Compress PDF to send by email
We set a 10 MB target, a common cap on email services, so your PDF goes through as an attachment without being rejected.
Drop your files hereTap to choose your files
or click to choosePDF · up to 300 MB each
Processed on your device: nothing is uploaded
Compression level
Advanced options
Greatly reduces the size of color scans that only contain text.
Removes the author, the source program, and embedded thumbnails.
Compressed PDF
How to use it
- Drop one or more PDFs into the box, or choose them from your device.
- Choose the compression level: Low keeps almost all the detail, Recommended balances size and quality, and Extreme shrinks as much as it can. If you need a specific size, turn on “Fit to a size” and type the MB.
- Select “Compress PDF.” You will see how much each file weighed and how much it weighs now, with a before and after preview.
- Download the result. If you compressed several files, you can download them all together in a ZIP.
Frequently asked questions
Why 10 MB and not another value?
It is a cap that most email providers accept, even allowing for the size increase that attachments add. You can type a different value in the “Smaller than” field.
Does it work for Gmail, Outlook, and others?
Yes. The goal is to make the file as light as possible without losing legibility. If your provider accepts more, raise the limit; if it is stricter, lower it.
Is the PDF uploaded to a server so it can be sent?
No. This tool only shrinks the file on your device. You send it yourself from your email, with the already compressed copy.
Getting a PDF ready to attach to an email
The most common reason to compress a PDF is that it does not fit as an attachment. Email services have a size limit per message and, on top of that, sending encodes the file and makes it about a third larger. That is why it pays to leave some margin: here the target starts at 10 MB.
What the tool does
It tries lower and lower qualities until it fits the target and keeps the text selectable. You can adjust the limit, choose image compression only, or turn on grayscale for scans. When you are done, download the PDF and attach it to your email. If you are after an even smaller file, see compress to 2 MB or go back to the compress PDF tool.
Updated on September 29, 2026