Compress PDF to 500 KB

Need a PDF under 500 KB? Add your file, keep 500 KB selected and press Compress. The tool tries stronger settings until it fits. Your PDF stays on your device.

  • Free
  • 100% private
  • No signup
Drop a PDF here or tap to choose
Scans, forms, certificates, photos in a PDF. Nothing is uploaded: it all happens on your device.

Compress PDF to 500 KB: free online tool

Email attachments and college portals often ask for a PDF of this size. This page is set to 500 KB already: add your PDF, press Compress PDF and download the result.

The tool saves each page as a picture and tries a lighter and then a stronger setting until the file is under 500 KB. Nothing is uploaded: the work happens in your browser.

How to compress a PDF

  1. Drop your PDF on the box or tap it to choose a file.
  2. Choose how small you want it: Light, Recommended or Smallest. For a form with a size limit, tick I need an exact size and type it.
  3. Press Compress PDF and wait a moment while the pages are processed.
  4. Check the before and after sizes and the first page, then press Download PDF.

Tips

  • Most scanned documents of several pages fit in this size, and they stay clear enough to read and print.
  • A PDF made of phone photos shrinks the most, because phone photos are very large.
  • If you have a few separate files, compress each one and attach them together.

Compress PDF to 500 KB: common questions

Add your PDF on this page. The 500 KB size is already chosen, so just press Compress PDF. The tool tries stronger and stronger settings until the file is under 500 KB, then you can download it.

Not always. A short document made of scans or photos usually does, but a long PDF may not. If it does not fit, the tool tells you the smallest size it reached. Try Black and white, or split the PDF into parts.

Yes. Untick "I need an exact size" to pick Light, Recommended or Smallest instead, or type any other size.

Yes. It is free, needs no account, has no daily limit and does not add a watermark.

No. The PDF is opened and rewritten inside your browser. It never leaves your device, so private documents stay private.

Tick "I need an exact size", type 200 (or 100) and choose KB, then press Compress PDF. The tool tries stronger and stronger settings until the file is under your limit. A very long PDF may not reach a very small limit, so try Black and white too.