How to use Compress PDF
Shrink a PDF for email or upload by re-encoding embedded images at a lower quality. Three presets balance file size against visual fidelity, and you can compare the before/after of a sample page side-by-side before downloading. Runs entirely in the browser — nothing uploaded, no quality loss to compression artefacts from a server pass.
Good for
- •Getting a 25 MB scan under a 10 MB email limit
- •Web upload size caps (job applications, government portals)
- •Archive storage where each KB matters across thousands of files
- •Sharing a portfolio PDF over a slow connection
- •Preparing a deck for download from a marketing site
Not good for
- •PDFs that are already mostly text — savings will be minimal
- •PDFs with no embedded images — there's nothing to compress
- •Print-bound files where image DPI must be preserved (use High preset)
- •Files already optimised by another tool — diminishing returns
Walkthrough
Step by step
- 01
Drop the PDF
Tools menu → Compress PDF. We show the current size and a one-line breakdown of what's inside (text vs. images vs. fonts) so you can predict savings.
- 02
Pick a preset
High quality (light compression, ~70% of original), Balanced (default, ~40%), or Aggressive (max compression, ~20%). Each shows the estimated output size before you commit.
- 03
Compress
We re-encode the embedded raster images at the chosen quality and DPI. Vector graphics, fonts, and form fields are untouched — they don't lose quality.
- 04
Compare before downloading
Side-by-side preview shows a sample page in original vs. compressed quality. Re-pick a preset if the compression is visibly degrading text or fine detail.
- 05
Re-run with a different preset (optional)
If Balanced is too lossy or Aggressive is overkill, click Compress again with a different preset. The original is reused — we don't compound compression.
- 06
Download
Click Download. The compressed file keeps the original filename with a -compressed suffix so it doesn't overwrite anything in your downloads folder.
Tips
- •Scans of typed text compress more than photos — text-heavy scans can hit 80% size reduction at Balanced.
- •If quality matters more than size, use High and run twice — two passes don't double-compress images because we always re-encode from the original.
- •Already under 1 MB? Don't compress — the metadata overhead can actually grow the file slightly.
- •Compressing then editing then re-compressing can compound artifacts. Do edits first, then compress as the final step.
- •If you're emailing the result, run a test send to yourself first — some mail servers reject anything resembling an over-compressed scam scan.
Frequently asked
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