How to make a PDF smaller for email

Check the limit before compressing

Find the attachment limit for the destination you are sending to. Keep the original PDF and open Compress PDF with a copy. The result screen shows the original and output sizes so you can decide whether the file is small enough.

Try standard compression first

Standard mode optimizes PDF structure. It is a useful first attempt when you want to retain document features. A PDF that is already optimized may not shrink much, and some files can become slightly larger. There is no fixed percentage that every PDF can achieve.

Use smaller-image mode when size matters more

Smaller-image mode renders pages as images. Lower image resolution or quality can reduce size, but fine print may become harder to read. This mode removes selectable text, interactive forms and links. Keep the original if you will need those features later.

Check a page with small text and a page with detailed images at a readable zoom level. If either looks blurry, increase the quality and try again. Do not judge the result only by its file size.

Split a document that remains too large

When compression is not enough, use Split PDF to create files for separate page ranges. For example, 1-3;4-6 creates two documents from a six-page PDF. Name each output clearly so the recipient can open them in the correct order.

A single page with a large image may still exceed a size target. In that case, reducing its image resolution may help more than splitting. Download and inspect every output before sending it.