Big PDFs get rejected by email, job portals and government forms. This compressor gives you four choices: a balanced Recommended level, an Extreme level for the smallest file, a Light level that keeps text selectable, and an Exact size mode that keeps trying until your PDF fits under the limit you type — perfect for forms that say "maximum 200 KB".
How to compress PDF
- Select or drop your PDF (you can add several).
- Pick a compression level — or choose Exact size and type the limit, e.g. 200 KB.
- Click Compress PDF.
- Download the smaller PDF. We show you exactly how much space you saved.
Why use PDFNest to compress PDF
- Hit an exact sizeType 100 KB, 200 KB or 1 MB and we find the best quality that fits.
- See your savingsBefore and after size is shown, so you know it worked.
- Black & white optionTurn colour scans into grayscale for even smaller files.
- Stays on your deviceCompression runs in your browser — your PDF is never uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reduce a PDF to 200 KB (or 100 KB)?
Add your PDF, choose "Exact size (KB / MB)", type 200 (or 100) and click Compress PDF. The tool tries different quality settings and gives you the best-looking version that fits under your limit.
Which compression level should I choose?
Recommended works for most files. Choose Extreme if you need the smallest possible size, Light if you must keep text selectable (for example a contract), or Exact size when a website gives you a maximum file size.
Why can't I select text after compressing?
The Recommended, Extreme and Exact size levels save each page as an optimised image — that's what makes scans and photos so much smaller. If you need selectable text, use the Light level.
Why did my PDF only get a little smaller?
Some PDFs are already well optimised, especially text-only documents. In that case there is little left to remove. Try Extreme, or turn on Black & white for scanned documents.
Can I compress a PDF for WhatsApp or email?
Yes. Recommended usually makes scanned documents small enough for WhatsApp (up to 100 MB on most phones) and email (usually 20–25 MB).
Is it safe to compress confidential PDFs here?
Yes. Your file is compressed by your own browser and never sent to our servers.
Can I compress several PDFs at once?
Yes. Add multiple files and they'll all be compressed with the same setting, then downloaded together in one ZIP.
Step-by-step guide: How to reduce PDF size for online forms (100 KB, 200 KB and more)
Read the guide