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Compress PDF
Make a PDF smaller by lowering its image quality.
Free tools that run in your browser. Nothing you type, open or create is uploaded to NerdBible or anyone else.
Choose a PDF to start.
The image methods turn every page into a picture. Text will no longer be selectable or searchable, and links, bookmarks and form fields are removed. Keep your original.
Most of a large PDF's size is usually scanned pages or photos. The image methods redraw each page at a lower resolution as a JPG, which shrinks scans a lot, but a PDF that is mostly text can get bigger, because sharp text takes more space as a picture than as text. When that happens the tool says so and you can keep the original.
How to use it
- Choose or drop a PDF.
- Try Lossless rebuild first if the PDF is mostly text; choose one of the image methods for scans and photo heavy files.
- Press Compress, compare the sizes, and download the result, or keep your original if it was already smaller.
Questions
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. pdf.js draws the pages and pdf-lib builds the new file, both inside your browser on your device.
Why can I no longer select the text?
The image methods save each page as a picture of itself. That is what makes scans small, but it removes the text layer. Use Lossless rebuild if you need selectable text.
Why is my compressed file bigger?
Some PDFs are already efficient, for example ones exported from a word processor with no photos. Turning their pages into images adds size. The tool shows the change and offers the original when it is smaller.
Which method should I pick?
Balanced suits most scans for email and reading on screen. Pick light if it will be printed, or strong if it only needs to be legible and as small as possible.
Can it compress a password protected PDF?
No. Open it with the password in a PDF reader, save a copy without protection, and compress that copy.