How to Compress a PDF File Without Losing Quality: Complete Guide

Large PDF files are a headache when sending via email or uploading to a site. Most email services limit attachments to 25 MB, and cloud storage charges by volume. Let's figure out how to effectively compress PDFs without losing readability.

Why Do PDFs Become Large?

Main reasons for large PDF sizes:

• Embedded Fonts — each unique font adds from 50 to 300 KB
• Uncompressed Images — a scanned document can weigh 5–50 MB
• Metadata and Thumbnails — unnecessary data that increases size
• Layers and Annotations — in documents with signatures or comments

Method 1: Online Compression via Xuvero

The simplest way is to use the PDF Compressor on Xuvero:

1. Open the PDF Compress tool
2. Upload your file (up to 25 MB for Pro accounts)
3. Select compression level: Low / Medium / Maximum
4. Click "Process" and download the result

Medium level usually reduces size by 40–60% without noticeable quality loss.

Method 2: Compressing Images Within the PDF

If the PDF contains scanned text or photos, convert images before insertion. Use Image Compressor for pre-compressing JPEG/PNG, then create the PDF.

Method 3: Splitting a Large PDF

If you need to send only part of a document, use PDF Split. Extract the required pages — the file size will reduce proportionally to the number of pages.

Tips for Minimal PDF Size

• Use JPEG format for photos, PNG only for charts with transparency
• Set resolution to 150 DPI for screen viewing (not 300 DPI)
• Delete unnecessary pages before compressing
• Save PDFs in version 1.4 or 1.5 — they compress better

Conclusion

Compressing PDFs is a balance between file size and quality. For most documents, medium compression level provides optimal results. Try the PDF Compressor on Xuvero — free, no registration required.