Compress a PDF to a target size (100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB)

How it works

A common case: a job portal, a university admission form or a visa application says the PDF must not exceed 200 KB, while the certificate you scanned with your phone is 2.4 MB. Tap or click the box, choose the PDF, select 200 KB and press Compress to target. The tool works in three steps and only moves to the next one if the previous one is not enough: first it compacts the document structure without loss, then it re-encodes the photos on the pages, lowering quality and scale step by step and keeping the highest quality that stays under the limit. If that still does not fit, it turns the pages into images and sets their resolution for the target. The result line says what was done, for example "2.40 MB → 187.3 KB (target 200.0 KB) · 3 images re-encoded". A file already under the limit is left untouched.

This tool is also known as compress pdf to 100kb, compress pdf to 200kb, reduce pdf size to 500kb, pdf under 1mb, compress pdf to specific size.

What is KB (kilobyte) limit?

The "maximum 200 KB" rule on an upload form is the size of the file in bytes. Like the image size reducer on this site, this tool counts 1 KB as 1,024 bytes, so a 200 KB target means under 204,800 bytes. A site that counts 1 KB as 1,000 bytes has a slightly tighter limit (200,000 bytes); if such a site rejects the file, choose Custom and type a few KB less, for example 195. The page count does not decide the size; the resolution and quality of the photos embedded in the pages do.

What is Turning pages into images?

In the last step every PDF page is rendered as a photo at a chosen resolution (DPI) and a new PDF is built from those photos. Fonts, vector drawings and hidden layers all collapse into one compressed picture, so almost any document can be pulled down to the target. The price is that text can no longer be selected or copied, and small print gets blurry at low resolution. That is why the tool only takes this step when image compression is not enough and you have allowed it.

What is the difference between compressing to a target size and regular PDF compression?

With the regular PDF compressor you pick a strength (Light, Balanced, Strong) and see afterwards how small the file became; the result depends on the document. Here you set the limit: the tool runs the same compression pipeline again and again with different quality and scale values and keeps the best quality that stays under your limit. Use this tool when an upload form has a fixed KB limit, and the regular compressor when you simply want a lighter file.

Why can't every PDF reach the target?

Image compression only helps with photos embedded in the pages. A PDF typed on a computer with no photos gets its size from fonts and text; that part is compacted losslessly but cannot shrink without end. If "Shrink as far as possible" is selected, the tool returns the smallest size it can reach and says plainly in the result line that the target was missed; it does not throw an error.

Bringing a long document down to 100 KB leaves only a few kilobytes per page. In the image step the tool lowers resolution no further than 40 DPI; below that text becomes unreadable. If the limit is truly too tight for the number of pages, splitting the document and uploading separate files gives a better result.

What does each step cost?

Compacting the structure is lossless: the content stays exactly the same. The image step only lowers the quality and pixel size of the photos; text, signature fields and layout stay as they are and text remains selectable. The result line gives the quality and scale used as percentages.

Turning pages into images is the strongest step and the most costly: text cannot be selected, links and form fields disappear. For application papers that will only be read this is usually fine; still, keep your original PDF.

Frequently asked questions

How do I compress a PDF to under 200 KB?

Choose the PDF on this page, select 200 KB as the target and press Compress to target. The tool finds the highest quality that stays under the limit on its own; the result line shows the new size and the method used.

Will the text stay readable at 100 KB?

For a one-page scanned document, usually yes. The more pages, the smaller the share per page; in the image step the tool lowers the resolution and text may blur. Open the downloaded file and check that it is readable.

What happens if the target cannot be reached?

You do not get an error: the tool hands you the smallest file it could make and says clearly in the result line that the target was missed and what size was reached. If "Shrink as far as possible" was selected, try the option that turns pages into images.

Is my document uploaded to a server?

No. Every attempt runs inside your browser; your certificate, ID or application papers never leave this page.