Compress PDF to 100 KB, 200 KB, 1 MB, or Any Size
Make a PDF small enough for an upload form or an email. Pick a limit such as 200 KB, or use the balanced setting for a smaller file that stays easy to read. The PDF is compressed in your browser and never uploaded.
How to compress a PDF
- 1Choose a size. Pick Balanced for a general reduction, or a limit such as Under 200 KB. Use Other size to type the exact limit a form gives.
- 2Add your PDF. Drop the PDF onto the box or tap to choose it. Longer documents take a little longer, because every page is processed.
- 3Download. Check the new size against your limit, then download the compressed copy. Your original file is not changed.
How Docsdom makes a PDF smaller
Each page is saved as a compressed image at the sharpest setting that fits your limit. This works especially well for scanned documents and PDFs made from phone photos, which often shrink by 70 to 90 percent.
Because the pages become images, text in the compressed copy cannot be selected, copied, or searched. Keep your original if you need that. For forms that only need a readable copy, such as certificates, mark sheets, and ID proofs, this does not matter.
Choosing the right size
- Balanced: a noticeably smaller file that stays clear on screen and in print. A good choice for email.
- Under 1 MB or Under 500 KB: common limits for job applications and university portals.
- Under 200 KB or Under 100 KB: common for exam and government forms. Single-page documents usually fit easily; longer ones may need fewer pages.
- Results are always a little under the number you pick, so they pass portals that count 1 KB as either 1,000 or 1,024 bytes.
When a PDF will not get small enough
Every page needs some space to stay readable, so a long document may not fit a very small limit. The tool tells you the smallest size it can reach. To get under the limit, upload only the pages the form needs: remove the rest with Remove PDF Pages, or take a range with Split PDF.
If a PDF has only typed text and no images, it is usually small already, and saving it as images would make it larger. In that case the tool says so and you can upload your original.
Making a small PDF from photos
If you are photographing paper documents to upload, Scan to PDF crops and straightens each photo and puts the pages into one PDF. Compress that PDF here if the form has a size limit. Our guide on why upload forms say a file is too large explains the common limits and fixes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I compress a PDF to under 100 KB?
Usually, for one or two pages. Choose Under 100 KB. If the document is long, the tool tells you the smallest it can reach, and you can remove pages you do not need.
Why can I no longer select text in the compressed PDF?
Each page is saved as a compressed image, which is what makes the file so much smaller. Keep your original if you need to copy or search the text.
Will the compressed PDF be readable when printed?
Yes with Balanced and the larger limits. Very small limits make pages softer, which is fine on screen but less crisp on paper.
Can I compress a password-protected PDF?
Remove the password first with Unlock PDF, using the password you already have, then compress the unlocked copy.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes. It runs in any modern mobile browser. Very long PDFs are faster on a computer.
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. The PDF is compressed inside your browser and stays on your device.
Want more detail? Read on our blog: File Too Large to Upload? Why It Happens Even Under the Limit