PDF tool
Reduce PDF file size
Shrink a PDF for email, job apps, and portals that bounce oversized uploads. Set quality or a KB target, then download a lighter copy.
Drop your PDF here
Click anywhere or drop files, tweak options, then press Reduce
How it works
- 01
Add your PDF
Drop one file or several. They wait in the list until you press Reduce—unless you turn on auto-reduce.
- 02
Set quality or a KB target
Use Options for everyday quality, or aim for a hard cap like 200 KB when a form prints the limit.
- 03
Download the smaller copy
Check the new size, then download one file or a ZIP. Re-run anytime after changing settings.
When a PDF is “too large”
It usually isn’t the text that blows up the file—it’s the photos inside. Scanned IDs, signed forms photographed with a phone, and slide decks full of screenshots are the usual suspects. A portal that only accepts 200 KB or 1 MB doesn’t care how important the document is; it just rejects the upload.
Use this tool to try a lighter setting or a target size, check the new size in the list, then download a copy you can actually submit.
What shrinks well (and what doesn’t)
Scans and image-heavy PDFs
These respond best. The tool can rebuild page images at a lower quality or resolution so the download weighs less. Expect the biggest wins on multi‑page paperwork that started life as photos.
Text-only or already optimized PDFs
Clean digital PDFs (exports from Word, invoices with vector text) are often already compact. Forcing “max compression” can turn crisp text into page images and make the file larger. When that would happen, we keep your original and label the result so you’re not left guessing.
How to use the Options panel
- Aim for a max file size — turn this on when the form prints a number. Enter the KB limit and press Reduce.
- Quality slider — when you don’t have a hard cap, start around 70–80% and nudge down until the size looks safe.
- Auto-reduce — optional. Leave it off if you want to tweak settings before each run.
Practical tips before you submit
- Remove blank pages and unused attachments first—fewer pages means less to compress.
- If you’re still over a hard cap, split a long packet into two uploads when the site allows it.
- After changing Options, use Re-run so the new quality or target actually applies.
- Always open the downloaded PDF once on your phone or laptop to confirm text is still readable at the size you need.
Working with photos instead?
For JPG, PNG, and WebP, use the image size reducer—or jump to JPG / PNG pages. Animated loops belong on the GIF size reducer.
Related tools
Common questions
How much smaller will my PDF get?
Scans and photo-heavy PDFs usually shrink a lot. A text-only PDF may barely move—or stay the same—because the text is already stored efficiently. If we can’t beat the original size, we keep your original instead of giving you a larger file.
Can I hit an exact size like 200 KB?
Turn on “Aim for a max file size” and enter your limit. We’ll push quality and resolution down when possible. Some documents simply can’t go that small and stay readable—if that happens, remove pages or split the file, then try again.
Will the text stay selectable?
Aggressive shrinking may rebuild pages as images so they weigh less. That’s great for scans, but text may no longer be selectable. If you need searchable text, start with lighter settings or keep a text-only original.
What if Options change after I already reduced?
You’ll see a notice to re-run. Press Re-run all (or Re-run on one file) so the new quality or target actually applies.
Can I reduce several PDFs at once?
Yes. Add multiple files, reduce them together, then download individually or as a ZIP.