About Compress PDF to a Target Size
Compress PDF to a target size when a portal or email asks for a file under a fixed limit. Choose 100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB, 1 MB or 2 MB, or enter your own value from 20 KB to 20,000 KB. The tool tries the gentlest settings first and only compresses harder if the file is still too big, so image quality is kept as high as the target allows.
Some files cannot reach a very small target without breaking, especially PDFs with many large photos. In that case the tool returns the smallest size it could achieve and tells you honestly that the target was not reached. If your file is already under the target, you get it back unchanged. Files are uploaded to our server, deleted after 30 minutes, and never get a watermark.
How to use Compress PDF to a Target Size
- 01
Upload your PDF.
- 02
Pick the size you need.
- 03
Download the PDF.
When to use it
- Get a CV or ID scan under a 200 KB limit on a job portal.
- Fit a scanned document into a 1 MB or 2 MB email attachment limit.
- Meet a government or university upload form that demands a maximum size in KB.
- Reduce a photo-heavy PDF to a size that is easy to send by chat.
- Try a custom size such as 350 KB when the standard options are not right.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compress a PDF to under 200 KB?
Upload the PDF, choose 200 KB and press the button. The tool tries gentler compression settings first and moves to stronger ones only if the file is still above 200 KB. You then download the smaller PDF.
What if the tool cannot reach my target size?
Some PDFs cannot get that small without becoming unreadable. Then you receive the smallest size possible and a note saying the target was not reached. Try a larger target, or split the file with a different tool.
Can I enter my own size instead of 200 KB or 1 MB?
Yes. Choose Custom and type a value in KB. The accepted range is 20 KB to 20,000 KB, and values outside it are adjusted to the nearest limit. For example, type 350 for about 350 KB.
Will the quality drop a lot?
Gentler settings are tried first, so quality only drops as much as needed to reach the target. Strong compression lowers image resolution and sharpness. Text stays selectable, but small print in scans can become hard to read.
What happens if my PDF is already smaller than the target?
The tool detects this and returns the file unchanged, so you never get a worse file for nothing. If your PDF is larger than the target, it is compressed step by step until the size fits or the strongest setting is used.
Are my files safe, and what are the limits?
Files are uploaded to our server and deleted automatically after 30 minutes. Guests can upload up to 10 MB per file and run 15 PDF jobs a day. Free members get 50 MB per file and 150 jobs a day.