Compress PDF Files
Reduce your PDF size while maintaining quality. Perfect for sharing and storage optimization.
Drop your PDF file here
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Supports PDF files up to 25MB
Email bouncing because your PDF is too large? Can't upload to a system with strict file size limits? Large PDFs are frustrating, especially when they're just slightly over the limit. Our compression tool can shrink them down while keeping everything readable.
The tool analyzes your PDF and finds ways to reduce size—optimizing images, removing redundant data, compressing fonts. You get to choose: keep perfect quality with lossless compression, or go smaller with lossy compression that slightly reduces image quality but keeps text sharp.
Why PDFs Get So Large
High-resolution images are the biggest culprit. A single photo at 300 DPI can add several megabytes. Scanned documents often contain uncompressed images. Embedded fonts, especially custom ones, also add bulk. And sometimes PDFs contain duplicate or unnecessary data.
Our compressor tackles all of these. It resamples images to appropriate resolutions, removes duplicate resources, and optimizes the file structure. The result? A much smaller file that still looks great.
Understanding Compression Options
Lossless compression is like zipping a file—it finds patterns and redundancies without changing the actual content. Perfect for legal documents, contracts, or anything where pixel-perfect accuracy matters. You might see 10-30% size reduction.
Lossy compression goes further by slightly reducing image quality. Photos might look a tiny bit softer, but text stays crisp. Great for presentations, reports, or documents where you need maximum size reduction. You can often achieve 50-70% reduction.
How to compress a PDF
Upload the PDF you want to reduce in size.
Choose your preferred compression level (stronger compression for smaller size, or lighter compression for higher quality).
Click “Compress PDF” and download your optimized file.
Getting the Best Results
For documents with lots of photos, lossy compression works wonders. For text-heavy PDFs with few images, lossless is usually enough. If you're not sure, try lossless first—if the size reduction isn't enough, switch to lossy.
Remember: you can always compress again if needed, but you can't restore quality once it's lost. So if lossless gets you under the size limit, stick with it.
Compression Questions Answered
Will compression affect text readability?
Text stays perfectly readable with both compression types. Lossy compression only affects image quality, not text. Your words, tables, and layout remain exactly as they were.
Can I compress a PDF that's already been compressed?
Yes, but the gains will be smaller. Once a PDF is compressed, there's less redundant data to remove. You might see 5-10% additional reduction, but don't expect dramatic results.
What about PDFs with forms or interactive elements?
Forms, buttons, and interactive elements are preserved. Compression focuses on images and file structure, not functionality. Your fillable forms will still work after compression.
How long does compression take?
Small files (under 5MB) compress in seconds. Larger files (10-25MB) might take 10-30 seconds depending on your device. The processing happens in your browser, so faster computers compress faster.
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