How much can I compress?

Compression depends on the file content, but significant reduction is often possible.

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Compress PDF

Compress PDF files to reduce file size while maintaining quality. Optimize PDFs for web and email.

Drop PDF file here or click to upload

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Compress PDF Files Online - Reduce Size Free

Reduce PDF file sizes instantly with our free online PDF compressor. Optimize documents for email, faster uploads, and reduced storage while maintaining quality. Our browser-based tool compresses PDFs without uploading to servers, ensuring complete privacy and security.

ℹ️ Did you know? Compressed PDFs transfer 70% faster via email and use 60% less storage space. Most email servers have 25MB attachment limits - compression helps you stay under restrictions while sharing important documents.

Why Compress PDF Files?

Email Attachment Limits

Gmail, Outlook, and most email services limit attachments to 25MB. Compressing large PDFs ensures successful delivery without file size restrictions or upload failures.

Faster Sharing & Downloads

Smaller files transfer faster, improving productivity. Recipients download compressed PDFs 3-5x quicker, especially important for mobile users with limited bandwidth.

Reduced Storage Costs

Cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive) charges based on space used. Compressing PDF archives can save hundreds of dollars annually in storage fees for businesses.

Improved Website Performance

PDFs embedded on websites or offered as downloads load faster when compressed, improving SEO rankings and user experience. Google prioritizes fast-loading pages.

📝 Example: Contract Distribution

A legal firm sharing client contracts:

Original: 45MB scanned contract with images
After compression: 12MB optimized PDF
Reduction: 73% smaller file
Benefit: Email-friendly, faster distribution

How PDF Compression Works

Our tool optimizes PDF structure using pdf-lib compression algorithms. It reduces file size by:

Removing duplicate embedded fonts
Optimizing object streams
Elminating unnecessary metadata
Streamlining PDF structure

Common Use Cases

Email Attachments: Compress business documents, contracts, proposals under 25MB
Website Downloads: Reduce load times for PDF resources, documentation
Cloud Storage: Save space in Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive
Document Archiving: Store thousands of files efficiently
Mobile Sharing: Quick transfers on limited bandwidth
Form Distribution: Send fillable PDFs that load quickly

💡 Pro Tip: For maximum compression, reduce image quality in the source document before creating the PDF. Compressing already-optimized PDFs yields minimal results.

Best Practices

When to Compress

PDFs larger than 5MB for email sharing
Documents with many embedded images
Scanned documents from high-resolution scanners
Large presentations converted to PDF
Before uploading to websites or portals

When NOT to Compress

Print-ready documents (compression may reduce quality)
PDFs already under 1MB (minimal benefit)
Documents requiring highest image quality
Files with complex vector graphics

Privacy & Security

All compression happens in your browser using the pdf-lib JavaScript library. Your PDFs never upload to our servers or any external service. Process confidential contracts, financial documents, and personal files with complete privacy.

Limitations

Browser-based compression optimizes PDF structure but cannot compress embedded images as aggressively as server-based tools. For maximum compression, reduce image quality in the source document before PDF creation.

Troubleshooting

Minimal Size Reduction

If compression yields small results, your PDF is already well-optimized. For further reduction, recreate the PDF with lower image quality settings in your source application (Word, PowerPoint, etc.).

Compression Failed

Ensure your PDF isn't password-protected or corrupted. Try opening it in a PDF reader first to verify integrity.