Compress PDF to 5 MB
The 5 MB target is preselected. Drop the file, check the estimate and download a copy that fits the limit.
France · Scheduled cleanup: 60 min after job creation · Free to use
Formats & limits
Formats & limits
- Accepted formats
- Result
| On a computer | On a phone or tablet | In the cloud | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max file size | 250 MB | 80 MB | 100 MB |
| Max pages | No limit | No limit | 2000 |
Scheduled cleanup: 60 min after job creation · Usually about 20 s
Limits on your device depend on its memory. Larger files may still work; the tool warns you first.
How it works
- 01 Drop the PDF you need to shrink.
- 02 Keep 5 MB selected, or switch to 2 or 10 MB.
- 03 Read the estimate to see how sharp the images will be.
- 04 Compress and download the file with “_compressed” in its name.
About this tool
Five megabytes is the most common upload cap: job applications, university portals, visa and tax forms, insurance claims and many support desks reject anything bigger. This page opens with a 5 MB target already set. Hushdesk re-encodes only the photos and scans inside the PDF, picks the best quality that keeps the result under the limit, and never touches the text. Our 5 MB means 5,000,000 bytes, so the file fits whether a portal counts decimal or binary megabytes. The work happens on your device and the document is not uploaded.
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Fits strict portals
The result stays under 5,000,000 bytes, a margin that satisfies both megabyte conventions used by upload forms.
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Best quality under the cap
The search stops just below the limit, so pictures keep as much detail as the 5 MB budget allows.
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Quick for typical documents
A scanned contract or a report with photos is usually done in seconds, with several processor cores working in parallel.
Questions and answers
Why is my compressed file 4.7 MB and not exactly 5 MB?
The search aims slightly under the limit, so that no portal rounds the size up and rejects it. Anything between roughly 4.5 and 5 MB means the images got the highest quality that fits.
My portal says the file is too big although it is under 5 MB. Why?
Some sites count 1 MB as 1,048,576 bytes, others as 1,000,000, and a few check the total of several attachments. We aim for 5,000,000 bytes, which is below both definitions. If you attach several files, give each a smaller target.
Is 5 MB enough to keep scanned pages readable?
For most documents, yes: a 20-page scan at around 150 dpi fits comfortably and stays easy to read. For very long scans choose the Pages as images mode, or split the file first.
Does my document leave my computer?
No. The PDF is opened and compressed by an engine inside this browser tab, in a frame that cannot reach the network. There is no upload and no account.
Do bookmarks, links and form fields survive?
Yes. Only image data changes; the page structure, bookmarks, links and form fields are kept. Digital signatures do become invalid, because any change to a signed file breaks them.