About compressing to this size
500 KB fits a multi-page scanned document — a 5–10 page agreement, a set of marksheets or a bank statement — while keeping text clear. It is a common limit for KYC, loan and visa document uploads.
How it reaches 500 KB: each page is redrawn as a JPEG image, and the tool searches resolution and quality settings for the best-looking version that is still under 500 KB. This works best for scanned PDFs and photos of documents. Typed PDFs (from Word or a website) are usually small already — if yours is already under 500 KB, the tool tells you and keeps it unchanged.
Good to know: because pages become images, text in the compressed file can’t be selected or searched. That is fine for uploads, but keep your original for editing.
Tip: Scanned with a phone app? Those PDFs are often 5–20 MB and shrink to 500 KB easily.
Need a different limit? 100 KB · 200 KB · 300 KB · 1 MB · 2 MB — or type any size into the “Target size” box above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compress a PDF to 500 KB?
Choose your PDF above — the target is already 500 KB — and click “Compress PDF”. Download the result once it says it is under 500 KB.
What if it can’t get under 500 KB?
You’ll get the smallest version possible and a note. Tick “black & white”, or remove extra pages with Delete PDF Pages, then try again.
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
No. Compression happens in your browser, so private documents never leave your device.
Can I still read the text after compressing?
Yes, it stays readable, but it becomes part of an image, so you can’t select or copy it.