PDF TipsJanuary 5, 2025• 3 min read

How to Reduce PDF Size for Email Attachments

Struggling with large PDF files that won't attach to emails? Here's how to compress them quickly and easily.

Email Attachment Limits

Most email providers have attachment size limits:

  • Gmail: 25 MB limit
  • Outlook: 20 MB limit
  • Yahoo: 25 MB limit
  • iCloud: 20 MB limit

If your PDF exceeds these limits, you'll need to compress it or use cloud sharing.

Why Are PDFs So Large?

PDFs can become large due to:

  • High-resolution images embedded in the document
  • Multiple pages with complex graphics
  • Embedded fonts
  • Scanned documents saved at high DPI
  • Layers and annotations

How to Compress PDFs

1

Use an Online Compressor

The fastest way is to use a free online PDF compressor like ours. No software to install!

2

Choose a Compression Level

"Screen" for smallest size, "Ebook" for balance, or "Print" for best quality.

3

Download and Attach

Your compressed PDF is ready to attach to any email!

Compress Your PDF Now

Try our free PDF Compressor - reduce file sizes by up to 90%:

Compress PDF Free →

Alternative: Cloud Sharing

If compression isn't enough, consider uploading to cloud storage and sharing a link:

  • Google Drive - 15GB free storage
  • Dropbox - 2GB free storage
  • OneDrive - 5GB free storage