What is Compress PDF?
Shrink oversized PDFs so they fit email attachment limits and upload forms. This compressor re-renders each page as an optimised image at the quality you choose, which works especially well for scanned documents and image-heavy brochures.
How to use Compress PDF
- Select the PDF you want to compress — its current size is shown once loaded.
- Set the image quality. Lower quality means a smaller file; 60% is a good starting point.
- Click “Compress PDF” and wait while each page is processed.
- Compare the before and after sizes, then download the result.
Why use this tool?
Fit email and portal limits
Most email providers reject attachments over 20–25 MB, and government portals often demand far less. Compression usually gets scanned documents comfortably under those caps.
You control the trade-off
The quality slider lets you decide between a smaller file and sharper pages, instead of accepting a fixed preset.
Frequently asked questions
Will the text still be selectable after compressing?
No — this method converts pages to images, so text becomes part of the picture and can no longer be selected or searched. It is ideal for scans, but if you need selectable text, keep the original.
Why did my PDF get bigger instead of smaller?
That means the original was already well optimised, typically a text-only PDF. Rasterising those pages adds data rather than removing it, so keep the original in that case.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. Every tool on Toolraq runs entirely inside your browser using JavaScript and WebAssembly. Your file never leaves your device — there is no upload endpoint at all. You can verify this yourself by opening your browser’s DevTools Network tab while you use the tool.