How to reduce PDF file size
Start with the limit you must meet, then diagnose whether the PDF is text-heavy or scan-heavy. Blindly compressing without a target wastes time.
Drop up to 20 PDFs here
Max 150 MB per file · 500 MB total
Files are scanned before analysis.
Short answer
Identify the upload ceiling, analyse the PDF, pick Preserve/Balanced/Strong based on preflight, and verify readability before you submit.
Why PDFs become large
High-resolution images, scanned pages, exported design files, and long page counts are the usual drivers—not “too much text”.
Common approaches
Recompress images, downsample scans, remove unused resources, or rasterize stubborn pages. UnderLimit packages these choices into modes aimed at your megabyte target.
Digital vs scanned PDFs
Born-digital office PDFs often shrink with lighter modes. Scans behave like photo stacks and may need Strong—or a higher allowed limit.
Multiple PDFs
When a portal needs several attachments, batch them with a shared target, then download each file for the matching field.
FAQ
- Should I always pick the smallest target?
- No. Pick the portal’s limit. Smaller than required can hurt readability without helping acceptance.