About Compress PDF
Large PDFs frustrate email inboxes, slow mobile downloads, and hit upload ceilings on government or university portals. Compress PDF reduces file size while trying to keep text readable and images acceptable for everyday viewing. You choose a compression level on this page—balanced options let you trade a little sharpness for a much smaller attachment when the goal is sharing rather than print production.
Compression helps consultants deliver reports to clients on slow connections, job seekers upload portfolios under strict megabyte caps, and field workers sync manuals to tablets with limited storage. Archivists sometimes compress working copies for distribution while keeping a lossless original offline. Because the process runs server-side through DocumentToolbox, you do not need a paid Acrobat plan or a plug-in you barely trust.
Not every PDF shrinks equally: scans that are already JPEG-heavy may see modest gains unless downsampled more aggressively, while vector-heavy slides can drop dramatically when embedded images are optimized. Password-protected inputs may need unlocking first with the Unlock PDF tool if your workflow allows it. Always preview the output before you delete the only copy of a pristine original.
If compression makes photos too soft for your use case, rerun at a gentler level or keep an archival PDF separate from the “email-friendly” version. For multi-file projects, compress individual pieces before merging to stay under combined upload limits. Respect privacy: contracts and medical records deserve offline handling when possible.
Supported formats
This tool accepts PDF. Always respect the upload limit shown next to the form before sending large documents.
How to use
- Upload your file in the file field.
- Complete the extra fields (password, page ranges, quality, and similar).
- Click Run tool.
- Download or read the output below.
If processing fails, check the upload size limit on the form, try fewer or smaller files, or retry in a fresh tab.
Security & privacy
Files and text you send are processed to produce your result and are not intended for long-term storage on your behalf. Avoid uploading passports, bank details, medical records, or legally sensitive material unless you accept the risks of any online service. For confidential workflows, prefer offline software on a device you control. Read our privacy policy for site-wide practices.