Compress PDF to 1 MB
One megabyte is one of the most common upload limits for forms and portals. This page is set to 1 MB. Your file is compressed in your browser and never uploaded.
Your file is ready
- Files stay on your device. Nothing is uploaded.
- Free, no sign-up, no daily limit.
- Works with Wi-Fi off once the page has loaded. Check it yourself
Updated by Khokhar Sab
How do I compress a PDF to 1 MB?
Press Choose PDF files. The target is already set to 1 MB; change it if your limit differs. Press Compress to 1 MB. The tool compresses at several levels and keeps the clearest version that fits, then shows the before and after size. Press Download.
- Press Choose PDF files.
- Check that Target size says 1 MB.
- Press Compress to 1 MB.
- Check the new size, then press Download.
What fits in 1 MB?
At 1 MB a one-page scan keeps 220 dpi and three pages of photos keep 150 dpi, which prints well. Our test report fit untouched, with its images unchanged. The table shows our test files compressed to exactly 1 MB: 4 of 4 fit.
| Test file | Before | After | Fits 1 MB? |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-page scan (about 280 dpi) | 3.9 MB | 1005 KB | Yes, at 220 dpi |
| Phone scan, 3 pages of photos | 12 MB | 760 KB | Yes, at 150 dpi |
| Report, 4 pages with chart images | 115 KB | 115 KB | Already under |
| Text-only report, 10 pages | 22 KB | 22 KB | Already under |
How to get a PDF under 1 MB
- Try the default first; it changes images only as much as needed.
- If a long scan still does not fit, tick Black and white images.
- Split very long documents with Split PDF and upload them as parts.
- Keep the original: compression cannot add back detail later.
Why can't my PDF reach the size?
Compression shrinks images; it cannot shrink text, fonts and drawings much, and pictures can only lose so much detail before they become unreadable. A long scan in color may simply hold too much at 1 MB. Try black and white images, remove pages you do not need, or split the document into parts.
Other sizes
100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB, 2 MB, for email, or any size with Compress PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free?
Yes, with no sign-up, no daily limit and no watermark.
Is my file uploaded?
No. Compression runs in your browser, so the file stays on your device.
Does it lower quality?
Only images, and only as much as needed to fit. Text stays sharp.
Can I compress several files?
Yes. Each file is fitted to 1 MB on its own and you get one ZIP.
Will links and form fields still work?
Yes. Only images are re-encoded.
Related PDF tools
Learn more
How this tool was built and tested
- pdf-lib, Cantoo fork (MIT), version 2.11.1: reads the file and replaces images
- Test files: a one-page scan, a 3-page phone scan, a report with charts and a text-only report generated by the site build