Compress PDF files in your browser with standard or maximum compression modes to shrink file size before email or upload.
Standard mode rewrites the PDF structure and removes redundant objects—ideal when you need a modest size reduction without touching embedded images. Maximum mode rasterizes each page to JPEG at a quality level you choose (30–100%), which can dramatically shrink scanned documents and image-heavy PDFs but may reduce text sharpness on some pages. Neither mode adds watermarks or changes page dimensions.
The quality slider appears only in Maximum mode. Lower values (30–50%) produce the smallest files but may introduce visible compression artifacts on photos or fine text. Start around 75% for a balance between readability and size, then re-compress if the output is still too large.
Results depend on the source PDF. Text-only documents may shrink only 10–30% in Standard mode because there are few images to optimize. Scanned PDFs and brochures with large photos can drop 50–80% in Maximum mode. The tool shows before-and-after sizes so you can decide whether to download.
Encrypted or password-protected PDFs cannot be processed in the browser unless you unlock them first. Open the file in a PDF reader, remove the password, save a copy, then upload the unlocked version here.
Very large PDFs may exceed browser memory on low-RAM devices. If compression fails or the tab crashes, try closing other tabs, splitting the document first, or compressing in Maximum mode at higher quality to avoid repeated full re-rasterization. Typical office PDFs under 50 MB work reliably on modern desktops and laptops.
No. Compression runs entirely in your browser using Web APIs. Your file never leaves your device, which makes this tool suitable for contracts, medical records, and other sensitive documents.
Use sibling tools on this site: PDF to Images (PDF to PNG/JPG), Images to PDF (JPG/PNG to PDF), and PDF Text Extractor for plain-text convert-PDF-doc style extracts. Pair with Merge, Split, or Compress PDF for a full browser-local toolkit—no uploads.
Yes. Compress PDF is free with no login, no watermarks, and no daily limits.
Most providers cap attachments around 10–25 MB. Compress with Standard first; if still over the limit, switch to Maximum at ~75% quality and re-check the on-screen size. Keep a small safety margin (for example stay under 90% of the stated cap) because mail gateways sometimes expand MIME overhead.
Standard mode usually keeps vector text sharp. Maximum mode rasterizes pages, so very low JPEG quality can soften fine print. For print handouts, stay at 80–90% quality or use Standard when the PDF is mostly text and charts.
Open the downloaded file and spot-check one text page and one image page at 100% zoom. Confirm the on-screen size is under your email or portal limit with a small margin. Keep the original in an archive folder; do not overwrite the master. If a reviewer needs print quality, prefer Standard mode or Maximum at 80%+ instead of chasing the smallest possible file.