Compress PDF

Q: Will compression reduce PDF quality?

No. This tool removes unused objects and optimizes the file structure without touching the visible content. Text, fonts, and images remain unchanged.

Q: What is the best way to compress a PDF?

For the best results, use the Strong compression setting. If your PDF was created by scanning, the reduction may be modest since the images are already compressed.

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Related Guides

Want to go further? These step by step guides cover it in detail.

How to Compress a PDF·How to Reduce PDF File Size·How to Compress a PDF for Email

Honest note: This tool removes unused data and optimizes the PDF structure. For heavy image-based PDFs, size reduction may be modest (5-30%). For text-heavy PDFs, results are typically better. Deep image recompression requires server-side processing, which would mean uploading your file. We don't do that.

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How to Compress a PDF

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Drop your PDF

Drag your PDF onto the box or click to select it from your device.

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Choose level

Pick a compression level. Medium is recommended for most files.

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Download result

See the size reduction and download your smaller PDF.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I reduce a PDF file size?

Results vary. Text-heavy PDFs with unused metadata can see 10-40% reduction. Image-heavy PDFs may see 5-20% with this browser-based tool, since deep image recompression requires server-side processing.

Will compression reduce PDF quality?

No. This tool removes unused objects and optimizes file structure without touching visible content. Text, fonts, and images remain unchanged.

What is the best way to compress a PDF?

Use the Strong compression setting for maximum reduction. If your PDF was created from scanned images, the reduction may be modest since the images are already compressed within the file.

Why is my compressed PDF similar in size?

If the PDF was already optimized or consists mainly of compressed images, there is little unused data to remove. This is a known limitation of client-side compression, and we are upfront about it.

Can I compress a PDF without losing text quality?

Yes. This tool does not alter text or fonts. Text remains fully readable and searchable after compression.

Understanding PDF Compression

PDFs get large primarily because of embedded images and fonts. A single scanned page at 300 DPI can be 500 KB to 2 MB depending on color depth. Images account for 80-90% of PDF size in most documents. Lossless compression preserves exact pixel data and suits text-heavy documents; lossy compression discards some image detail and works better for photographs. Email servers typically reject attachments over 25 MB, and many document platforms cap uploads at 10 MB. Compressing before sending avoids rejections. Example: a 40-page scanned contract at 8 MB typically compresses to 2-3 MB at moderate quality settings with no visible text degradation. Files are never uploaded - all processing stays local in your browser.