Gmail lets you attach up to 25 MB, and Outlook.com up to 20 MB — and work email is often lower (Microsoft's business default is 10 MB). A scanned contract or a photo-heavy report can easily go over. Add your PDF here; the Recommended level usually shrinks scans by 70–90% while keeping them perfectly readable.
Tips for the best result
- Smaller attachments arrive faster and are less likely to be blocked — aim for under 10 MB.
- Still too big? Split the PDF by size and send it in parts.
- For a black-and-white scan, tick Convert to black & white for an even smaller file.
How to compress PDF for email
- 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.
Want more options? The full Compress PDF tool has every setting.
Frequently asked questions
What's the maximum PDF size I can email?
Personal Gmail allows attachments up to 25 MB, and Outlook.com up to 20 MB for the whole email. Work accounts are often lower — Microsoft's default for business email is 10 MB — so smaller is safer.
How do I make a PDF small enough to email?
Add it here and click Compress PDF. Recommended works for most files; choose Extreme or Exact size if you need it smaller.
What if it's still too large after compressing?
Split it into several files with Split PDF by size and send them in separate emails, or share a cloud link instead.
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.
Step-by-step guide: How to reduce PDF size for online forms (100 KB, 200 KB and more)
Read the guide