Drop your PDF
One file or several. Password-protected PDFs need unlocking first.
Compress PDF to 1 MB
Get a PDF under 1 MB without guessing: the limit is already set, so you just drop the file. Images are shrunk first and the text stays sharp when possible. Nothing is uploaded.
- Free
- No sign-up
- Runs in your browser
Common limits
First the images inside are shrunk and the text is kept. Only if that is not enough are pages turned into images.
100% private — your PDFs are processed on your device and are never uploaded to any server.
Works with PDFs up to about 300 MB each. Password-protected PDFs cannot be processed.
Next step
Keep going with your result in another tool. Nothing is uploaded.
How it works
The limit is already set
The maximum size is 1 MB; you can change it or keep the pages readable.
Download the smaller PDF
The PDF is reduced on your device and you download it at 1 MB or less.
How to compress a PDF to 1 MB
To compress a PDF to 1 MB, drop it on the box above: the limit is already set to 1 MB. The tool shrinks the images inside the PDF first and keeps the text selectable; only if that is not enough does it convert pages to images. Everything happens in your browser, so the PDF is never uploaded.
What 1 MB holds in a PDF
1 MB is 1,000,000 bytes. As a rough guide, that is roughly ten scanned pages at a reading-quality resolution, though a PDF made from text (not scans) takes far less room per page and a PDF full of photos takes more.
Where a 1 MB PDF limit is common
A limit of about 1 MB is typical for many government, job and bank portals, which commonly cap uploads around this size. Uploads over the limit are rejected outright, so the aim is to land at or under the number, not to shrink as far as possible.
How the PDF gets under 1 MB
Most of a PDF's weight is usually its images, especially scans and photos. The tool recompresses those images at a lower quality and resolution, keeps the text as real, selectable text, and checks the result against your limit. If the document still does not fit and you allow it, it turns pages into images as a last resort, which always fits but makes text no longer selectable.
How many pages fit in 1 MB (estimate)
| Scan setup (A4 page) | Approx. weight per page | Pages that fit |
|---|---|---|
| 150 DPI, grayscale | 70 KB | 14 |
| 150 DPI, color | 150 KB | 6 |
| 200 DPI, grayscale | 120 KB | 8 |
| 300 DPI, grayscale | 250 KB | 4 |
| 300 DPI, color | 600 KB | 1 |
How much has to go
| Typical document | Reduction needed |
|---|---|
| 10-page scan, 150 DPI grayscale (about 700 KB) | none, it already fits |
| 10-page scan, 150 DPI colour (about 1.5 MB) | 33% |
| 10-page scan, 300 DPI colour (about 6 MB) | 83% |
| Phone-photographed 5-page document (about 15 MB) | 93% |
When you need a 1 MB PDF
A 1 MB limit is one of the most common for PDFs: many government, job and bank portals cap uploads around this size, and email systems for job applications often do too. It holds roughly ten scanned pages at reading quality.
What to give up first at 1 MB
At 1 MB you rarely give up readability. The usual sacrifice is the extra resolution of a modern scanner or phone camera, which a screen cannot show. Colour scans at 150 DPI keep text sharp while dropping to a fraction of their original weight.
Tips to fit under 1 MB
- Photographed documents from a phone are heavy: compress them here rather than sending the raw camera files.
- Combine a document set into one PDF before compressing if the portal accepts only a single file.
- Keep the original at full quality for your own records; use the 1 MB copy only for the upload.
- Keep the option to convert pages to images off if the text must stay selectable or searchable.
Private by design
The PDF is processed in your browser. Contracts, IDs, invoices and medical documents are never uploaded to a server, which is why there is no queue and no file size imposed by an upload.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compress a PDF to 1 MB?
Drop the PDF on the tool at the top of this page. The limit is already set to 1 MB; the tool reduces the file until it fits and lets you download it.
How many pages fit in 1 MB?
Around ten scanned pages at 150 DPI in colour, or fifteen and more in grayscale. Text-based PDFs fit many more.
Is 1 MB accepted by most portals?
It is one of the most common limits, but check each portal's own instructions, since some ask for less.
Will my PDF be exactly 1 MB?
It will be 1 MB or less. The tool stops as soon as the file fits, so the result is often just under the limit rather than exactly on it.
Will the text stay selectable?
Yes when the images alone can be shrunk enough. If that is not enough and you allow converting pages to images, those pages lose selectable text; you can switch that option off.
Why won't my PDF get under 1 MB?
PDFs with many high-resolution photos, or many pages, may need a stronger reduction. Try removing pages, splitting the file or allowing the last-resort option.
Is it free and private?
Yes. No sign-up, no watermark, and the PDF never leaves your device because it is processed in your browser.
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