Compress a PDF
Get a file under a bid portal’s or an inbox’s size limit. Photos and scans are recompressed; text, fonts and drawings are left exactly as they are, so evaluators can still search and copy your text.
Drop a PDF here
orYour files never leave your computer. Everything runs in your browser.
How to compress a PDF
- 1
Pick a level. Recommended suits most bids; use Strong only if you still need to go smaller.
- 2
Drop your PDF into the box. Compression starts immediately.
- 3
Check the new size, then click Download compressed PDF. Switch levels to try again.
Why some PDFs barely shrink
Compression works on photos and scanned pages, which are usually most of a large file. A PDF made straight from Word is mostly text and fonts, which are already compact. If the result would not be smaller, the tool tells you and keeps your original.
For a scanned document, Strong can often cut the size by 70% or more.
Why not just convert every page to an image?
Many free compressors turn each page into a picture. The file shrinks, but the text can no longer be searched, selected or read by screen readers, which hurts you when an evaluator searches your proposal for a requirement. This tool only touches images.
Frequently asked questions
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is compressed in your browser and never leaves your computer.
Will it lower the quality of my text?
No. Text, fonts and vector drawings are not changed. Only embedded photos and scans are resized and recompressed.
What size limit do bid portals have?
It varies by portal and by solicitation, and the instructions usually state it. Check the notice, and leave a margin: a file just under the limit can still time out on a slow connection.
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