PDF Compress: Shrinking Files for Email and Storage
PDFs from scans, presentations, or rendered reports can be huge β easily 50+ MB. Most email systems cap attachments at 25 MB. Compression reduces file size by re-encoding embedded images at lower quality without changing the document structure.
Most PDF size comes from embedded images, especially scans. Compressing those images at lower quality or fewer pixels typically cuts file size by 50β80% with minimal visible difference. Text and vector graphics are unaffected; only the images change.
When PDF compression saves the day
- β’Email attachment limits (Gmail 25 MB, Outlook 20 MB)
- β’Web upload size caps (form submissions, applications)
- β’Storage on cloud services with quota
- β’Faster sharing over slow connections
Extended FAQ
Will text quality suffer?
No β text in PDFs is vector-based and unaffected by compression. Only embedded images are recompressed.
Are my files uploaded?
No β runs entirely in your browser.