PDF Compressor
Create a smaller, image-based copy of a PDF. Best for scanned documents; check the output before replacing your original.
PDF Compressor
Choose a PDF up to 15 MB, with no more than 30 pages.
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Guide updated 6 October 2026
Reduce an image-heavy or scanned PDF by rendering each page as a compressed image inside a new PDF. This method can help with upload and email limits, but it changes the document’s structure. Keep the original and read the trade-offs before starting.
How to compress a PDF with this tool
- Select one PDF no larger than 15 MB and containing no more than 30 pages.
- Choose the quality option. Start with the higher quality when small text matters.
- Confirm that you accept turning the pages into images and losing interactive document features.
- Select Compress, wait for all pages to finish, then compare the original and result sizes.
- Download the output and inspect every page before sharing it.
The process needs browser memory and must load its PDF libraries. A long document can take more time than a one-page scan. This is not a batch PDF compressor.
When scanned PDFs are a suitable starting point
A scan often contains large page images. Re-encoding those images can reduce its size when the original resolution or image quality is higher than the destination needs. That can be useful for a reference copy, a simple scan or a visual attachment.
A text-based PDF may already be compact. Turning its text into images can make it larger or less usable. For searchable documents, accessible reading, editable forms or archive-quality copies, choose a workflow that preserves those features.
What changes when PDF pages become images?
The output keeps a visual representation of each rendered page, but the original text layer and document structure are not carried into the new file. Text selection and search are lost. Clickable links, editable form fields and digital signatures are not preserved as functioning features.
A visible signature image is not the same as a preserved, verifiable digital signature. Do not replace a signed original with this derivative when the signed document itself is required. Keep the original alongside any compressed viewing copy.
Choose quality and compare the result
The lower-quality option reduces image quality and rendering resolution. It can create a smaller file, but small print, diagrams and thin lines may become harder to read. The higher-quality option is a better starting point when those details matter.
The result shows original KB and output KB. If the output is equal to or larger than the source, the tool flags it. File size depends on page content, source optimization and rendering settings; there is no guaranteed percentage reduction or exact KB target.
Example: getting a scan below an upload limit
If a portal accepts PDFs up to 2 MB and your scan is 4 MB, try the higher-quality setting first. If the result still exceeds the limit, try lower quality from the original and compare readability. These example sizes describe the decision process, not a promised reduction.
If neither version fits and remains readable, reduce the source scan’s resolution or divide the document using an appropriate tool when the recipient permits it. This compressor does not split or merge PDFs.
Why PDF compression fails or makes a bigger file
The file exceeds the limits
Check both its byte size and page count. A PDF under 15 MB can still exceed the 30-page limit.
The PDF needs a password or is damaged
The tool does not offer a password-entry workflow. Use an authorized copy that can be opened, or repair/re-export a damaged file from its source.
A library fails to load
The page loads PDF.js and jsPDF from a third-party CDN. Network restrictions or a blocked library can stop the process, even though the document itself is processed in the browser.
The output is larger
Keep the smaller original. Image-based reconstruction is not the right optimization for every PDF.
PDF compressor FAQs
Is this lossless PDF compression?
No. Pages are rendered as JPEG images, with quality and structure changes.
Will I still be able to select or search text?
No. This output does not keep the original selectable text layer or perform OCR.
Are my files uploaded?
The tool processes the selected document in your browser. Its conversion libraries load from a CDN.
Can I choose an exact output size?
No. Choose a quality level and check the actual result.
Will it keep forms and digital signatures?
No. Keep the original whenever those features are required.