# Compress PDF to 1 MB

Shrink a large PDF to under 1 MB for e-mail and upload limits without losing readability. Free, in your browser, nothing uploaded.

Use it: https://toolovi.com/en/tools/compress-pdf/1mb
Runs in the browser. Nothing is uploaded. Free, no account.

1 MB is the most common limit on portals that accept whole documents: immigration, tenders, course applications and company e-mail gateways. Scanned PDFs are often 5 to 20 MB, so they need a real reduction but not a harsh one.

The widget is preset to 1 MB. Almost every document fits on the first pass at 144 dpi, which looks like the original on screen.

## Who asks for this size

| Where 1 MB is required | Typical rule |
| --- | --- |
| Immigration and visa supporting documents | Under 1 MB per file |
| Tender and procurement submissions | Under 1 MB to 5 MB |
| Course and scholarship application PDFs | Under 1 MB |
| E-mail to companies with strict gateways | Under 1 MB per attachment |

## What to expect

Twenty scanned pages typically fit in 1 MB at 144 dpi in colour. Text is sharp, stamps and signatures are clear, photos are slightly softer than the scan.

A text PDF exported from an office program is usually already under 1 MB; the first pass just confirms it.

## Tips

- Compress once at 1 MB and keep that copy as your standard upload version.
- If the portal allows 2 MB, still aim at 1 MB; uploads are faster and you leave room for the portal's own checks.
- Keep the original for printing; the compressed copy is for screens and uploads.

## Questions

### Will the PDF look different?

On screen, no. Zoomed in at 300 percent you would notice that pages are images rather than vector text.

### Can I compress a PDF with 100 pages?

Yes, within the 100 MB input limit. It takes longer because every page is rendered; keep the tab open.

### Does the file keep its bookmarks and links?

No. The rebuilt PDF has pages only. Use the Light level on the main Compress PDF page if you need links kept.

### Is anything stored?

Nothing. Close the tab and the file is gone from memory.

## Other limits

- [Compress PDF](https://toolovi.com/en/tools/compress-pdf/index.md)
- [Compress PDF to 100 KB](https://toolovi.com/en/tools/compress-pdf/100kb/index.md)
- [Compress PDF to 200 KB](https://toolovi.com/en/tools/compress-pdf/200kb/index.md)
- [Compress PDF to 500 KB](https://toolovi.com/en/tools/compress-pdf/500kb/index.md)

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HTML: https://toolovi.com/en/tools/compress-pdf/1mb · All tools: https://toolovi.com/tools.json · Guide: https://toolovi.com/llms.txt