Target size

Compress a PDF to under 100 KB

100 KB is the strictest limit you are likely to meet. A typed page or one small photo usually fits; a multi-page scan usually needs splitting. You see which case you are in before anything runs.

Drop your PDF here

or click to browse, or paste with Ctrl+V

Choose files

Each file up to 500 MB / 500 pages, up to 3 files at a time

First time? See the 1-minute guide

See if 100 KB is reachable first
Split offered when one file can’t fit
A missed target is never charged

Compressed page — Real output on a sample invoice scan (made-up company and figures): page 1 of 3, compressed with the Recommended option. Drag the slider, then zoom in.

Original page — Real output on a sample invoice scan (made-up company and figures): page 1 of 3, compressed with the Recommended option. Drag the slider, then zoom in.

How it works

How to compress a PDF to 100 KB

Drop your PDF
Custom size is preset to 0.1 MB here, which is 100 KB. Change it if the form names another number.
Read the estimate line
It says one of three things: one file under 100 KB, close enough to try, or out of reach along with the smallest size possible.
Pick how to send it
If it fits, press Compress PDF. If not, split it into parts under 100 KB, or remove pages and drop the file again.
Check, then download
Small print blurs first at this size, so zoom into the preview and check ID numbers and dates before you download.

Why it’s different

The 100 KB limit, called honestly up front

Estimated from your file

The expected size comes from sample pages of the file you dropped, so you know at once whether 100 KB is realistic.

Split when needed

When the whole file can’t get under 100 KB, the tool offers to split it by pages into parts that each stay under the limit.

Miss the mark, keep your credits

If you set 100 KB and the result is still larger, that run isn’t charged. You decide what’s next: split or trim pages.

Good to know

Which files can get under 100 KB?

Three common kinds of file behave very differently here. A typed page exported from Word is often light already, sometimes under 100 KB before any compression, and the tool tells you so. A single scanned page of dark text on white paper usually compresses to this size.

The hard cases are multi-page scans and pages with color photos. On our 6- and 10-page sample scans the smallest result stayed above 100 KB, so the tool offered to split them into about as many parts. The table sums up what to expect.

File type and how to reach 100 KB
File	Chance of fitting	What to do
One typed page	Usually fits, may already be under	Drop it in and read the estimate
One scanned page or one photo	Can fit	Shoot straight and crop the edges before converting
A multi-page scan	Hard to fit in one file	Split into parts or keep only the pages required

What about a scan with many pages?

Every scanned page needs a minimum amount of detail to stay readable. Ten pages in 100 KB leaves roughly 10 KB per page, too little for small print. For long files, check whether the form accepts several uploads, then use the split button under the estimate, or Split PDF to pull out groups of pages.

When it would take too many parts, the tool reports the smallest size it can reach instead of chopping the file into fragments. That is a good moment to ask whether the recipient really needs every page, and to drop the rest with Organize PDF. If the form allows a little more, use compress a PDF to 200 KB instead.

Can a phone photo get under 100 KB?

It can, if it is one tightly framed photo of a document. Turn it into a PDF with JPG to PDF first, then drop that PDF here. A straight, well-lit shot with no desk or fingers in frame comes out far lighter than a tilted photo with a busy background.

Put the front and back of an ID card on one page before compressing. One page holding two small images is usually lighter than two separate pages, and easier for the reader too.

Is 100 KB the same as 100,000 bytes?

The tool treats 100 KB as 100,000 bytes. Some sites count a kilobyte as 1,024 bytes, which makes their 100 KB limit 102,400 bytes. Since 100,000 is the smaller number, a file that fits here fits either way, and you don’t need to aim lower to be safe.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Do I lose credits if 100 KB isn’t reached?

No. When you set a size and the result is still above 100 KB, that run isn’t charged. You can split the file into parts under 100 KB, or remove pages and try again. Downloading the smallest version made by a missed run is the one exception: it costs credits at the level that version reached.

Why compress once at a low size instead of several times?

Compressing an already compressed file barely shrinks it and blurs the text further. Drop the original, set 100 KB once, and let the tool choose how to compress it. If you already compressed it once, go back to the original rather than compressing the compressed copy.

Will the text still be readable at 100 KB?

For a typed page or a clear single-page scan, usually yes. For dense pages with small print, zoom into the preview first. If figures become hard to read, splitting beats squeezing one file.

Can I compress a digitally signed PDF?

Not the signed file itself. Compressing changes the file’s bytes, so a digital signature would become invalid. Compress before signing, and keep signed originals as they are. If you only need a copy for viewing, you can opt in to an unsigned copy that is clearly marked on every page.

Is compressing PDFs free?

Compression uses credits, but you get free credits to try it: 20 credits on your first visit and 5 free credits every day. Compressing one file up to 50 MB at the Recommended level costs 3 credits. You see the credits before you press Compress PDF.

How long do you keep my files?

Files are deleted automatically after processing: 24 hours on the free tier, 3 days for paid files. You can press “Delete now” at any time. Only you can download files from your results page, unless you create a share link yourself (up to 24 hours or until the file is deleted, and you can revoke it). Files are never sent by email.