Pick the attachment limit you need to get under, and the PDF is shrunk step by step until it fits, keeping as much quality as possible. If it can't fit, send it with a link instead.
Reduce PDF size for email at a glance
| Price | Free, no sign-up, no watermark, no daily limit |
|---|---|
| Accepts | |
| Largest file | 200 MB per file |
| Where it runs | In your browser: files are never uploaded |
| Works on | Any modern browser on iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac and Linux |
| Send the result | Download it, or send it free with a link or by email (up to 20 GB) |
How to reduce PDF size for email
- Choose the PDF that bounced or is too big to attach.
- Pick the limit: 25 MB (Gmail), 20 MB (Outlook.com), 10 MB or 5 MB.
- Press Make it fit and wait while it tries the gentlest method first.
- Attach the smaller file, or use Send with a link if it still does not fit.
How it gets under the limit
The tool works from gentle to strong and stops as soon as the file fits:
- It shrinks the photos inside the PDF and re-packs the file. Text, links and layout stay exactly as they are.
- If that is not enough, it converts the pages to images at 150 dpi, then 120, 96 and finally 72 dpi, lowering the image quality a little each time.
The result tells you which step was needed. After step 2 the text is part of the page image, so it cannot be selected any more; that is usually fine for a scan someone just needs to read or print.
Email attachment limits
| Service | Limit per email |
|---|---|
| Gmail | 25 MB |
| Outlook.com / Hotmail | 20 MB |
| Yahoo Mail | 25 MB |
| iCloud Mail | 20 MB (larger via Mail Drop) |
| Many company mail servers | 10 MB or less |
The limit counts the whole message, and attachments grow by about a third when they are encoded for sending, so aim a little below it. A 20 MB target is a safe choice for Gmail too. More limits are in our file size limits guide.
When a smaller PDF is the wrong answer
If the document must stay print-quality, such as artwork, a portfolio or architectural plans, squeezing it into an email is a bad trade. Send the original instead: Send with a link hands the file to our free transfer service, and the recipient gets a download link by email or however you share it. Read email attachment too large? send it another way.
How this compares
| This tool | Online converters (e.g. iLovePDF, Smallpdf or Adobe Acrobat online) | Desktop apps (e.g. Adobe Acrobat Pro) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your file is uploaded | No | Yes, to their servers | No |
| Install or account | None | Account for some features | Install needed |
| Watermark or daily limits | None | Common on free plans | Depends on the app |
Plans of other services change; check their sites. More pdf tools.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum PDF size for Gmail?
Gmail accepts up to 25 MB per email including the text, so aim for a PDF of about 18 to 20 MB. Larger files need a download link.
Will my PDF still be readable?
Yes. The tool stops at the gentlest step that fits. Only very large scans need the lowest resolution, and even then text remains readable on screen.
What if it still does not fit?
You get the smallest version it could make, and a note. At that point, sending with a link is the better option: no limits on the size of the attachment and no loss of quality.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. All compression happens in your browser on your device.
Need to send a big file?
Send files up to 20 GB with a download link or by email. Free, no account needed, original quality.
Send large files free