobs per day.
A size limit is the usual reason to compress a PDF. Web forms often stop at 5 MB. Email attachments stop near 25 MB. Some tender portals refuse anything above 2 MB. A scanned document reaches 30 MB with no effort, because every page is a high resolution photo.
Compression means re-encoding the images. The tool lowers each image in the page to the dpi you pick and writes it back. It leaves the text layer alone, so the letters stay vector and stay sharp when you zoom in. A 12-page scan at the recommended level usually drops from about 18 MB to about 2 MB.
Pick the level by the job. Use light (300 dpi) for a file that goes to print. Use recommended (150 dpi) for reading on screen or for an archive. Use strong (72 dpi) when the file only has to pass a form upload.
This tool runs on our server, because Ghostscript gives a result the browser cannot match. If you prefer not to upload the file, try sending fewer pages: cut the part you need with "Split PDF" first.
Frequently asked questions
Does my file go to a server?
Yes. Ghostscript does the compression on our server. The file travels over an encrypted connection, and it is deleted when the job ends, and within 1 hour at the latest.
How much smaller does the file get?
Scanned documents often get 5 to 10 times smaller. A text-only file gains little, because it has no images to compress.
Does the quality drop?
Images go down to the dpi you pick. Text stays vector and keeps its sharpness. The recommended level is enough to read on screen.
What are the limits?
Free use allows 50 MB per file and 20 jobs per day. Pro allows 2 GB per file.
Can I set a target size?
Not yet. Pick one of the three levels. If the result is still large, try the next level.
Can I compress a password-protected PDF?
A file that asks for a password to open must first go through "Unlock PDF".