Learn
Guides
Short, practical explanations of why PDFs get large and how to get one under the limit you're facing.
Hitting a size limit
Getting a PDF under an upload form's or an inbox's limit.
How to Compress a PDF to a Specific Size
How to get a PDF close to an exact size like 500 KB or 1 MB, why "high/medium/low quality" presets don't do this, and what to expect when a target genuinely can't be hit.
How to Reduce a PDF's Size for Email
Real attachment size limits for Gmail and Outlook, why a file just under the limit can still bounce, and how to compress a PDF so it actually sends.
Scans and large files
Why some PDFs are so big, and what shrinks them.
Why Is My PDF So Large?
The most common reasons a PDF ends up much bigger than expected, and which ones compression can actually fix.
How to Compress a Scanned PDF
Why scanned PDFs are so much larger than text documents, and what to expect when you shrink one to a specific size.
Troubleshooting
When a file stops getting smaller.
Why Won't My PDF Compress Any Smaller?
Why a PDF stops shrinking no matter what you try, and how to tell whether you've hit a limit of the file or of the tool.
Ready to try it?
Pick your PDF and a size limit. You'll see the measured result before you download.