How to Compress a PDF to Fit a Size Limit
Key points
- Choose a size limit and the tool fits it automatically
- You can also choose a quality level
- After compressing, check the text is readable
You may see "File too large" and be unable to upload a PDF.
Steps
- Open "Compress PDF" and choose the PDF.
- Select "Set a size" and pick a value a bit below the recipient's limit (1, 2, 5 or 10 MB).
- Tap "Compress" and save.
Choosing by quality
- Small file: when you want it as small as possible
- Normal: for everyday submissions
- High quality: when readability matters most
How it works and a caveat
This site's compression rebuilds each page as an image. Therefore
- Text can no longer be selected, copied or searched
- Links and bookmarks (outline) are not kept
Checking after compressing
- Is the saved file under the limit?
- Are small text and numbers readable?
- Are all pages included?
If it still doesn't fit, delete unneeded pages and compress again.
Use "Compress PDF" (free)Tools that go well with this
- Extract or Delete PDF Pages: Keep only the pages you need, or remove the pages you don't.
- Merge PDFs: Combine several PDF files into one, in the order you choose.
- Split PDF: Split a PDF into several files: one page each, every N pages, or by ranges.
More guides for this tool
- What to Do When a PDF Is Too Big to Attach to an Email
- Why Text Can't Be Selected in a Compressed PDF
- Choosing Quality When Compressing: Small, Normal or High
- Why Scanned PDFs Are Heavy and How to Lighten Them
- Typical Upload Limits on Application Forms and How to Fit Within Them
- How PDF Compression Works Without Sending Your File Out