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Compress your PDF

Reduce PDF file size directly in your browser. No uploads, completely private, instant results.

File never leaves your device No upload required
Compression level
Drop your PDF here, or click to browse
Supports PDF up to 100MB
📅
document.pdf
2.4 MB
Compressing... 0%
Original size
—
Compressed size
—
Space saved
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How it works

Step 1
📄
Upload
Drop your PDF into the upload zone or click Select File to browse.
Step 2
⚙️
Choose level
Select balanced for most files, or maximum for the smallest possible size.
Step 3
⬇️
Download
Your compressed PDF is processed in your browser and ready to save instantly.

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How to Compress a PDF

Compressing a PDF with EditPDF is simple, fast, and completely free. Start by dragging your PDF file into the upload area, or click the box to browse your files. Once your file is loaded you will see its name and size displayed. Select a compression level — Balanced is the best starting point for most documents — then click Compress PDF. The tool processes everything directly in your browser using JavaScript, so your file never leaves your device. When it finishes you will see the original size, the new size, and exactly how much space was saved. Click Download to save your compressed file.

The compression works by optimising the internal structure of the PDF, stripping redundant data, and re-encoding image streams at a lower quality threshold. For a typical 10MB report or brochure you can usually expect the final file to land between 2MB and 5MB depending on how many images it contains and what quality setting you choose. Text-only PDFs tend to compress less dramatically — a 2MB text document might come down to 1.4MB — because text is already stored very efficiently inside the PDF format.

One of the most common reasons to compress a PDF is email. Gmail, Outlook, and most corporate email systems cap attachments at 10MB to 25MB. A design portfolio, a presentation deck, or a scanned contract can easily exceed those limits in its original form. Compressing before you send keeps the file under the threshold without forcing the recipient to download from a separate link.

EditPDF supports three compression levels. Balanced reduces file size meaningfully while keeping images sharp enough for screen reading and standard printing. Maximum compression is the right choice when file size is the only priority, such as archiving or uploading to systems with strict size caps. Light compression makes the smallest possible change to the file, useful when you need a modest reduction without any visible quality impact at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I reduce a PDF file size?
It depends heavily on the content. Image-heavy PDFs such as brochures, scanned documents, and photo portfolios can often be reduced by 50% to 90%. PDFs composed mainly of text and simple graphics typically see reductions of 10% to 30%, because the text is already stored in a compact format.
Will compressing a PDF reduce its quality?
At the Balanced level, quality loss is minimal and most people cannot tell the difference between the original and the compressed version when reading on screen or printing at home. Maximum compression does reduce image sharpness more noticeably. Text, fonts, and vector graphics are not degraded by compression — only embedded images are affected.
Is there a file size limit?
EditPDF can compress PDF files up to 100MB. If your file is larger, try splitting it first using our Split PDF tool to break it into smaller sections, compressing each section separately, and then merging them back together.
Is my PDF safe when I compress it?
Yes, completely. EditPDF compresses your PDF entirely inside your own browser using local processing. Your file is never uploaded to any server, never transmitted over the internet, and never stored anywhere outside your own device.
Can I compress a scanned PDF?
Yes. Scanned PDFs are stored as images internally, which makes them excellent candidates for compression. A scanned document that was saved at a high scanner resolution can often be reduced by 70% or more without the text becoming difficult to read.
What is the difference between the three compression levels?
Balanced is the default and works well for most documents. Maximum compression prioritises the smallest possible file size and is best for archiving or systems with strict upload limits. Light compression makes minimal changes and is useful when you need a small reduction without any perceptible quality impact.