Compress a PDF
Shrink a PDF by re-encoding each page as a compressed image. Runs entirely in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.
Drop a PDF here, or click to browse
Files never leave your device
Output
The result appears here as you type.
How to use Compress a PDF
- 1. Load the PDF. Drop your document into the workspace. Each page gets rendered internally so it can be re-encoded as a compressed image.
- 2. Set the JPEG quality. Adjust JPEG quality to trade off file size against sharpness. Lower values shrink the file more but introduce visible compression artifacts.
- 3. Set the render DPI. Choose Render DPI for how much detail each page keeps before compression. Lower DPI produces a smaller file but softens fine text and lines.
- 4. Download the compressed PDF. Generate and save the file. It is now noticeably smaller, at the quality and resolution tradeoff you chose.
When to use Compress a PDF
Compress a PDF shrinks a document by rendering each page and re-encoding it as a compressed image at the quality and resolution you set. It is for PDFs that are too large to email or upload as-is because of heavy embedded graphics.
- Fitting under an email attachment limit. A scanned report weighs in over most inboxes' attachment limit. Compressing it at a moderate JPEG quality and DPI usually brings it well under the cap while staying readable.
- Speeding up an upload to a slow portal. A government or vendor portal accepts PDFs but times out on large files over a poor connection. A compressed version uploads faster without changing the document's content.
- Archiving high-resolution scans more compactly. A folder of scanned invoices was saved at unnecessarily high resolution. Compressing them in bulk reclaims storage space while keeping the text legible for reference.
About the Compress a PDF tool
Compress a PDF runs as plain JavaScript in your browser tab, with no server behind it. Shrink a PDF by re-encoding each page as a compressed image. Whatever you put in stays on your device from start to finish.
The tool is part of EditSafely's PDF Tools section, 92 single-purpose utilities built around the same idea: open the page, get the result, keep your data to yourself.
You can shape the output with 2 settings, including JPEG quality and Render DPI, and the result refreshes the moment you change one. The finished file is put together in browser memory and saved with the Download button, so it never touches a server on the way to your disk.
That local-first design has practical benefits beyond privacy. The tool keeps working on a flaky connection once the page has loaded, results are instant because nothing round-trips to a server, and it is safe to use with confidential material.
Frequently asked questions
Does Compress a PDF cost anything?
Yes, it is completely free. All 2,658 tools on EditSafely work without an account, a subscription or usage limits.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No data leaves your device. The whole tool is JavaScript that runs inside your browser tab, so there is no upload, no server-side processing and no log of what you did. If you disconnect from the internet after the page loads, it keeps working.
Which files does Compress a PDF accept?
It accepts PDF documents. There is no file size cap imposed by a server; very large files are limited only by your device's memory.
Do I need to sign up or install anything?
Nothing to install and no account needed. Open the page in any up-to-date browser, including on a phone or tablet, and the tool is ready.
How do I save the output?
Click the Download button once the result is ready. The file is built in your browser's memory and handed straight to your downloads folder, without passing through a server.