How to reduce PDF file size

To reduce a PDF's file size, open Compress PDF, add your file, pick a compression level and download the lighter version. It is free and works right in your browser, and the Recommended level keeps the format, colors and fonts of the original. Here is how it works, step by step.

Key Takeaways

• Compress PDF reduces file size online in five steps, free and with no software to install.
• Choose from three levels: Recommended for most files, Extreme for the smallest size, Less for the highest quality.
• Recommended compression keeps the format, colors and fonts of your original document.
• Still too large to email? Split PDF can split the file by size into parts that fit.
• The iLovePDF Desktop app compresses PDFs on Windows and macOS, right on your computer.

Why reduce PDF file size?

Compressing, or 'optimizing' PDF files has many benefits. Some of the most common reasons for optimizing PDF files are to:

• Share files via email: Trying to send an email with a huge PDF file? If the file size is too large, it's likely to exceed the maximum file attachment size limit. Most email servers like Gmail and Outlook have a max file size limit of around 20 to 25mb. Compress the file before sending it so it arrives on the first try. If it is still over the limit after Extreme compression, Split PDF can split it by file size into parts that each fit in an email.
• Save storage space: If you have a PDF file containing scanned images, it's probably very large and therefore requires a lot of storage space. With a PDF Optimizer, you can significantly reduce file size quickly to cut down on storage needs.
• Speed up load time: Reducing PDF file size creates faster upload and download times. Obtain faster load times and improve efficiency by optimizing PDF documents before loading them on the web.
• Batch-process PDF files: Compress PDF lets you add several documents and shrink them together. Instead of processing files one by one, you save time by compressing them in bulk, in a single task.
• Improve SEO: Heavy PDFs can slow your website down. A slow website can affect User Experience and your SEO results. Stay on good terms with Google by optimizing your PDFs first. The tool will make files lighter to ensure speedy web performance and a positive UX.

How do I compress a PDF file?

In five steps, straight from your browser: add your PDF to Compress PDF, choose a level, and download the smaller file.

From the download page, you can keep working on the compressed file as a chained task, for example adding a password with Protect PDF before you share it, with no re-uploading.

Which compression level should I choose?

For most documents, choose Recommended: it gives the best balance between file size and visual quality. Compress PDF offers three levels, each tuned for a different size-quality ratio:

• Recommended Compression: Good quality, good compression. Basically, what it says on the tin. This option will automatically reduce the file size while maintaining optimal compression quality, adapted for the internet. That means we will shrink your PDF without affecting things like format, color, and font.
• Extreme Compression: Less quality, high compression: Still not small enough? If you compress your PDF but it still isn't the right size for your document needs, we suggest selecting the extreme option. It will reduce PDF file size even more. However, remember that this may affect the content quality of your document. So if it looks a bit blurry or the color is slightly out, you know why...
• Less Compression: High quality, less compression. If you don't need to resize your PDF that much, then this is the one for you. The tool will optimize PDF documents a little bit, while the visual quality will remain very high.

Using the iLovePDF Desktop app? There, Recommended and Extreme compression remove the accessibility tags from tagged PDFs, and the app lets you know before it does. Choose Less compression when your document needs to stay accessible.

Can I set my own compression level?

Compress PDF keeps three fixed levels, because PDF compression is not gradual and extra levels would not give you a better size-quality ratio. What you can choose is your default: save your preferred level in Tool settings, and Compress PDF applies it every time you open the tool.

How can I say a big thanks for my smaller PDF?

Happy with your lighter PDF? Share it on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn and tag @iLovePDF. You can also join the iLovePDF community on Reddit to swap tips with other users and hear about new tools first.

FAQs

1. How do I reduce the size of a PDF for free?

Open Compress PDF, add your file, choose Recommended, Extreme or Less, click Compress PDF and download the result. It all happens in your browser, free.

2. Will compressing my PDF lower its quality?

It depends on the level. Recommended keeps the format, colors and fonts of the original, and Less keeps the visual quality very high. Extreme gives you the smallest file, and images may look slightly softer.

3. What can I do if my PDF is still too large to email?

Compress it again with Extreme. If it is still over the 20 to 25 MB most email providers accept, use Split PDF to split it by file size into parts you can send one by one.

4. Can I compress PDFs on my computer instead of in the browser?

Yes. The iLovePDF Desktop app compresses PDFs on Windows and macOS, and its Compress PDF tool runs up to 700% faster than in earlier versions of the app.

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