Compress PDF to 1MB

Compress a PDF to 1MB or less online for free — the limit is preset to 1MB, so just drop your PDF. Lossless compression is tried first; if that isn't enough, you get the sharpest version that still fits. Runs 100% in your browser.

100% private — your PDF never leaves your browser. Conversion happens on your device; nothing is uploaded.

How to compress a PDF to 1MB

1. Drop your PDF here, or click to choose it — the limit is already set to 1MB.
2. Tick grayscale if colour doesn't matter — it makes files much smaller.
3. Click “Compress PDF”. The tool tries lossless compression first, then finds the best quality that fits.
4. Download the PDF — it's now under 1MB.

What you can use it for

• Email attachments and messaging apps
• Portals with a 1 MB upload limit
• Image-heavy reports and brochures
• Shrinking large scanned PDFs

Frequently asked questions

How do I compress a PDF to 1MB?

Drop the PDF in and click “Compress PDF”. The limit is already 1MB; the tool tests different quality levels and saves the sharpest version that fits.

Will my PDF still have selectable text?

If lossless compression is enough to reach the limit, yes — nothing else changes. If not, pages are turned into optimised images to fit, and the result tells you so; text in that copy can't be selected.

Why can't my PDF get small enough?

Very long or image-heavy PDFs may not fit a small limit and stay readable. The tool then gives you the smallest readable version — try removing pages with Delete PDF Pages, splitting the file, or turning on grayscale.

What's the difference between 1 MB and 1000 KB?

Sites count a megabyte as 1,000 KB or 1,024 KB. The tool aims just under 1,000 KB so the file passes either way.

Will it be exactly 1MB?

It will be just under. The tool aims about 3% below 1MB so the file passes upload checks whether a site counts 1 KB as 1,000 or 1,024 bytes.

Is my PDF uploaded?

No. Compression runs entirely in your browser, so documents with personal details never leave your device.