How to compress a PDF to a specific size
- Choose a PDFTap Choose PDF file or drag the file in. If the PDF has a password, enter it to open the file.
- Enter the target sizeType the size you need, like 1 MB, 500 KB or 1.5 MB. Choose Black and white for stronger compression; stamps and signatures are still kept.
- Compress and downloadTap Compress PDF. The tool finds the sharpest quality that still fits under your size, then download or share the PDF.
Compress PDF under 1 MB or 500 KB for uploads
Many online forms, job portals and email systems only accept PDFs under 1 MB, 2 MB or even 500 KB. Instead of guessing with vague compression levels, type the exact limit and the tool finds the best quality that fits. For documents with many pages, choose 1 MB or more so text stays readable.
Stamps and signatures stay sharp
Red stamps, blue-ink and black-ink handwritten signatures, and digital signature boxes are detected automatically and kept sharp in their original colors, even in Black and white mode; only the rest of the page is compressed to reach your size.
PDFs with a digital signature: compress first, then sign
A digital signature is tied to every byte of the file, so compressing with any tool rewrites the file and the signature becomes just an image: you still see the signature box, but signature validation will fail. To keep a valid digital signature, compress the PDF first and sign it afterwards. The tool detects signed PDFs and tells you before compressing.
How does PDF compression work?
For PDFs with real text, such as e-invoices or files exported from Word and Excel, the tool keeps text and graphics intact and only recompresses large images inside, so text stays sharp at any zoom and can still be selected and copied. If that is still above your size (usually because fonts make up most of the file), the main result is still the sharp-text version, plus a version with text turned into images at your exact size for when you have no choice. Scanned PDFs and photos are already images, so they are compressed directly to your size. Everything runs in your browser; your PDF is never uploaded. Other tools: Image to PDF, PDF to JPG.
Compress PDF: FAQ
Is this PDF compressor free?
Yes. It is free, with no sign-up and no usage limit.
How do I compress a PDF under 1 MB?
Choose the file, type 1, select MB and tap Compress PDF. The tool lowers resolution and image quality just enough to fit under 1 MB.
Will stamps and signatures get blurry?
No. Red stamps, handwritten signatures in blue or black ink and digital signature boxes are detected and kept sharp, in their original colors.
Does compression keep a digital signature valid?
No. After compression the digital signature is only an image, because compressing rewrites the file. To keep it valid, compress first, then sign.
Does compression keep text sharp?
Yes. For PDFs with real text, text and graphics are kept as they are and only large images are compressed, so text stays as sharp as the original and can still be copied. When the size you enter is too small, the main result is still the sharp-text version; the version with text turned into images is only an extra option if you must hit the exact size.
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. The file is read and compressed in your browser and is gone when you close the page.