Will my file always end up under 5 MB?

No. If even the strongest setting is not enough, you get the smallest result the tool reached and a message that the target was missed.

What if my PDF is already smaller than 5 MB?

It is only repacked, with no image re-encoding, so the pictures stay exactly as they were.

Why is 5 MB measured in 1,048,576 bytes?

The target field uses megabytes of 1,048,576 bytes, so 5 MB is about 5.24 million bytes. Enter a slightly smaller value if your portal counts a megabyte as 1,000,000 bytes.

Can I aim for a different size?

Yes. Type any value from 0.05 to 1024 MB, or use the pages for 100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB, 1 MB and 2 MB.

Make a PDF Smaller Than 5 MB

Compress PDF to 5 MB reduces a PDF toward a 5 MB target, trying stronger image settings only when the file is still too big. It shows the size before and after, and whether the target was met.

Drag and drop files here, or click to choose

Accepts PDF · up to 500.0 MB per file · up to 20 files at once

You can also paste a file with Ctrl/Cmd+V, or from the clipboard menu.

Target size in MB (optional)Leave empty for standard compression. Enter 1 to shrink the file to under 1 MB; the tool lowers image quality step by step until it fits.

Keep recent files in this browser (up to 5, 50.0 MB in total, never uploaded)

Five megabytes is a common ceiling for application forms, support tickets and shared drives. The target field on this page is already 5, in the tool's megabytes of 1,048,576 bytes, so you can drop the file in and process it.

The tool repacks the file first. Only if the result is still above the target does it re-encode page images as JPEG, trying stronger settings step by step and stopping at the first one that fits. A file that already fits is only repacked, and its images are left exactly as they were.

The target is a goal, not a promise. Text, fonts and vector art are never changed, so a file made mostly of text may not shrink much. The result page shows the size before and after, the image settings used and a clear message when the target was missed.

Features

Target preset to 5 MB, editable
Images are re-encoded only when the file is still too big
Shows size before and after and whether the target was met
Text, fonts and vector art are never changed

When to use this tool

Fitting a PDF under a 5 MB upload limit
Making an emailed attachment lighter
Shrinking a scanned file before archiving it

How do I compress a PDF to 5 MB?

Upload the PDF
Keep 5 in the target field, or enter another size in MB
Click Process and check the size summary
Download the smaller file

Limits and edge cases

The target is best effort; image-light files can stay above it
Only JPEG and 8-bit RGB or gray images are re-encoded
Stronger settings used on big files can show JPEG artifacts in photos

Test results and conditions

Test file: a 10-page PDF generated for this project's test suite, one line of text per page.
With a 5 MB target the 10-page test file already fit, so it was only repacked: the target was reported as met, and no image was re-encoded.

Privacy for this tool

Files are uploaded over HTTPS, processed in memory or a short-lived temporary directory on our servers, and deleted when your result is ready. We do not keep copies for later browsing, training, or advertising profiles. See the Privacy Policy for retention details and AdSense cookie disclosures.

Frequently asked questions

Will my file always end up under 5 MB?: No. If even the strongest setting is not enough, you get the smallest result the tool reached and a message that the target was missed.
What if my PDF is already smaller than 5 MB?: It is only repacked, with no image re-encoding, so the pictures stay exactly as they were.
Why is 5 MB measured in 1,048,576 bytes?: The target field uses megabytes of 1,048,576 bytes, so 5 MB is about 5.24 million bytes. Enter a slightly smaller value if your portal counts a megabyte as 1,000,000 bytes.
Can I aim for a different size?: Yes. Type any value from 0.05 to 1024 MB, or use the pages for 100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB, 1 MB and 2 MB.

Last updated: 2026-10-18

More ways to use Compress

Compress PDF to 100 KB - Set the target to 100 KB and let the tool try stronger image settings until it fits.
Compress PDF to 200 KB - Set the target to 200 KB and let the tool try stronger image settings until it fits.
Compress PDF to 500 KB - Set the target to 500 KB and let the tool try stronger image settings until it fits.
Compress PDF to 1 MB - Set the target to 1 MB and let the tool try stronger image settings until it fits.
Compress PDF to 2 MB - Set the target to 2 MB and let the tool try stronger image settings until it fits.
Compress PDF for Email - Size a PDF for an email attachment limit; the target is preset to 10 MB.
Reduce PDF Size, Keep Text Sharp - The mildest compression only: text and vectors untouched, images lightly recompressed.

Call this from code

Every tool on this site is a plain REST endpoint - no account or API key needed for anonymous use. Built for AI agents and developers as much as for browsers.

curl -X POST "https://pdf123.xyz/api/v1/misc/compress-pdf" \
  -F "[email protected]" \
  -o output.pdf

Also available as an MCP tool for agent clients that speak Model Context Protocol (JSON-RPC 2.0 over POST /mcp). Full API reference

Use it from an AI agent

Skill

Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and other AI agents can run Compress for you with this skill: /skills/pdf123-compress.md

All agent skills

Files are used only for this processing job and deleted automatically afterward.