Guide: Compress PDF
Introduction
Reduce PDF size while keeping text crisp and images clear. This guide shows how to prepare a file and choose the right steps to stay under common limits.
When to use this guide
- Sending contracts, invoices, or reports that must fit 5–10 MB email caps
- Uploading PDFs to portals or messengers with strict size limits
- Sharing scan-heavy PDFs that open slowly on mobile
- Speeding up downloads for recipients on weak connections
How to use
- Remove extras: delete blank pages and unused attachments before compression.
- If the PDF is built from images, compress them first (Compress JPG or Compress PNG).
- Upload the file to Compress PDF (up to 500 MB).
- Download the optimized PDF; if needed, re-run after lowering image DPI to 150–200.
Tips and recommendations
- Keep text as text — exporting from the source app is better than scanning.
- Large presentations: flatten heavy backgrounds in the source file, then compress.
- For frequent sends, keep a “light” template with already compressed assets.
Example: trim a 30 MB report
- Start with a PDF full of charts and photos.
- Compress images to web-friendly size, run Compress PDF, and get a 4–6 MB file that stays readable.
Frequently asked questions
Will the text stay sharp?
Yes. Text remains vector; most savings come from optimized images.
What is the upload limit?
Up to 500 MB per file. Very large scans may take longer to process.
Is it secure?
Files are processed securely and removed automatically within 24 hours.
Call to action
- Open Compress PDF — main tool
- DOCX to PDF guide — export lighter PDFs from Word
- Reduce PDF size guide — combined cleanup + compression