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Compress a PDF to the size you need

Application portals often set a file size limit. Pick your limit and the tool finds the best quality that fits.

Pick the limit your portal asks for. Each page opens the Compress PDF tool with that target already set, and your file never leaves your device.

Compress to 50 KB

A limit this small is usually set for a single page, such as a signed declaration, an ID page or a short certificate.

Compress to 100 KB

Many application and registration portals set a limit near 100 KB for each uploaded document.

Compress to 150 KB

A middle limit used by some portals for results, certificates and letters.

Compress to 200 KB

A common limit for admission, scholarship and job application uploads.

Compress to 300 KB

Often used for multi-page documents such as a CV with attachments or a short statement.

Compress to 500 KB

A frequent limit for application packs, project reports and scanned certificates.

Compress to 1 MB

A typical limit for email attachments on forms and for many upload fields.

Compress to 2 MB

A common limit for portals that accept longer reports, theses chapters and scanned bundles.

What decides how small a PDF can get

  • Scans versus text. A typed document is small. A scanned page is a picture, so it is much larger.
  • Resolution. Scanning at 600 dpi makes a file several times larger than 150 dpi, with little benefit for reading.
  • Page count. Every page adds weight, so remove blank or unneeded pages first.
  • Colour. Black and white scans are much smaller than colour scans.

Read our guide to reducing PDF and image size for online applications for a full walk-through. For photos and signatures, use Resize Image to a Size.

Frequently asked questions

How do I compress a PDF to an exact size?

Open the Compress PDF tool, choose Target size and type the limit, such as 200 KB. The tool lowers the quality in steps until the file is below that size, then shows the result.

Why will my PDF not get smaller?

Scanned pages, high-resolution photos and many pages all add weight. Scan at 150 to 200 dpi, remove blank pages, resize large pictures, or split the document into parts.

Free tools you may need

Compress PDF

Reduce the size of your PDF files while keeping them readable.

Merge PDF

Combine multiple PDF documents into one single file easily.

Split PDF

Extract specific pages or ranges from a PDF into separate files.

Image Resizer

Resize and compress photos to exact pixels, cm or a target size in KB. Passport and portal presets.