Compress PDF to 500 KB
Get a PDF under 500 KB and keep pictures as clear as the limit allows.
Runs entirely in your browser. Your files are never uploaded.
or drop it anywhere in this box
It never leaves your computer.
You get the best picture quality that fits. 1 KB is counted as 1,000 bytes, so the file passes limits that count either way.
Text and vector graphics are never changed. Only pictures are made smaller.
Compress PDF to 500 KB at a glance
- Target size
- Under 500 KB (500,000 bytes)
- Files uploaded
- None, it runs in your browser
- Quality
- The best that fits the limit
- Text
- Stays sharp and searchable
- Price
- Free
500 KB leaves room for multi-page scans with clearly readable pictures, which is why it is a popular limit for certificates, reports and supporting documents on upload forms. Drop your PDF here and the tool keeps as much picture quality as it can while bringing the file under 500 KB. Text is untouched, and the PDF is compressed on your own device, never uploaded.
What fits in 500 KB
Most typed documents fit with no visible change at all. Scanned documents of several pages usually fit with pictures that stay clear on screen. Long, full-colour photo documents may still need splitting.
Keeping photos clear
A larger limit leaves more room for picture detail, so the same document usually looks noticeably clearer at 500 KB than at 200 KB. If a photo matters most, remove pages you do not need before compressing, so more of the limit goes to what matters.
Questions
How do I compress a PDF to 500 KB?
Drop your PDF into the box. Exact size is already set to 500 KB, so press Compress PDF, then download the file under the limit.
Can I pick a different limit?
Yes. Type any limit in the size box, or choose one of the common sizes such as 200 KB, 300 KB, 1 MB or 2 MB.
Is 500 KB counted as 500,000 or 512,000 bytes?
The tool aims for under 500,000 bytes, the smaller of the two, so the file passes whichever way a website counts.
What if it cannot get under 500 KB?
You can still download the smallest version the tool could make, and it explains what is left in the file. Splitting the PDF is usually the answer for very long scans.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The compression runs in your browser, and the file never leaves your device.
Other sizes
Compress PDF · Compress PDF to 200 KB · Compress PDF to 300 KB