PDF Compress

Re-save your PDF to remove redundant data and deduplicate object references.

Note: Compression removes redundant data. Results vary by PDF - some files may see minimal size reduction.

PDF

Click to select a PDF file

About this tool

Reduce PDF file size without installing desktop software - all processing happens in your browser. Compress PDFs for email attachments, faster web delivery, or meeting upload size limits. Choose your compression level: light (minimal quality loss), medium, or aggressive (maximum size reduction).

How to Compress a PDF Online

1Drop your PDF onto the upload area or click to browse.
2Select a compression level: Light, Medium, or Aggressive.
3Click 'Compress PDF'.
4Compare original and compressed file sizes in the result.
5Click 'Download Compressed PDF'.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I reduce a PDF's file size?+

PDFs containing large embedded images can be reduced by 40–80%. PDFs with mostly text and vector graphics see smaller reductions of 5–20%.

Does compression affect text quality?+

No. Text and vector graphics are unaffected. Only embedded raster images are resampled, and only when using medium or aggressive settings.

Why is my compressed PDF larger than the original?+

This can happen with already-optimised PDFs. If the original was already well-compressed, the tool adds minimal overhead. Try the 'Light' compression level.

Can I compress a password-protected PDF?+

No. Remove password protection first using the PDF Password tool, compress, then re-protect if needed.

Looking for a deeper guide on this topic? Browse the Searchlight blog.

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