Compress PDF to Reduce File Size
Shrink a scan- or photo-heavy PDF. Each page is redrawn as a compressed image, and you see the exact before-and-after size. Read the trade-off below first.
100% client-sideYour files stay in your browser and are never uploaded.
- Free, no signup
- Before-and-after sizes shown
- Files never leave your device
What this does: every page is redrawn as a compressed picture. Text can no longer be selected, searched or copied, and links, form fields and digital signatures are lost. Mostly-text PDFs often do not get smaller.
How to use Compress PDF
- Drop a PDF onto the tool, or choose one from your device.
- Pick a level: Light keeps the most detail, Strong makes the smallest file.
- Press Compress PDF. Each page is drawn and saved as an image, then rebuilt into a new PDF.
- Compare the original and compressed sizes, then download the result only if it is smaller and good enough.
Features
- Three levels, from Light (about 144 DPI) to Strong (about 72 DPI)
- Exact before-and-after sizes, and a plain warning when the file did not get smaller
- Page count of the result is checked against the original
- You can cancel a long job at any time
- Honest about the trade-off: pages become images, so text is no longer selectable
- Nothing is uploaded: rendering and rebuilding run on your device
What can you use Compress PDF for?
PDFs made from scans or photos are often large because every page is a big image. Redrawing those pages at a lower resolution and JPEG quality can cut the size a lot, which helps when a form or email has an upload limit.
This is a trade-off, not a free lunch. Pages become flat pictures, so the file loses its selectable text and any links, forms or signatures. The tool shows the size before and after so you can judge whether it was worth it.
- Getting a scanned document under an upload or email size limit.
- Shrinking a slide deck exported with large photos.
- Making a reference copy that is only meant to be read on screen.
- Checking quickly how much of a PDF's size comes from its images.
Tips for better results
- Start with Balanced. If the file is still too big, try Strong. If small print looks soft, try Light.
- A PDF exported from Word or a web page is mostly text and fonts, and is usually small already. Compressing it this way may make it larger.
- Keep the original. A compressed copy cannot be turned back into searchable text.
- For the best result, reduce the size at the source: export the PDF again from the original app with lower image quality.
Frequently asked questions
Is my PDF uploaded when I compress it?
No. The pages are drawn and rebuilt by code running in your browser. The file is not sent to Toolbantu or anyone else, and the PDF components are bundled with the site.
What does Compress PDF do to my PDF?
It draws each page, saves the picture as a JPEG at the level you choose, and builds a new PDF from those pictures. That can make image-heavy files much smaller, but text, vector graphics and links become part of a flat image.
Why did my PDF not get smaller, or even get bigger?
Text-based PDFs, such as ones exported from Word, are already compact because text and fonts take little space. Turning their pages into images can be larger. The tool tells you when this happens, and you should keep the original in that case.
Will I still be able to select and search the text?
No. After compression each page is an image, so text can no longer be selected, searched or copied. If you need that, keep the original or reduce the size at the source.
Does it keep digital signatures, links and form fields?
No. Rebuilding pages as images removes them, and a signed PDF will no longer be a valid signed document. Do not use this tool on documents that must stay signed or fillable.
Can I choose a target size like 200 KB or 1 MB?
No. The tool does not aim for a particular size. Try Balanced, then Strong. If the file is still too large, split it into smaller parts with Split PDF.
Is there a size or page limit?
Each file can be up to 50 MB. Pages are processed one at a time, so long documents take longer but use limited memory, and you can cancel at any point.