How to Reduce PDF File Size for Email and Uploads
Learn which PDF content usually causes large files and how to make a document easier to upload or share.
Start by finding the cause
Large photos and scanned pages are common reasons for oversized PDFs. A 20-page scanned document can be much larger than a 100-page text-only report. Before compressing, think about whether the document contains many high-resolution images.
Use the smallest quality that still works
For email, applications, and document uploads, the ideal file is usually the smallest one that keeps the content readable. Try a balanced compression level first and compare the result. If the file is still too large, increase compression and check the important pages again.
Keep an original copy
Always keep the original PDF when it contains information you may need to reprocess later. Compression can be destructive, especially when pages are rebuilt as images, so the original remains the safest source document.