Compress PDF Files
Reduce PDF file size for easy sharing and uploading
About this tool
The Compress PDF tool reduces PDF file size so documents are easier to email, upload, archive and share. Large PDFs often come from scanned pages, image-heavy reports, presentations, catalogs or documents exported at print quality. Compression helps bring those files down to a more practical size.
Convertit gives you compression levels so you can balance quality and file size. A lighter setting preserves more visual detail, while stronger compression targets smaller files for strict upload limits. The recommended setting is a good starting point for most business documents, forms, school files and reports.
This tool is useful when an email attachment is rejected, a website has a maximum upload size, a cloud folder is filling up, or a PDF takes too long to send on a mobile connection. Compressing the file makes the document easier to move without rebuilding it from scratch.
How to use Compress PDF
- Upload the PDF file you want to reduce.
- Choose a compression level based on whether quality or file size matters more.
- Start compression and wait for processing to complete.
- Download the optimized PDF.
- Open the result and check important text, images and signatures before submitting it.
Choosing a Compression Level
Low compression is best when the document includes small text, detailed diagrams, images that need to remain sharp or files intended for printing. Recommended compression is suitable for everyday sharing because it usually reduces size without making the document look noticeably worse. High compression is useful when you must meet a strict upload limit and can accept some visual softness.
If the PDF is mostly text, compression may keep quality very high. If it is mostly full-page photos or scans, the file can shrink more, but the images may show the most visible change. Always review important PDFs after compression.
Why PDF Size Matters
Large files slow down collaboration. They take longer to upload, longer to download and can fail on weak connections. Many portals also enforce limits for resumes, applications, insurance documents, invoices and assignment submissions. A smaller PDF is easier for both you and the recipient.
Compression also helps long-term storage. If your team keeps many scanned files, reducing each document by even a modest amount can save significant space over time while keeping the archive usable.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about this tool.
How much can PDF size be reduced?
Typically we can reduce PDF size by 30% to 70%, depending on content and chosen compression level.
Will the PDF quality decrease?
We offer three compression levels. The recommended level offers great quality with significant size reduction.
Which compression level should I choose?
Choose recommended for most documents, low when print quality matters, and high when you must meet a strict upload limit.
Can I compress scanned PDFs?
Yes. Scanned PDFs often shrink well because they contain large images, but strong compression can make small text softer.
Will links and text still work?
Compression is designed to keep the PDF usable, but you should review important files after processing to confirm links, text and signatures still look correct.
Why is my PDF still large?
Some PDFs already contain optimized images or embedded assets that cannot be reduced much without visible quality loss.
Can I email the compressed PDF?
Yes. Compression is commonly used to bring PDFs under email attachment limits and portal upload limits.
Does compression add a watermark?
No. Convertit does not add watermarks to compressed PDFs.
Should I compress before or after merging?
Usually merge first, then compress the final combined file. That gives you one optimized document to review and send.