Compress PDF — Free, In-Browser File Size Reducer
Shrink PDFs by 50–80% with smart image re-encoding at three quality levels. Text stays selectable and searchable. Auto-keeps original if smaller.
Compress PDF
Shrinks the images inside your PDFs — text stays selectable and searchable. Several files at once. If we can't make one smaller, you keep that original. No surprises.
Drop PDFs here, or click to choose
Multiple files welcome — compressed in your browser, nothing uploads
Need it even smaller? Flatten to images
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Browse all PDF Tools →Compression only helps if the bulk is images
A 40-page text report with a few charts may barely shrink—text and vector graphics compress poorly with image re-encoding. But a 3-page scanned document or a PDF full of embedded photos can drop by 50–80%. The tool downsamples images to a new maximum width (2048 pixels at high quality, 1600 at balanced, 1100 at extreme) and re-encodes them as JPEG. Text and vector content are never touched. If your PDF has almost no images, compression will do almost nothing, and the tool will tell you so honestly—it keeps the original if the result isn't smaller.
Text stays selectable and searchable after compression
Unlike rasterization (which turns pages into flat images), smart compression leaves the text layer intact. You can still select, copy, and search words in the compressed PDF. The tool skips images under 320×320 pixels and image streams under 24 KB, leaving small photos and graphics alone. It also avoids CMYK images, masked images, and anything with custom decoding instructions—these are too risky to re-encode. The result: smaller file size with zero loss to document usability.
The extreme preset trades softness for aggressive shrinking
Three quality levels let you choose your trade-off. High quality targets 2048-pixel maximum width and 82% JPEG quality—barely visible difference from the original. Balanced (the default) uses 1600 pixels and 72% quality, best for most documents. Extreme pushes to 1100 pixels and 58% quality, making images softer but delivering the smallest file. Preset choice is per-batch, not per-file, so all your uploaded PDFs compress at the same level.
Password-protected PDFs are decompressed into the output
If you upload an encrypted PDF, the tool prompts for the password. Once unlocked, the PDF is processed normally—text and images are handled the same way as any unencrypted file. The compressed output is saved without the password. This is by design: re-encoding rewrites the entire file structure, and encryption is lost in that process. If you need the result to stay locked, re-protect it afterwards. See also Merge PDF and PDF to Images.
How to use the Compress PDF
Takes about a minute. No signup, no download, your data stays in your browser.
- 1Open the tool. Scroll up to the Compress PDF above — it loads instantly in your browser, no install needed.
- 2Enter your values. The fields come pre-filled with realistic defaults so you can see how it works — replace them with your own numbers.
- 3Read the result. The output updates instantly. Copy or share it — nothing is uploaded to a server, everything stays on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about the Compress PDF.
Why did my file barely shrink?
Compression only works on images. A text-heavy PDF with minimal photos may not shrink noticeably, and the tool will keep the original untouched. Scanned documents and image-heavy PDFs typically see 30–80% reduction. If your PDF is mostly text, consider other techniques like removing metadata or objects.
Is the text still selectable after compression?
Yes. Smart compression re-encodes images while preserving the text layer, so the result remains fully selectable and searchable. Only if you choose the Flatten option (a fallback for scans) do pages become pictures—that removes the text layer.
What is the Flatten option, and when should I use it?
Flatten rasterizes every page to JPEG at your chosen quality, then rebuilds the PDF from those images. It removes the text layer entirely, making text non-selectable. Use it only for image-only scans where smart compression leaves no room to shrink further. It is offered only as an explicit fallback.
What happens to my password after compression?
The compressed PDF is saved unlocked. Encryption cannot survive PDF reconstruction, so even if your input is password-protected, the output comes out without a password. Re-protect it afterwards if you need it locked.
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