# How to reduce PDF size for online forms (100 KB, 200 KB and more)

> Learn how to compress a PDF under 100 KB, 200 KB or any limit for exam, job and government form uploads — free, on phone or computer.


Application portals often reject documents with a message like "File size should not exceed 200 KB". Here's how to get your PDF under the limit without making it unreadable.



## Step by step


- Open Compress PDF (or go straight to 100 KB or 200 KB where the limit is already set).

- Add your PDF.

- Choose Exact size (KB / MB) and type the limit from the form.

- Click Compress PDF. The tool tries several quality levels and keeps the best one that fits.

- Download it and check the size shown under the button.



## Why some PDFs are so big
A PDF made from phone photos stores full-resolution images — often 2–5 MB per page — even though a form only needs a readable copy. Compression re-saves each page as a smaller, optimised image.



## Tips for the clearest result


- Fewer pages, better quality. If the form only needs page 1, remove the rest with Remove pages first.

- Black & white for text scans. Ticking this option removes colour data and keeps printed text sharp at small sizes.

- Crop photos before converting. If you're starting from photos, crop them to the document edges, then use JPG to PDF under 100 KB.

- Keep the original. Always keep your full-quality file in case you need it later.



## Typical sizes that work

DocumentUsually fits in

1-page certificate or ID proof50–100 KB

2–4 page scanned document200 KB

Resume made in Word / Google DocsUnder 200 KB with the Light level

10+ page scanned report500 KB – 1 MB



## FAQ


### Will compressing make my text unreadable?
Not if the limit is realistic for the number of pages. One or two pages at 100 KB stay clear; twenty pages at 100 KB will not.



### Can I select text after compressing?
The Light level keeps text selectable. The stronger levels turn pages into images, which is what makes them so small.