How PDF compression works and how to get the size you need
Where the size in a PDF comes from
Most oversized PDFs are heavy for one reason: embedded images. A text-only report is usually small already. A scanned contract, a brochure exported from a design tool, or a deck full of screenshots carries full-resolution images that a compressor can safely down-sample and re-encode. Our tool re-compresses those images and strips redundant data while leaving the text layer selectable.
Choosing a compression level
- Light: small size reduction, no visible change. Use for documents you will print.
- Recommended: strong reduction with images that still look clean on screen. Best for email and most upload forms.
- Strong: maximum reduction for screen-only reading, where a portal caps you at 1 MB or 2 MB.
Hitting a specific limit (1 MB, 2 MB, 5 MB)
If a form rejects your file, start with the Recommended level and check the result. Scans compress the most. If you are still over, lower the level again, or split the PDF into parts and upload separately. A 300 DPI scan rarely needs to stay at 300 DPI for on-screen review — 150 DPI is typically indistinguishable on a monitor and roughly a quarter of the size.
What compression will not do
It will not make a text-only PDF meaningfully smaller (there is little to remove), and it will not upscale a low-quality scan. Password-protected PDFs must be unlocked first.
Privacy
Files are transferred over an encrypted connection and deleted automatically about an hour after processing. No account and no watermark.