Target size

Compress a PDF to under 2 MB

2 MB is a common per-file limit on online forms. A scan of a few dozen pages usually gets under it at the preset size; the tool tells you first, and says so if the file is already small enough.

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

Know if it gets under 2 MB first
Selectable text stays selectable
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 2 MB

Drop your PDF
This page presets 2 MB. If the form shows a different limit, type exactly the number printed next to its upload button.
Check the estimate
The tool shows whether the file will get under 2 MB, or is already smaller and needs no compression.
Several files? Drop them together
Each file is compressed on its own to under 2 MB; the total credits appear before you press anything.
Download and upload
Download each file or the whole set as a ZIP, compare the sizes on the results page, then upload them to the form.

Why it’s different

Under 2 MB, file by file

Per file

A 2 MB limit usually applies to each file. The tool aims every file at the limit on its own instead of adding the set together.

No needless runs

A file that is already under 2 MB is flagged right away, so you don’t spend credits on it.

Searchable stays searchable

Documents exported from a computer stay selectable and searchable; scans keep crisp text and stamp colors.

Good to know

Why do so many upload forms cap files at 2 MB?

Online forms receive a lot of files every day, so they often cap each one at a size that is just enough for a clear scanned document, and 2 MB is a common choice. The cap is per file, not per application: a degree, a medical form and an ID card uploaded separately each need to be under 2 MB.

The exact number always sits next to that form’s own upload button. Read it there rather than relying on memory, because every site sets its own and can change it. Where the cap is stricter, 1 MB, use compress a PDF to 1 MB.

Which level gets a PDF under 2 MB?

Usually the preset is all you need. In our tests, sample scans of 10 and even 30 pages both went under 2 MB, and shorter files were often small enough already. The table describes the levels by the names you will see in the tool.

Compression levels and when to use them for 2 MB
Level	Result	Use it when
Custom size (2 MB)	Aims for one file under 2 MB	The default on this page
Recommended	Smaller file, text stays sharp	No hard number, you just want it lighter
Smaller	Lighter still, fine detail softens slightly	The file is still a little over the limit
Smallest	Lightest, check the preview	Very long scans with many color images

How do I get several files each under 2 MB?

Drop them all at once: each file is compressed on its own to under 2 MB. The opposite case, one very long file and a form that accepts several uploads, calls for Split PDF, which can cut by size so each part stays under 2 MB.

If the form wants a single file for several documents, merge the PDFs first and compress afterwards. Merging adds the sizes together, so only compressing after the merge tells you whether the total fits in 2 MB.

Can phone photos get under 2 MB?

Usually. One phone photo can weigh several megabytes, but once a few document photos are turned into a PDF and compressed, they typically fit under 2 MB. Straight, well-lit shots with the background cropped come out lighter and clearer.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Will text I can select and copy stay that way?

Yes. Any text you could select and copy in the original can still be selected after compression. A scan is an image to begin with, so it has no text to select, and compression neither adds nor removes that.

Do I need to compress a file that is already under 2 MB?

No. The tool says right away when a file is already below the size you set, so you can upload it as it is. Compress only if you want it even lighter to send alongside other files.

The form still rejects my 2 MB file. What now?

Check the number next to the upload button again, since some forms ask for 1 MB or less. Also check whether the form accepts PDFs or only images. Then set that exact size and compress the original again.

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.

When do I pay, and for what?

Only after you have seen what you get. The estimated size and a preview of your own page appear before anything is charged, and you only pay for files you receive: if a file can’t get smaller you get the original back free, and a size target that can’t be reached costs nothing.

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.