Compress PDF to 1MB
Turn a heavy PDF into one that fits a 1 MB limit. For most files this only means resizing the photos and scans inside it, so the text stays crisp and searchable.
- 1Add your file
- 2Make it yours
- 3Download & done
Let’s start with your file.
Drop your PDF here. We’ll take it from there.
PDF documents·Or drag and drop a file
Choose a different fileYour files stay on this device. Always.
How to compress PDF to 1MB
- Choose your PDF. The target is already set to 1 MB.
- Press Compress PDF.
- Download the smaller file and send or upload it.
Good to know
One megabyte is generous for most documents: a 50-page text report, a 20-page scan at a comfortable resolution, or a brochure full of photos once they are resized for the screen.
PDF1 keeps the result under 1,000,000 bytes, which is below both common definitions of a megabyte.
Why 1 MB?
Many upload forms, school and job portals cap attachments at 1 MB, and some companies’ email systems strip or bounce larger attachments, especially when a message goes to many people. A file under 1 MB also opens quickly on a phone with a weak signal.
Files that won’t go under 1 MB
A very long scanned document, such as a 100-page book scan, may not fit at a readable quality. Split it into parts with Split PDF, or convert it to black and white, which stores printed text very efficiently. If your file is under 1 MB already, PDF1 says so and you can send it as it is.
Questions
Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. PDF1 runs the whole job inside your browser tab with JavaScript and WebAssembly. The page has no upload endpoint, and its security policy blocks connections to other servers, so the file stays on your device. You can even disconnect from the internet once the page has loaded.
Will the quality drop?
Photos are resized to suit a screen, which is rarely noticeable. Text and drawings are not changed unless the only way to reach 1 MB is to redraw pages as images, and PDF1 tells you if that happened.
Can I make it even smaller?
Yes. Change the target box, or use the 500 KB, 200 KB or 100 KB pages.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. Everything runs in the browser, on phones too. Very large files are slower on older phones.