Target size

Compress a PDF to under 500 KB

Compress a PDF to under 500 KB for short documents or photos you have turned into a PDF. For files like these, 500 KB is usually reachable with small print still readable, and you know before you run it.

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 500 KB first
Small print stays readable
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 500 KB

Drop your PDF
0.5 MB is filled in already. To reduce the PDF size to 500 KB, leave it; if the form allows another size, change the number.
Read the estimate
You see right away whether the file will land under 500 KB, is small enough already, or needs one more step like trimming pages.
Preview the small print
Open the preview and zoom into the smallest text, amounts or dates to make sure they are still sharp.
Compress and download
Press Compress PDF. The results page shows the new size so you can compare it with the limit before uploading.

Why it’s different

500 KB that still looks like a proper document

Preview of your own page

The preview is cut from your file, so you see how the text will look after compression before spending credits.

Tells you when it’s small enough

If the file is under 500 KB already, the tool says so, and you skip a compression you don’t need.

Next steps when it falls short

Close to the limit, it still tries and a miss costs nothing; far off, it shows the smallest size it can reach and how to split.

Good to know

Can a 1–2 page scan get under 500 KB?

Usually, with room to spare. Our one-, two- and three-page sample scans all went under 500 KB at the preset size, red stamp included. Even a sample scan of about 10 pages fit in 500 KB in our tests.

From a few dozen pages up, 500 KB gets tight: a sample of around 30 pages only came close. In that case the tool tries one file and charges nothing if it misses.

How do I turn photos into a PDF under 500 KB?

Two steps. First, combine the photos into a PDF with JPG to PDF; images are kept as they are, not recompressed, so the file can be fairly heavy. Second, drop that PDF here to bring it under 500 KB.

Phone photos have very high resolution, so they weigh more than scans. Shooting close and straight, and cropping the background before converting, makes the compression step much easier.

Will small text stay readable?

At 500 KB with a short document, text usually keeps its edges. The parts worth checking are footnotes, account numbers and handwritten dates. Zoom into exactly those in the preview; if they look soft, try the Recommended level and see whether the file still fits.

Text you could select and search in the original stays selectable and searchable after compression, so documents exported from Word stay searchable.

What if it’s still over 500 KB?

Work from the least effort up: remove pages with Organize PDF, lower the level, and only then split the PDF. This is the order we suggest.

If it’s still over 500 KB
Step	What to do	Why
1	Remove extra pages	Blank and cover pages add weight nobody needs
2	Choose Smallest	Lighter still; check the small print in the preview
3	Split into parts	When several uploads are allowed, each part keeps more detail

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is 500 KB 500,000 or 512,000 bytes?

The tool sets 500 KB as 500,000 bytes. Sites that count in 1,024s allow up to 512,000 bytes, so a file that fits here fits either way. You don’t have to aim lower. Just keep 0.5 as preset, or type the number the form gives.

Do I lose credits if 500 KB isn’t reached?

No. If you set a size and the result is still above 500 KB, that run isn’t charged. You can remove pages or split the file, then try again. A missed run is never deducted; you pay only if you choose to download the smallest version it made.

Can I compress several files to 500 KB at once?

Yes. Drop several files together; each one is compressed to under 500 KB on its own, and the credits are shown before you press anything. How many files at once depends on your plan and is shown on the upload box.

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.