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PDF Tools · Updated October 17, 2026

Compress PDF Online

You can shrink a PDF in your browser by re-rendering its pages at a lower resolution: choose a compression level, rebuild the document and download a smaller file, with no upload and no sign-up.

Runs in your browserFree · No sign-up · No watermark
PDFRuns in your browser
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Everything runs locally in this tab. No file is uploaded while the tool loads.

This tool runs in your tab. Nothing is uploaded and no copy is stored.

How files are handled

At a glance

Formats
PDF → PDF
Processing
In your browser
Max size
Up to 50 MB · 100 pages
Price
Free, no account
Updated
October 17, 2026
All PDF Tools

About Compress PDF

PDFs get large for two reasons: high-resolution scans and embedded images, or thousands of vector objects and fonts. Image-heavy files are where compression earns its keep, because a 600 dpi scan carries far more detail than a screen ever shows. Text-only files are already compact, which is why some compressor tools barely change them and occasionally make them bigger.

This compressor rebuilds each page as a JPEG at a chosen resolution and quality, then assembles a fresh PDF that keeps the original page dimensions. It is deliberately honest about what that means: text becomes part of the page image and is no longer selectable, and the tool reports the actual before and after sizes instead of promising a percentage. Everything runs in your browser, so scans of passports and invoices never leave your device.

What this tool does

The details that matter when you use Compress PDF for real work.

  • Three compression levels

    Screen, ebook and print presets balance resolution and JPEG quality, from maximum savings to sharper output.

  • Real before and after sizes

    The result panel shows original size, new size and the percentage saved from the actual rebuilt file, not an estimate.

  • Page dimensions preserved

    Every page is rebuilt at its original width and height, so the compressed document still prints at the right size.

  • Works best on scans

    Page images at high scan resolution are where most of the savings come from; a high-dpi scan can often drop to a screen-ready file.

  • Honest outcome reporting

    If the rebuilt PDF is not smaller, the tool says so and recommends keeping the original instead of pretending success.

  • Local processing

    The PDF is rendered and rebuilt on your device. Nothing is uploaded and the original file is never altered.

How to use Compress PDF

No account, no installation — the whole job happens in this browser tab.
  1. 01

    Add the PDF

    Drop the file into the workspace. Its size and page count are read locally so you can compare later.

  2. 02

    Pick a compression level

    Screen for the smallest file, ebook as the balanced default, or print when the document needs to stay sharp.

  3. 03

    Compress the document

    Click Compress PDF. Each page is rendered and encoded in sequence with a progress bar.

  4. 04

    Compare the sizes

    Read the before and after figures. If the file did not shrink, keep the original — the tool will tell you.

  5. 05

    Download the result

    Save the rebuilt PDF, then open the preview or the file itself to confirm the quality is acceptable.

Supported formats and limits

Input
PDF
Output
PDF
Processing
Client-side, in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Maximum size
Up to 50 MB · 100 pages
Requirements
Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari · Enough memory for the document's page count

Limitations worth knowing

  • Lossy re-render: text becomes part of a page image and is no longer selectable or searchable.
  • Text-only and already-optimized PDFs may not shrink at all, and can even grow; the tool reports this honestly.
  • Up to 100 pages and 50 MB per run. Longer documents must be split and compressed in batches.
  • Very large page sizes are rendered at a capped resolution to stay within browser canvas limits.

Privacy and file handling

The PDF is rendered and rebuilt entirely inside your browser. Its pages, text and images are never uploaded or stored on a server, and the original file on your device is not modified. Closing the page discards the working copy and the compressed result.

Read the full privacy policy

Compress PDF FAQ

Short, direct answers to the questions people ask before using this tool.
How much smaller will my PDF get after compression?
It depends on what makes the file large. High-resolution scans and photos usually shrink dramatically, while text-only PDFs may not shrink at all because the rebuild replaces efficient text with a page image. The tool shows the measured result for your file.
Does compressing a PDF reduce its quality?
Yes. Every page is re-rendered as a lossy JPEG, so fine text edges and subtle gradients soften, most visibly at the screen level. The ebook and print levels keep more detail but produce larger files.
Why is my compressed PDF larger than the original?
Text-only and already-optimized PDFs are stored very efficiently, so replacing real text with a JPEG can add size. When that happens the tool tells you to keep the original; there is no benefit in downloading the bigger file.
Will I still be able to select and search text?
No. The rebuilt PDF contains one image per page, so text is no longer selectable, searchable or copyable. Keep the original whenever you may need to quote from the document later.
Can I compress a large scanned document?
Yes, and scans benefit most because their resolution is usually far higher than needed on screen. Up to 100 pages and 50 MB per run; longer scans should be split into parts first and compressed one part at a time.
Can I set a target file size, such as 5 MB?
No, because the final size depends on the page content, not only on the setting. Choose a level, compress, read the measured result and try a lower level if you still need a smaller file.
Are my files uploaded to compress them?
No. Rendering, encoding and rebuilding all happen inside your browser tab using pdf.js and jsPDF. The document never reaches a server and no copy is kept after you close or reset the tool.
Is it safe for confidential or scanned documents?
The file never leaves your device, so there is no upload to intercept. As with any browser tool, treat the device and the shared computer as the trust boundary — close the tab when you are finished.

Background reading

Format guides that explain the trade-offs behind Compress PDF.