Compress a PDF for email

The target is already set to 10 MB, which sits well inside the attachment limits of Gmail and Outlook.com and leaves room for work mailboxes that set lower limits. Choose the PDF, download the smaller copy and attach it. If you are sending several files in one email, lower the target so they fit together.

How to use Compress a PDF for email

  1. Choose the PDF you want to send. The target is set to 10 MB; type a smaller number, such as 5000 KB, if the email carries other attachments too.
  2. Press Compress PDF. Photos and scanned pages are shrunk first, so the text of a contract, report or invoice stays sharp and searchable.
  3. Download the file and attach it. Your mail app shows the attachment size before you send, so you can check it fits.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my email bounce when the PDF is under the limit?

Attachments are encoded for sending, which makes them roughly a third larger than the file on your disk, and the limit applies to the whole message, including other attachments. A 20 MB PDF can therefore be rejected by a 25 MB limit. Keeping attachments to about 10 MB avoids this.

What are the attachment limits for Gmail and Outlook?

Gmail allows up to 25 MB of attachments per email and Outlook.com up to 20 MB. Bigger files are offered as a Google Drive or OneDrive link instead. Work and school accounts can have lower limits set by the organisation, and the receiving server may have its own.

Should I compress the PDF or send a link?

Compress when the file is something the recipient needs to keep, such as an invoice, a signed form or a CV, because an attachment stays in their inbox even if a shared link later stops working. Send a link for very large files such as photo books or print proofs, where shrinking would cost too much quality.

Is my file uploaded?

Your file is processed in your browser and is never uploaded to our servers.

Related tools

More options

All tools