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How to use the Compress PDF
- 1Choose a PDF file.
- 2Pick a compression level.
- 3Compare the new size and download the compressed PDF.
How it works
Each page is re-rendered as an optimized image at the resolution you choose and rebuilt into a new PDF. This works extremely well for scanned documents and image-heavy PDFs, often reducing size by 50–90%.
Because pages become images, text in the compressed PDF can no longer be selected or searched. For text-only PDFs the original may already be small; the tool tells you if compression would not help.
Which compression level should I choose?
| Level | Resolution | Best for | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | 170 DPI | Documents you may print | 30–60% |
| Recommended | 130 DPI | Email and online forms | 50–80% |
| Strong | 96 DPI | Strict upload limits | 70–90% |
Common upload limits
Many job portals and government forms limit uploads to 1–5 MB, and email attachments are usually capped at 20–25 MB. Scanned multi-page documents easily exceed these, which is where compression helps most.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best level for email?
'Recommended' gives a good balance: readable text and much smaller files. Use 'Strong' for very large scans that must fit tight upload limits.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Everything happens in your browser, which also keeps confidential documents private.