How to compress several PDFs efficiently
One oversized PDF is an annoyance; twenty of them is a job. Whether it is a month of invoices or a folder of scanned certificates, the workflow below gets through a batch quickly without uploading anything.
Drag and drop here, or choose from your device.
Up to 50 MB per file. Files are processed in your browser.
Full options and FAQs on the Compress PDF page.
The efficient batch routine
Work through the files one after another in the compressor below: add a file, compress, download, repeat. For typical documents each run takes a few seconds, and the tool reports the before-and-after size so you can note which files shrank well and which were already lean.
Keep a consistent level for the whole batch — medium for screen-bound documents, light for anything headed to print — so the results are uniform.
Organise before you start
- Create an output folder called, for example, 'compressed', so originals and results never mix.
- Keep the original filenames — recipients and filing systems depend on them.
- Skip files already under your target; compressing them gains nothing.
A faster fix for repeat offenders
If the same scanner or app keeps producing oversized PDFs, fix it at the source. Set the scanner to 200 DPI greyscale for paperwork, or change the exporting app's default quality. Five minutes of settings once saves compressing every file forever.
Step by step
- 1Gather the PDFs in one folder and note their total size.
- 2Compress the first file below at your chosen level.
- 3Download it to a separate output folder.
- 4Repeat for each file, skipping any already small enough.
- 5Spot-check one in five results for legibility.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I drop twenty files in at once?
- Process them in sequence for reliability — each compression uses your device's memory, and one at a time keeps even phones running smoothly.
- Is there a limit to how many I can compress?
- No. The tool is free and unlimited, and since files never leave your device there is no queue or daily cap.