Rekto DigitalFree toolsCompress PDF
Compress a PDF to the size you need
Updated October 28, 2026 · Free, no sign-up, no upload
Pick the size limit you need (100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB, 1 MB or any other) and get the clearest PDF that fits under it. It all happens in your browser; your file never leaves your device.
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Other sizes
Any PDF sizePDF to 50 KBPDF to 100 KBPDF to 150 KBPDF to 200 KBPDF to 300 KBPDF to 400 KBPDF to 500 KBPDF to 1 MBPDF to 2 MB
How to compress a PDF
- Choose your PDF. Pick it or drop it on the box.
- Pick the size limit. Choose one from the list, or Other size to type your own in KB.
- Compress. The smaller PDF downloads straight away, and the status line shows the new size.
We tested it: one scan, every size
Tested on October 28, 2026 (2 MB on October 30, 2026) with a CV with a photo (3 pages, 1.3 MB), a phone scan of a certificate (4 pages, 1.3 MB) and a brochure full of photos (6 pages, 3.6 MB). ppi: pixels per inch of the redrawn pages.
| Limit | Scan after | ppi | How it reads |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 KB | 41 KB | 41 | Hard to read |
| 100 KB | 88 KB | 61 | Readable, a little soft |
| 150 KB | 132 KB | 81 | Clear |
| 200 KB | 195 KB | 96 | Sharp, small print too |
| 300 KB | 284 KB | 120 | Sharp, small print too |
| 400 KB | 365 KB | 120 | Sharp, small print too |
| 500 KB | 475 KB | 150 | Sharp, small print too |
| 1 MB | 751 KB | 150 | Sharp, small print too |
| 2 MB | Already under | – | Unchanged |
Each size has its own page with the CV and brochure results too. Black and white made almost no difference: at 200 KB the scan came out at 195 KB either way.
What fits, and how it works
A text document usually shrinks a lot with no visible change. Scans and photo-heavy PDFs shrink the most: our 1.3 MB test scan of four pages fitted in 195 KB and stayed sharp. The tool first rewrites the PDF without any loss, which keeps text selectable. If that is not small enough, it redraws each page as an image at the best quality that fits your limit.
How many pages fit in each size?
| Pages | 50 KB | 100 KB | 150 KB | 200 KB | 300 KB | 400 KB | 500 KB | 1 MB | 2 MB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typed pages (no photos) | 1–2 | 2–4 | 3–6 | 5–10 | 10–15 | 15+ | 20+ | 50+ | 100+ |
| Scanned pages, still clear | 1 | 2–3 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 25+ | 50+ |
Scanned pages come from our own tests, at about 37 KB per clear A4 page; typed pages are a rough guide. See the official limits for SSC, IBPS, SBI, NEET, JEE and GATE.
Tips for a clear, small PDF
- Text PDFs often shrink without any loss, keeping text selectable.
- Scans and photos shrink the most; for the smallest files, remove pages you do not need.
- Only keep the pages you need. Split the PDF first if a form asks for one page.
Questions
How do I reduce the size of a PDF for free?
Choose your PDF on this page, pick the size limit you need and press Compress PDF. You get the best-quality PDF that fits, free, with no sign-up and no watermark.
Is my file uploaded?
No. The tool runs in your browser on your own device, so your file is never sent to our server or anyone else's, and it is gone when you close the page.
Why can't I select the text any more?
If a lossless rewrite is not enough, the tool redraws each page as an image to reach your size. The pages look the same, but the text becomes part of the picture. Keep your original file for editing, and upload the compressed one.
What if it can't get under my limit?
Remove pages you do not need (Split PDF does that), or check whether the form accepts a bigger file. The tool tells you when a PDF cannot fit and stay readable.
Is a KB 1000 or 1024 bytes?
Forms differ: some count 1 KB as 1000 bytes, others as 1024. To be safe, this tool counts 1000, so a file made for a 100 KB limit is at most 100,000 bytes and passes either way.
Can I compress a PDF on my phone?
Yes, this page works in a phone browser. On Android, the free Kind PDF app also compresses PDFs offline, with no upload and no watermark.
Photos to shrink too?
Image resizer in KBResize image to 10 KBResize image to 15 KBResize image to 20 KBResize image to 30 KBResize image to 40 KBResize image to 50 KBResize image to 100 KBResize image to 200 KBResize image to 300 KBResize image to 500 KB
On Android? Compress PDFs offlineKind PDF is our free PDF app for Android: compress, scan, sign, combine and convert to Word, all on your phone with no watermark and no account.