How to make a PDF small enough to email
- 1Choose the PDF that's too big to attach.
- 2Pick Balanced. It's made for email and keeps text perfectly sharp.
- 3Compress, check the new size, and download.
- 4Still too big? Run it again on Strong.
Why use PDF Workdesk for Compress PDF
- Runs in your browser: your files are never uploaded
- Free, with no sign-up and no daily limit
- No watermark on the result
- Works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone and iPad
Email attachment limits
Gmail and Yahoo accept attachments up to 25 MB in total, and Outlook.com up to 20 MB. Work email is often lower, typically 10 MB. Remember that the limit covers every attachment on the message, and encoding adds about a third on the way, so aim a little under.
Nearly all of a large PDF's size is photos and scans. Compressing re-encodes those images at a sensible resolution, while text, fonts and vector drawings are copied as they are, so the document still reads perfectly.
If it still won't fit
Split the PDF into two or three parts and send them in separate emails, or remove pages nobody needs. A scanned document at Strong is usually a fraction of its original size.
Frequently asked questions
Which setting should I use for email?
Start with Balanced. If the file is still over the limit, use Strong, which is the smallest and still fine to read on screen.
Will the text get blurry?
No. Only images are re-compressed. Text stays sharp at any zoom.
Can I compress several PDFs at once?
Yes. Drop them all in and download them together as a ZIP.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Compression runs in your browser, which matters when the attachment is a contract, payslip or medical letter.