PDF compression
Custom compression
You pick the feel: from “barely touched” to “as small as possible.” Your browser does the rest, with no upload.
Drag & drop your PDF here
or click to browse
When to use Custom instead of a fixed size
Fixed sizes like 200 KB or 500 KB are for when a site checks an exact number: the tool hunts for the clearest setting that still fits. Custom is different: you tell it how you want the file to feel, and it applies that one setting directly.
That’s useful when there’s no hard limit. Maybe you’re emailing a report and just want it lighter without having to guess a number, or you’re archiving something and prefer the lightest touch that still trims hidden data. Pick a feel, compare the result, and you’re done.
The four levels, in plain language
Low: barely touched
Keeps the file closest to the original. Good for archiving or when the PDF will be printed professionally and you don’t want any softening. It still removes hidden leftovers, so you’ll usually see a modest saving.
Medium: the everyday default
This is where most people should start. A typical report gets noticeably smaller and still looks the same at normal zoom. If you’re not sure, try this and check the size it lands on.
High: clearly smaller, still professional
When a portal says “keep it reasonable” without naming a number, High usually lands you comfortably below informal 1–2 MB expectations while keeping small print and charts clean.
Maximum: as small as it can go
The strongest squeeze. Text still reads, but photos will look softer: fine for a packet of typed forms, not ideal for a photo portfolio. Use it when size matters more than photo perfection.
Under the hood, these are just different combinations of rendering scale and JPEG quality. You don’t need to think about the numbers: just pick a feel and preview the result.
A quick way to choose
Is there an exact KB limit? Don’t use Custom: use the fixed tool that matches that number (e.g., 200 KB). It’s built to chase the cap.
No exact limit? Start with Medium, download, and look. Too big? Try High. Want it pristine for a print shop? Try Low. Each run should start from your original file, not from the file you just compressed.
One check after every run: zoom to about 150% on the smallest text and the most detailed seal. If both look clean, you picked well.
A couple of honest limits
Don’t recompress the same file twice in a row.
If Medium wasn’t small enough, run High from your original: not from the Medium file. Recompressing an already-soft JPEG just adds blur for little extra saving.
Form fields become flat pages.
This tool renders pages as images and rebuilds the PDF, so fillable boxes stop being editable. Keep your original for editing, and compress a copy for uploading. See compression vs. optimization.
Private, on any device
Same in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari: desktop, Android, iOS. No upload means no server copy afterwards. Especially handy when “custom” means you’re handling a draft you don’t want leaving your phone. Need phone steps? See Android and iPhone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see the size before I download?
Not before you run it, but the page shows the original and new sizes right after it finishes. Try Medium once: the size it lands on tells you whether you need to step to High or Low next.
What’s the most I can upload?
Up to 50 MB. A 40 MB scan will just take longer because your own device is doing the work. On a phone, a smaller file like 8 MB will finish noticeably faster.