How to compress a PDF for an upload limit
Updated: · Agah Emre SÖZEN
Government portals, universities, job sites and most institutions limit the size of uploaded files, and the limit varies by site. A few phone-scanned pages easily exceed it. The goal when compressing is to get under the limit while keeping the text readable.
Compress PDF
Try it now: free, no account, and your file never leaves your device.
Compress to a target size
- 1Note the site's maximum size (for example 2 MB).
- 2Open quillo.tr/compress-pdf and choose your PDF.
- 3Type a target slightly below the limit (for example 1.8).
- 4Press Compress; the best-quality PDF under that size downloads.
Still too big?
Remove unneeded pages first at quillo.tr/delete-pdf-pages. If the site accepts several files, split the document at quillo.tr/split-pdf.
If you're building the PDF from photos, adding them at A4 page size also makes the result smaller.
Check readability
Before uploading, open the compressed PDF and zoom into the smallest text, such as an ID number. If it's not readable, choose the "Sharp" level or raise the target a little.
Frequently asked questions
- How much smaller will it get?
- Scanned and photo-heavy documents often shrink by 60 to 90 percent; text-only PDFs gain less.
- Can I do it on my phone?
- Yes, in iPhone and Android browsers.
- Are my files uploaded to a server?
- In the free tools at quillo.tr, files are processed in your browser and uploaded nowhere.
Compress PDF
Try it now: free, no account, and your file never leaves your device.
