Compress PDF to 2 MB
2 MB is where resumes, portfolios and longer reports usually have to land: the size job boards accept and a considerate size for any email. Leave the target at 2 MB and the PDF comes back just under it, with photos and charts as sharp as that allows.
Compress PDF
or drop PDF files here ·
Max 95 MB per file· Up to 20 files· Deleted after 30 minutes
Files are processed on our servers and deleted after 30 minutes.
Images above this DPI are downsampled. 150 is sharp on screen and fine for office printing; 72 is screen-only.
JPEG quality for re-compressed images. 70 keeps scanned text readable; below 40 artefacts appear around letters.
When aiming for a target size, image quality never drops below this; resolution is reduced instead.
How to use this tool
- 1
Upload your resume or report
Drop a PDF here, or up to 20 at once with up to 95 MB each.
- 2
Keep the target at 2 MB
Target size shows 2 with Unit set to MB. Raise or lower the number if a site lists a different limit.
- 3
Download and apply
Press Compress, download the file and upload it to the job board or attach it to your email.
A designed resume with a headshot and icons can pass 5 MB when exported at print quality; a 2 MB version looks the same on the laptop screen a recruiter reads it on.
2 MB limits on job sites and in email
LinkedIn's Easy Apply resume upload accepts DOC, DOCX and PDF files up to 2 MB, and many applicant tracking systems behind company career pages use a similar per-file limit. If your resume came out of Canva, InDesign or a template with photos, it was probably exported for print, with images at 300 DPI or more. A screen-sized export shows no difference on a monitor.
Email allows more, yet 2 MB is still a sensible ceiling. Gmail accepts attachments up to 25 MB and turns anything larger into a Google Drive link; Outlook.com allows 20 MB. Recipients on phones, shared mailboxes with quotas and company gateways that scan every attachment all handle a 2 MB file without friction, which is less true of a 15 MB one.
| Organisation | Requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| LinkedIn Easy Apply | Resume as DOC, DOCX or PDF, up to 2 MB | linkedin.com/help |
| USAJOBS | Uploaded resumes and supporting documents under 5 MB each | usajobs.gov |
| Gmail | Attachments up to 25 MB per message; larger files go as Drive links | support.google.com |
| Outlook.com | Attachments up to 20 MB; larger files can be shared from OneDrive | support.microsoft.com |
What compressing to 2 MB does and does not do
MythCompressing a resume makes it fail applicant tracking systems.
FactTracking systems read the text layer. Compression re-encodes images and leaves selectable text in place, so a text-based resume parses the same afterwards.
MythA smaller file always looks worse.
FactAt 2 MB image quality usually stays high, because resolution beyond what a screen shows is the first thing removed. A one-page resume rarely needs more than 300 KB.
MythZipping the PDF does the same job.
FactContent inside a PDF is already compressed, so a ZIP saves very little, and many upload forms refuse ZIP files anyway.
MythYou have to switch to grayscale to reach 2 MB.
FactMost resumes and reports fit easily in color. Keep Convert to grayscale for long scanned documents.
Portfolios and long reports at 2 MB
Portfolios are the hard case because the images are the point. Export from your design tool with images at 150 DPI before compressing, and keep the number of full-page photos to what the application needs. When a portal offers separate fields, put the resume in one file and the portfolio in another rather than a single combined document.
Theses and annual reports with many charts compress well when the charts are vector graphics, which cost few bytes. Charts pasted in as screenshots are images and soften first. For files that must stay above 2 MB, compress PDF to 5 MB is the next target, and for a tighter form there is compress PDF to 1 MB.
2 MB PDF questions
How big should a PDF resume be?
As small as it can be without losing sharpness. A one- or two-page text resume is typically under 200 KB, and even one with a photo and a few icons rarely needs more than 1 MB. Staying below 2 MB means it uploads to LinkedIn's Easy Apply and most career sites without trouble.
Can I compress a PDF to 2 MB on a Mac without an app?
macOS Preview has a Reduce File Size Quartz filter in its Export dialog, but it applies one fixed setting that often leaves photos blurry, and it cannot aim at a size. Uploading the file here sets the exact limit and keeps the best quality that fits.
Why is my PDF exported from Word larger than 2 MB?
Usually because of pictures: Word stores inserted photos at up to 220 ppi by default, and the PDF export copies them as they are. On Windows, choosing Minimum size (publishing online) in the Save as PDF dialog helps; compressing the exported PDF here to 2 MB gives a predictable result either way.
Is it better to send a 2 MB PDF or a cloud link?
For applications, attach the file: portals and recruiters often cannot open links that need a sign-in, and a link can expire. For people you know, a link is fine for large files, but a 2 MB attachment arrives with the message and can be read offline.
Can a portfolio of 30 images fit into 2 MB?
Yes, but each image gets roughly 65 KB, which is screen quality at a modest size. If the work depends on detail, send a shorter selection at 2 MB or ask whether a larger file is accepted; Target size takes any number you type.
Are my resume and personal details kept?
No. The uploaded PDF and the compressed result are deleted 30 minutes after processing, and Remove metadata is on by default, which strips the author name and edit history from the file you send. The privacy policy has the details.
- Compress PDF to 1 MBGet a PDF below 1 MB for HR systems, email gateways and court e-filing. Text stays sharp, hidden data is removed, and up to 20 PDFs go in one batch.
- Compress PDF to 3 MBCompress a PDF to 3 MB so two copies fit through a 10 MB company mail server. Reports and slide decks keep sharp charts; up to 20 files at once.
- Compress PDF to 5 MBGet a PDF under 5 MB for USAJOBS, immigration evidence and email attachments. Photos stay print-sharp; large scans shrink by downsampling, not guesswork.
- JPG to PDF Under 2 MBConvert JPG photos to a PDF of 2 MB or less on Letter pages: room for a dozen sharp pages, small enough for job sites and upload forms with a 2 MB cap.
- DOCX to PDFFree DOCX to PDF converter for resumes, court filings and grant forms. Removes hidden author data, embeds fonts and keeps text searchable for upload portals.
- Compress Image to 2 MBBring photos under a 2 MB upload cap at full or near-full resolution, for WordPress media libraries, YouTube thumbnails, email and listing sites.