How to Compress a PDF
- Upload your PDF file using the upload area
- Choose a compression level: Low (smaller file), Medium (balanced), or High (better quality)
- Adjust the image quality slider if your PDF contains images
- Click Compress PDF
- Download the compressed file
How PDF Compression Works
PDFs can contain several types of data that can be compressed:
- Images: Embedded images are re-encoded at a lower JPEG quality level, which significantly reduces size for image-heavy PDFs.
- PDF Object Optimization: Unused objects, redundant cross-reference tables, and metadata are removed or reduced.
- Text and vector data: Already stored efficiently in PDF format — minimal compression possible.
Note: For PDFs containing mostly text and vector graphics, size reduction will be modest (5-20%). For PDFs with embedded photos, reduction can be 50-80%.
FAQ
Why is my compressed PDF almost the same size?
PDFs that contain mainly text and vector drawings (not photos) cannot be compressed much because text is already stored very efficiently. Significant size reduction is only possible when the PDF contains embedded photos or high-resolution images.
Will text be readable after compression?
Yes. Text is stored as vectors in PDFs and is not affected by image quality compression. Only embedded raster images (photos, scans) are re-encoded.
What compression level should I use?
Medium is a good starting point. If you need a smaller file and the PDF will be viewed on screen only, use Low. If you need to print the PDF, use High.
Is my PDF safe?
Yes. All compression happens in your browser. Your PDF is never uploaded to any server.
What is the maximum PDF size this can handle?
There is no hard limit — it depends on your device's available memory. Files up to 100-200MB generally work fine on modern devices.