How to Compress PDF for Email

Email providers typically limit attachment sizes to 25MB. Learn how to quickly compress your PDF files to fit within email limits while maintaining readable quality.

🗜️ Compress PDF Now

⚠️ The Problem

Your PDF is too large to send via email. Gmail, Outlook, and most email providers reject attachments over 25MB, leaving you stuck with an important document you can't share.

The Solution

Use our free PDF compressor to reduce file size by up to 90% while keeping text sharp and images clear. Most PDFs compress to under 5MB in seconds.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. 1

    Upload Your PDF

    Drag and drop your PDF file into the compressor, or click to browse. We support files up to 100MB.

  2. 2

    Choose Compression Level

    Select 'Medium' for a good balance of size and quality, or 'High' for maximum compression when you need the smallest file.

  3. 3

    Preview the Result

    See the compressed file size and estimated quality. Most documents look identical after compression.

  4. 4

    Download Your Compressed PDF

    Click download to save the smaller PDF. The original file is never modified.

  5. 5

    Attach to Your Email

    Your compressed PDF is now ready to attach. Most compressed files are well under the 25MB limit.

💡 Pro Tips

  • For email, 'Medium' compression usually works best - readable text with 70-80% size reduction
  • If your PDF has many images, you'll see bigger compression gains
  • Text-heavy documents (like contracts) compress very well with minimal quality loss
  • Need to share multiple PDFs? Compress each one, or merge them first then compress

Related Tools

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I reduce PDF size?
Most PDFs compress by 50-90% depending on content. A 20MB PDF with images often becomes 2-4MB.
Will compression affect text quality?
Text remains crisp and readable. Only images are compressed, and the difference is usually invisible.
Is my PDF secure during compression?
Yes! All processing happens in your browser. Your files never upload to any server.
What if my PDF is still too large?
Try 'High' compression, or split the PDF into smaller parts using our PDF Split tool.
🔒 Your files never leave your browser
100% free, no signup