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Compress PDF to 1 MB

Upload forms, job portals and universities often cap files at 1 MB. The slider starts at strong compression and the estimate tells you whether you will fit.

Three steps

  1. 01

    Add a PDF

    Drop the file in or pick it from your device.

  2. 02

    Pick a level

    Move the slider and watch the size estimate.

  3. 03

    Download

    Your compressed file is ready in seconds.

Use cases

Pick what the file is for and PDFKilo picks the compression level for your exact document.

Why PDFKilo

Fully private

Ghostscript runs in WebAssembly on your device. Not a single byte of your file reaches a server.

Accurate estimate

Before compressing, we sample the first pages and show the expected size for the chosen level.

No watermarks

No logos stamped on pages, no sign-up and no limit on the number of files.

Never worse

If compression does not help, you get the original back rather than a bigger file.

FAQ

Will the result still open everywhere?

Yes. The output is a standard PDF that opens in any viewer.

Can I get a PDF under 500 KB?

For documents with a few scans, yes. Move the slider to the maximum and check the estimate.

Why is the estimate above 1 MB even at the maximum?

Usually the file has many colour scanned pages. Remove pages you do not need, split the document, or rescan it in greyscale.

What resolution do I get at 1 MB?

Typically 90–120 dpi for images. Text stays readable on screen, while printed scans will look softer.

Can I get a PDF down to 200 KB?

For a few pages with a handful of images, yes. For long scanned documents 200 KB is usually not reachable without hurting readability.

Will an upload portal accept the result?

Yes. The output is a standard PDF. Just check that the final size is below the portal limit.

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