Compress PDF
Compress PDF
Reduce PDF size, then download. Maximum 256 MB.
Compress a PDF to fit email and form limits
Compress PDF reduces the size of a PDF so it will pass email gateways and exam or job portals that cap uploads at a few megabytes. You can send files up to 256 MB, pick strong, balanced or light compression, and download the result.
This is one of the tools that processes the file for you and then discards it. Complete the bot check when asked. Do not upload confidential files you are unwilling to send over the network.
Compression works best on PDFs that are large because they contain photos or scans. A text-only file is often already small; compressing it will not magically turn 80 KB into 8 KB.
How to reduce PDF file size
Upload the PDF, choose a preset, and wait for the job to finish. Compare the original and new sizes shown on the page. Open the download and check signatures, stamps and small print before you submit.
- Up to 256 MB per file
- Strong, balanced or light presets
- Download a smaller PDF
- File discarded after processing
Choosing strong, balanced or light
Strong aims at the smallest file and may soften photos. Use it for draft sharing or when a portal is strict. Balanced is the usual choice for applications. Light keeps more detail for pages you might print.
If strong still misses the cap, split out unused pages, or rebuild photo-heavy pages from resized JPGs via Image to PDF, then compress again. There is a floor: a 40-page colour scan cannot become 200 KB and stay readable.
Why some PDFs barely shrink
Already-compressed files, encrypted files and files that are mostly vector text have little fat to cut. If size barely changes, the PDF was not photo-heavy. Removing pages will reduce size more than another compress pass.
Good practice
Keep the original until the compressed file is accepted. Never compress a signed legal PDF as your only copy if the appearance of the seal matters in court; keep the source and send a copy.
Merge first, compress last, so you are not compressing each chapter and then bloating the merge. If a face photo in the PDF becomes blotchy, use a lighter preset or replace that page.
Related pages
Open a page that matches the size or form you are filling:
Other PDF tools
Continue with another free tool on Template Maker:
Frequently asked questions
Is PDF compression free?
Yes. No login or credits.
What is the maximum file size?
Up to 256 MB per PDF.
Is my PDF stored?
The file is processed to compress it and then discarded. We do not keep a document library.
Which compression preset should I use?
Balanced for most forms. Strong when a portal still rejects the file. Light when you need to print sharp photos.
Will text stay readable?
Usually yes on balanced and light. Always open the download and check small print and stamps.
What if the file is still too big?
Delete unused pages with Split / Delete Pages, or rebuild image pages at a smaller size, then compress again.