PDFPerch · Edit & finish
Compress PDF
Reduce image-heavy PDF size directly in your browser, with no upload.
Choose a PDF to compress
Pages are rebuilt as images. Text will no longer be selectable; forms, links and signatures may be lost. Keep your original.
Compatibility, recovery & support
User guide
How to use Compress PDF
Reduce PDF size by locally re-rendering image-heavy pages at a selected quality level.
- 1
Upload a PDF and inspect its original size.
- 2
Choose extreme, recommended, or light compression.
- 3
Start compression and keep the tab open while pages are rendered.
- 4
Compare the result size and inspect small text before using the download.
Best for
- Reducing a scanned invoice for an expense portal
- Preparing a PDF for an email attachment limit
- Shrinking a phone-scanned document for a visa upload
Important limitation
Image-based compression can reduce visual quality, flatten forms or annotations, and remove selectable text. Use the lightest level that meets your limit and keep the original.
Frequently asked questions
Will text stay selectable?
Some compression modes rasterize pages, so selectable text can be flattened.
Which level should I use?
Recommended is the best starting point for most image-heavy documents.
Why did a mostly text PDF barely shrink?
Text and vector PDFs are already compact; the largest savings usually come from downsampling embedded page images.
Can a specific final size be guaranteed?
No. This preset tool balances size and clarity. Use the target-size compressor when you need to aim below a specific upload limit.
Popular related tasks
Open a focused page when you have a specific upload, printing, signing or conversion goal.
PDFPerch processes files locally unless this guide explicitly identifies a cloud-dependent feature. Always keep an original copy and verify critical output before submission, printing, signing, or accounting use.