Compress PDF for email
Set to 15 MB, which fits Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo and iCloud. Drop the PDF in, download the smaller copy, attach it.
- Free to use
- Works on any device
- Deleted after processing
- Text stays vector-sharp
- Sized for email
- Every page kept
- The original is untouched
Make your PDF small enough to email
Text stays sharp at every level · your upload is deleted as soon as the smaller file is built
Drag & drop file here
or choose a file from your device
How it works
Compress PDF for Email in three steps
Add the PDF you want to send
Drop it in or pick it from your device.
15 MB is already typed in
That fits every big email service. Type 10000 for an office mailbox with a 10 MB limit.
Download and attach
Attach the smaller copy to your email. The tool shows its size first.
Big scans on the 15 MB setting
Two large real scans, run on this setting. The size is what you would attach. Measured on October 21, 2026.
| Test file | Before | After | Page DPI after | Fits Gmail and Outlook? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scanned letter, 12 pages, color | 16.7 MB | 2.5 MB | 150 | Yes |
| Scanned letter, 30 pages, color | 41.8 MB | 6.3 MB | 150 | Yes |
| Photo brochure, 6 pages | 1.27 MB | 1.27 MB | Unchanged | Already fine |
The first step the tool tries keeps pictures at 150 DPI, so a large file often ends up far under 15 MB. That is the gentlest setting it has; if you need less change than that, use Compress PDF with the Light level.
Email limits, from each service's own help pages
Per message, attachments and text together. Checked on the services' help pages; limits change, so check yours if a send fails. Measured on October 21, 2026.
| Service | Limit per email | When the file is bigger |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail | 25 MB | Gmail offers to send a Google Drive link |
| Yahoo Mail | 25 MB | Share from a cloud drive instead |
| Outlook.com and Outlook with a personal account | 20 MB | Outlook offers a OneDrive link |
| iCloud Mail | 20 MB | Mail Drop sends up to 5 GB as a link, kept 30 days |
| Microsoft 365 work accounts | Set by your company | 35 MB unless your company set less; ask your IT team |
If it still bounces
An email can be refused even when the PDF is small enough, for a few reasons:
- Several attachments: the limit is for the whole email. Merge them into one PDF and compress that.
- The receiving server is stricter than yours. Company mailboxes often stop at 10 MB; type 10000 and compress again.
- The PDF is password-protected and the receiving server blocks files it cannot scan. Send the password separately, or unlock it first.
Read next: Why won't my PDF attach to an email? · Merge PDF
Frequently asked questions about Compress PDF for Email
What is the largest PDF I can email?
Gmail and Yahoo Mail allow 25 MB per message, Outlook.com and iCloud Mail 20 MB (each service's own help pages, October 2026). The email itself counts too, and a file grows by about a third when it is sent, so a PDF of about 15 MB is the safe size for all of them.
Why does Outlook reject a 19 MB PDF?
Because attachments are encoded for sending, which adds roughly 33%. Microsoft's own documentation describes this. A 19 MB file goes out as about 25 MB, over the limit. 15 MB leaves room.
My PDF is 40 MB. Will it fit?
Yes, if it is mostly scans or photos. A 30-page color scan of 41.8 MB came down to 6.3 MB in our test. A PDF that is mostly text is rarely that big to begin with.
Will the person I send it to see a blurry file?
Not at this size. The pictures inside are kept at 150 DPI, which is sharp on screen and fine for printing a letter or a form.
Should I send a link instead?
For anything over about 25 MB that has to stay full quality, such as print artwork, yes: Gmail offers Google Drive and Outlook offers OneDrive when a file is too big. For everyday documents a compressed copy is easier for the reader.
Full step-by-step guide
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