Guide1 min readUpdated July 8, 2026
How to compress a PDF
Short answer
Open the PDF in a compressor and download the smaller copy. Most PDF size comes from embedded images, so compression mainly re-encodes those at a lower quality while keeping the text sharp.
Why PDFs get large
Text in a PDF is tiny; the weight almost always comes from embedded images and scans. Compressing a PDF mainly means re-encoding those images at a smaller size or lower quality, which is why a photo-heavy PDF shrinks a lot and a text-only one barely changes.
Compress a PDF
- Add the PDFDrop the file in. It is processed locally in the browser tab.
- Let it re-encodeEmbedded images are recompressed while text stays crisp.
- Download the smaller fileSave the compressed copy; the original is untouched.
Try it: Compress PDFCompress a PDF locally — the file never leaves your browser.Open tool
Text stays sharp; images may softenPDF text is vector and is not degraded by compression. Only raster images are re-encoded, so a heavily compressed scan can look softer. Compress from the original, not a re-compressed copy.
Shrink it further
- Resize huge images before creating the PDF — see how to resize an image
- Remove pages you do not need with extract or delete pages
- Avoid embedding full-resolution photos when a smaller size will do
- Prefer text-based PDFs over scanned images where possible