How to reduce PDF file size

Start with the limit you need to hit

Worried about blurry pages? Compress a PDF without losing quality explains which settings keep text sharp.

Email services, job portals and government forms often cap attachments at a few megabytes. Check the exact limit first, then pick the method below that gets you there with the least change to your document. It's often best to combine two methods, for example removing unneeded pages and then compressing.

1. Compress the PDF

Compression re-renders each page as an image. Scans and photo-heavy PDFs shrink the most. The text becomes part of the page image, so it can't be selected or searched in the compressed copy. Keep your original for that.

1. 1Open Compress PDF and add your file (up to 100 MB).
2. 2For on-screen reading, start with 150 DPI and High quality.
3. 3Compress and compare the new size with the original, which is shown next to it.
4. 4Still too big? Try 72 DPI or Standard quality. Need it sharper? Go up to 300 DPI.

2. Remove pages you don't need

Cover sheets, blank scanned pages and duplicates add size without adding value. Open Delete PDF pages, tick the pages to remove in the thumbnail grid, and download the trimmed file. The remaining pages are copied exactly, with no quality loss.

3. Split it into smaller parts

If a portal accepts several uploads, split one large PDF into parts. Split PDF can save a range such as 1-10 as one file and 11-20 as another, or every page as a separate PDF, all downloadable as a ZIP. Like page deletion, this doesn't change quality.

4. Shrink photos before you make the PDF

If you're building the PDF from phone photos, the photos are where the size lives. Run them through Compress Image first. It keeps the format and dimensions and drops camera and location data. Then combine them with JPG to PDF. If an image can't be made smaller, you get the original back rather than a bigger file.

Which method should I use?

Scanned documents: compress at 150 DPI.

Long reports where only some pages matter: delete or split pages. Text stays selectable.

Photos turned into a PDF: compress the images first, then rebuild.

A text-only PDF that's still too big: it's rare, but splitting is usually more effective than compressing.

Privacy

All four tools in this guide run in your browser, so your PDF stays on your device while you work on it.

Check the result before sending

After shrinking a PDF, open it and check three things: the smallest text is readable, any signatures or stamps are clear, and no pages are missing. If the file is for an official form, it's worth keeping both versions: the original for your records and the smaller one for uploading.

If you still can't get under the limit, ask whether the recipient accepts several files. Sending two smaller parts made with Split PDF is often the cleanest solution.

Frequently asked questions