Reduce PDF Size Online
Choose your compression level based on your needs — light for quality preservation, medium for a balanced approach, or extreme for maximum size reduction. Upload, reduce, download — all in your browser.
PDFs can be large for many reasons — high-resolution images, embedded fonts, unoptimized internal structures, or hidden metadata. PDF.it analyzes your document and applies compression based on the level you choose, targeting the biggest sources of bloat to reduce file size effectively.
- ✓ Three compression levels: light, medium, and extreme
- ✓ Text always remains sharp and readable
- ✓ Works on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux
- ✓ No installation — reduce PDF size in your browser
Drop your files here
or click to browse files
Supported formats: .pdf
Fit Email Attachment Limits
Most email providers limit attachments to 10-25MB. Reduce your PDF size so it fits within email limits and downloads quickly for your recipients.
Meet Upload Portal Requirements
Job applications, government forms, insurance claims, and university submissions often have strict file size limits. Reduce your PDF to meet upload requirements.
Save Cloud Storage Space
Save space on Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or iCloud by reducing archived PDFs. Smaller files also sync faster across devices and share more reliably on mobile.
How to Reduce PDF Size
Upload your PDF
Drag and drop or click to choose a file
Choose compression level
Light, Medium, or Extreme reduction
Download your PDF
Get your reduced file instantly
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I reduce the size of a PDF file?
Upload your PDF to PDF.it, choose your preferred compression level (light, medium, or extreme), and click Compress. Your reduced-size PDF will be ready to download in seconds.
What is the difference between light, medium, and extreme compression?
Light compression optimizes PDF structures with minimal image changes — best for quality-sensitive documents. Medium (recommended) balances size reduction and quality. Extreme compression maximizes size reduction by aggressively compressing images — best when you need the smallest possible file.
How much will my PDF be reduced?
Results depend on your PDF content and the compression level you choose. Text-heavy PDFs may see 20-40% reduction. Image-heavy PDFs with extreme compression can see 50-80% reduction. Every document is different.
Is reducing PDF size free?
Yes. Free users can reduce up to 10 PDFs per day with files up to 25MB. Pro users get unlimited compressions with files up to 200MB and batch processing.
Will reducing PDF size affect the quality?
It depends on the compression level. Light compression preserves nearly all quality. Medium compression slightly reduces image detail. Extreme compression noticeably reduces image resolution for maximum size savings. Text always remains sharp regardless of level.
What if my PDF is still too large after reducing?
Try a higher compression level, or split the PDF into smaller sections with our Split PDF tool and compress each part. You can also flatten the PDF or remove unnecessary pages to reduce size further.