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Compress PDF to 100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB — Free, No Upload

Compress a PDF to an exact size like 100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB, 1 MB or 2 MB for exam and government forms. Free, no upload, no watermark, no sign-up.

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Compress a PDF to an exact size — 100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB or 1 MB

Many online forms cap uploads at a fixed size. Government portals, exam registrations, job applications and visa or immigration sites commonly ask for documents under 100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB, 1 MB or 2 MB. This tool lets you pick that limit and produces a PDF that fits, all inside your browser, with no upload and no account.

How target-size compression works

The tool first tries a lossless re-save, which compresses internal structures and strips metadata but leaves every page untouched. If the result is already under your limit, that file is delivered and text stays selectable. If not, each page is rendered once, then re-encoded as a JPEG image. The tool searches for the best combination of image quality and resolution that fits under your target, rebuilds the PDF at the original page size, and checks the real file size before offering it for download.

Scanned PDFs versus text PDFs

Most files that need heavy shrinking are scans or phone photos saved as PDF. Those are already images, so converting pages to optimised images loses nothing structurally and can cut size dramatically. A PDF exported from Word or a browser contains real text and vector graphics. It is often small already, and reaching a very small limit means turning its pages into images, so text can no longer be selected, copied or searched. If you must keep text, use the "Keep text (lossless)" mode, and expect modest savings.

The quality trade-off

Reaching a small size is a trade between page resolution and JPEG quality. The tool starts near 108 dpi, which is readable for typical forms and certificates, and only lowers quality or resolution as far as it must. The result panel shows the approximate resolution used. If a page had to be shrunk heavily, check that small print is still legible before submitting. Grayscale mode can help coloured scans fit, and a lower-resolution, black and white re-scan often compresses better than any tool can manage afterwards.

If the tool can't reach your target

A long document with many dense pages may not fit under a tiny limit. In that case the tool tells you the smallest size it could reach instead of pretending. Practical fixes are to split the PDF into parts and upload them separately if the portal allows it, remove blank or unnecessary pages, crop large margins, try Grayscale, or use the next size up. Always confirm the exact limit and accepted formats on the portal itself.

Compress a PDF to a specific size

Have an exact limit to meet? Each page below opens this compressor with that target already selected, plus notes on what fits and how to reach it:

What to do before and after compressing

The compressor takes one PDF at a time and does not merge, split or reorder pages. If you have several documents, join them first with the PDF merger and compress the result once. If a long file will not reach the limit, cut it into parts with the PDF splitter and compress each part. For photos or scans, image to PDF builds the PDF, and the image compressor can shrink the photos before you build the PDF. The result is saved as a new file, for example form-200kb.pdf, and your original is never changed. To try an upload form or a size limit before you use a real document, make a sample PDF of an exact size.

Private by design

Rendering and compression run entirely on your device using pdf.js and pdf-lib, so ID documents, marksheets, medical records and contracts are never sent to a server. You can confirm that in your own browser with our two-minute upload test. Large PDFs need memory, so for documents beyond about 60 pages, splitting first is more reliable. Password-protected PDFs must be unlocked before they can be compressed. Keep your original file, because image-based output cannot be turned back into selectable text.

Frequently asked questions

How do I compress a PDF to under 100 KB?
Upload the PDF, choose the 100 KB target and click Compress. The tool first tries a lossless re-save. If the file is still too large, which is usual for scans and photos, it converts each page to an optimised image and searches for the highest quality that fits under your limit. Everything runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.
Will I lose selectable text?
It depends on how the size was reached. If the lossless re-save already fits your target, text stays selectable. If the pages had to be converted to images to hit the limit, the output looks like the original but text can no longer be selected or searched. Scanned documents are already images, so they lose nothing. Always keep your original file.
Why can't it reach my target size?
A PDF with many pages, or with dense colour scans, can be too large for a very small limit even at low quality. The tool then shows the smallest size it could achieve instead of pretending. You can split the PDF into parts, remove or crop unneeded pages, turn on Grayscale, re-scan at a lower resolution, or choose the next size up if the portal allows it.
Which size limits do government and exam portals use?
Limits differ by portal and form field, and are commonly 100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB, 1 MB or 2 MB for documents such as ID proofs, marksheets, certificates and visa attachments. The tool offers these presets plus a custom size from 20 KB to 20,000 KB. Always check the exact limit and file-type rules on the portal you are using.
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
No. Pages are rendered and re-encoded in your own browser using your device's memory, and no file is sent to a server. Very long documents can use a lot of memory, so for PDFs of more than about 60 pages, splitting them first is more reliable. Password-protected PDFs must be unlocked before compressing.
What is the difference between Target size and Keep text (lossless)?
Target size aims for the limit you choose and, if needed, turns pages into images to get there. Keep text (lossless) only re-saves the PDF with a tidier structure, so text stays selectable, but savings are modest. If a lossless re-save would not make the file any smaller, the tool tells you and keeps your original rather than offering a larger file.
Can I compress several PDFs at once?
The compressor works on one PDF at a time. To get one small file from several documents, merge them first with the PDF merger and compress the merged file once. If you must send them separately, compress each one in turn.
What should I do first: merge, split or compress?
Merge first, then compress once at the end. If the document is long (more than about 60 pages) or will not reach the limit, split it into parts with the PDF splitter and compress each part. If your pages are photos or scans, you can also turn them into a PDF with the image to PDF tool, then compress the result.
What is the downloaded file called, and does it change my original?
The result is saved as a new file named after your original plus the target, for example form-200kb.pdf, or form-compressed.pdf in lossless mode. Your original file is never changed. Because image-based output cannot be turned back into selectable text, keep the original in case a portal later asks for a text version.

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