How to Compress a PDF to a Specific Size
Upload your PDF, choose a target size such as 100KB, 500KB, 2MB, 3MB or 4MB, select a DPI quality level, and click Compress PDF. The tool processes your document locally in your browser and tries to create a PDF at or below your selected file size.
Compress PDF to 100KB, 500KB, 2MB, 3MB or 4MB
Many websites reject PDF files that are larger than a fixed upload limit. This tool lets you compress a PDF to a specific maximum size in KB or MB. You can choose common limits such as 100KB, 500KB, 2MB, 3MB and 4MB, or enter your own custom target size.
Compress PDF to 100KB
Use the 100KB target for very small upload limits, simple one-page forms, lightweight scans or basic documents. Because 100KB is a very small size, choose 72 DPI for the best chance of reaching the limit. Large multi-page PDFs may not fit into 100KB while staying readable.
Compress PDF to 500KB
The 500KB target is useful for job application portals, email attachments, government forms and older upload systems. Set the target size to 500 KB and use 72 or 96 DPI if the PDF contains scanned pages or images.
Compress PDF to 2MB
Compressing a PDF to 2MB is common for visa applications, immigration portals, university forms and online document uploads. Select 2 MB as the target size and start with 144 DPI for a good balance between readability and file size.
Compress PDF to 3MB
The 3MB target is a good choice when you need better quality than very small limits like 500KB or 1MB, but still need the PDF to stay under an upload limit. Use 144 DPI for most documents, reports and scanned files.
Compress PDF to 4MB
Compressing a PDF to 4MB is useful for larger documents, resumes with portfolios, reports, scanned files and application documents that must remain readable while staying below a strict file size limit.
Recommended PDF Compression Settings
Use these suggested DPI settings when compressing a PDF to common upload limits.
| Target Size | Recommended DPI | Best For | Expected Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100KB | 72 DPI | Simple forms, one-page scans, very small uploads | Low |
| 500KB | 72–96 DPI | Job applications, email attachments, government portals | Low to medium |
| 2MB | 96–144 DPI | Visa applications, university forms, ID scans | Medium |
| 3MB | 144 DPI | Reports, portfolios, multi-page documents | Good |
| 4MB | 144–200 DPI | Scanned reports, larger documents, resumes with portfolios | Good |
When Should You Use This PDF Compressor?
- When a website requires your PDF to be under 100KB, 500KB, 2MB, 3MB or 4MB.
- When you need to reduce a scanned PDF for a visa, university, job or government application.
- When you want to compress a PDF privately without uploading the file to a server.
- When your PDF contains scanned pages, images or photos that can be optimized.
When This Tool May Not Be the Best Choice
- If you need the text in the output PDF to stay selectable or searchable.
- If your PDF contains forms, links, annotations or layers that must remain editable.
- If your target size is extremely small compared with the number of pages.
- If you need professional print quality after compression.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I compress a PDF to 100KB? ▼
Upload your PDF, set the target size to 100 KB, choose 72 DPI, and click Compress PDF. A 100KB limit is very small, so it works best for simple one-page documents.
How do I compress a PDF to 500KB? ▼
Set the target size to 500 KB and choose 72 or 96 DPI. This setting is useful for job applications, email attachments, government forms and older upload portals.
How do I compress a PDF to 2MB? ▼
Upload your PDF, set the target size to 2 MB, and start with 144 DPI. If the file is still too large, try 96 DPI or 72 DPI.
How do I compress a PDF to 3MB? ▼
Choose 3 MB as the target size. This is useful when you need a smaller PDF but want better quality than very small limits like 500KB or 1MB.
How do I compress a PDF to 4MB? ▼
Set the target size to 4 MB. This limit works well for larger documents, resumes with portfolios, reports and scanned PDFs that need to remain readable.
Is my PDF uploaded to a server? ▼
No. Your PDF file is processed locally in your browser. The document itself is not uploaded to ToolShelf.
Will the compressed PDF still have selectable text? ▼
Usually no. This tool compresses by converting PDF pages into optimized images, so text, links, forms and annotations may no longer be selectable or editable.
Why is my PDF still larger than the target size? ▼
The selected size may be too small for the number of pages, images or visual detail in your PDF. Try using a lower DPI, splitting the PDF or removing unnecessary pages.