Compress PDF
Reduce the file size of your PDF for easier sharing and storage. Processing happens entirely in your browser — your file is never uploaded.
Drop a PDF file here
or click to browse
Max 100 MB
How PDF Compression Works
PDFArc uses object stream compression to reduce your PDF file size without affecting visual quality. This technique reorganizes the internal structure of the PDF, grouping objects into compressed streams and removing redundant data. The result is a smaller file that looks and prints exactly like the original.
This method is most effective for text-heavy documents such as reports, contracts, and manuals. PDFs that consist primarily of high-resolution images may see little to no size reduction, since the images themselves are not recompressed.
When to Compress a PDF
- Sharing documents via email, where attachment size limits apply
- Uploading to portals or forms with file size restrictions
- Archiving documents for long-term storage
- Reducing bandwidth when hosting downloadable PDFs on a website
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does PDF compression work?
- PDFArc compresses PDFs using object stream compression, which groups internal PDF objects into compressed streams. This reduces redundancy in the file structure without altering visible content. It is most effective for text-heavy documents.
- Will compression reduce the quality of my PDF?
- No. PDFArc uses lossless structural compression. Text, images, and vector graphics remain identical. Only the internal file structure is optimized — what you see on the page does not change.
- Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
- No. PDFArc processes your PDF entirely in your browser using WebAssembly. Your file never leaves your device. There is no upload, no server processing, and no data stored.
- Why did the file size not decrease?
- Some PDFs are already well-optimized or contain mostly images. Object stream compression works best on text-heavy documents with redundant internal structures. If your PDF is already compact, compression may not reduce the size further.
- Is there a file size limit?
- The default limit is 100 MB. Since processing happens in your browser, larger files may take longer depending on your device. There is no server-side limit.