Compress PDF

Reduce the size of a PDF so it fits an email or an upload limit. Most of the weight in a large PDF is its images, and this recompresses them; you choose how hard to push before downloading.

Why use PalPDF for this

See the result before you keep it

The finished size is shown next to the original, so you can tell whether you have gained enough or need to push harder.

Your document stays yours

Compression happens in the browser. A confidential contract does not have to be handed to a stranger’s server to be made smaller.

How to Compress PDF

  1. Open the PDF — Drag in the file that is too large.
  2. Pick a level — Stronger compression means a smaller file and softer images. Start moderate and go further only if you need to.
  3. Download — Check the new size, then save it.

When this comes in useful

Questions

My PDF is too large to email. What should I do?

Compress it here first — scanned documents and image-heavy files usually shrink a lot. If it is still too big, split it into parts and send them separately.

Will compressing reduce quality?

Images are recompressed, so at stronger settings they soften. Text and vector content are unaffected. Use the lightest setting that gets you under your limit.

Why is my scanned PDF so big?

A scan stores a photograph of every page, often at a much higher resolution than anyone will look at. Recompressing those pictures is usually where the whole saving comes from.

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