Compress PDF
Shrink a PDF so it fits an email attachment limit or an upload form. Pick a level, compare the before and after size, and download the smaller file. Everything runs in your browser — your document is never uploaded. For images, use the image compressor.
Each page is saved as an image, which is what makes the file smaller. Text in the new PDF can be read and printed but no longer selected or searched — keep your original if you need that.
Why compress a PDF here?
Scanned documents and PDFs full of photos are often many megabytes — too big for email or for forms that accept 1–2 MB.
- Choose a PDF or drop it onto the box.
- Pick Light, Medium or Strong — tick black & white for text-only scans.
- Click Compress PDF, check the new size, then download.
Big savings on scans
Scanned pages and photo-heavy PDFs commonly shrink by 50–90%.
Three clear levels
Light keeps the most detail, Medium suits most documents, Strong makes the smallest file.
Black & white option
Turn colour scans of text into greyscale for an extra saving.
See the saving
The original and new sizes are shown side by side before you download.
Same page size
Pages keep their original dimensions, so the document prints exactly as before.
Private documents
Bank statements, IDs and contracts are processed on your device and never uploaded.
How browser PDF compression works — and when to use it
This compressor re-draws each page as an image at a lower resolution and saves it with JPEG compression, then rebuilds the PDF with the same page sizes. That is why it is so effective on scanned documents and PDFs full of photos — they are already images, often stored at needlessly high resolution.
The trade-off: in the new file, text becomes part of the page image. It looks and prints the same, but it can no longer be selected, copied or searched, and links stop working. For a form that just needs “a PDF under 2 MB” that is fine. For a document people need to search, keep the original.
Which level? Light (150 DPI) keeps small print sharp and suits anything that may be printed. Medium (120 DPI) is the best all-round choice for email and upload portals. Strong (96 DPI) gives the smallest file and is still readable on screen. Ticking black & white removes colour information, which helps most with text scans made in colour.
If a PDF is mostly real text created in Word or similar, it is usually small already. In that case the result may not be smaller — the tool tells you, so you can simply keep your original.
Frequently asked questions
How much smaller will my PDF be?
Scanned and photo-heavy PDFs typically shrink by 50–90%. PDFs made directly from Word with plain text are often already small and may not shrink.
Will the text still be selectable?
No. Pages are saved as images, so text can be read and printed but not selected or searched. Keep your original for that.
Which level should I use for an upload form?
Start with Medium. If the file is still above the limit, try Strong, and tick black & white for text documents.
Does it change the page size?
No. Every page keeps its original dimensions, so A4 stays A4 and Letter stays Letter.
Can it compress password-protected PDFs?
Yes, after you enter the password in the browser. Note that the compressed copy is saved without the password.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The document is processed entirely in your browser with the open-source PDF.js engine.