Typical PDF limits on Indian portals
| Document | Typical limit | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Marksheets and degree certificates | 100–500 KB | Use Black & white for printed marksheets |
| Caste / income / EWS certificate | 100–200 KB | Usually one page — fits easily |
| Experience letter, NOC | 200–500 KB | Merge pages before compressing |
| Scholarship (NSP, state portals) | often 200 KB | Upload one PDF per document |
| Income-tax, bank KYC uploads | 1–5 MB | Often no compression needed |
The compressor saves every page as a picture at a lower resolution. Text will look the same but can no longer be selected or searched. Keep your original file for your records.
Last checked: . Source: Upload rules shown on National Scholarship Portal and state recruitment portals (vary by portal). Rules change between notices — always match the instructions on your own form.
How to use
- Tap the target size — 100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB or Custom.
- Choose your PDF (or drag it into the box). Turn on Black & white for printed documents to get a much clearer result at small sizes.
- Wait while the tool tries different quality levels. It shows what it is doing and stops at the best result under your target.
- Check the final size and tap Download PDF.
How the compression works
A PDF from a scanner app or phone is usually a set of large photos wrapped in a PDF file. That is why a two-page marksheet can be 3 MB. This tool reads each page with the same PDF engine that Firefox uses, redraws it at 150 dpi, and saves it again as a compact JPEG inside a fresh PDF. It then measures the file. If it is above your target it lowers JPEG quality, and if that is not enough it lowers the resolution in steps — 150, 120, 96 dpi and so on — until the whole PDF fits.
Because the size of the final PDF file is what gets checked, not an estimate, the size you see is exactly what the portal will see.
Common rejection reasons and fixes
“File size should not exceed 100 KB.” Pick 100 KB here. If your portal says 100 KB and still rejects a 99 KB file, it is counting in 1000-byte units — this tool already uses that stricter count.
“Document is not readable.” You compressed too hard. Try Black & white, which spends all the bytes on text instead of colour, or use a larger target if the portal allows it.
“Upload PDF only.” If you have photos of the pages instead of a PDF, use the JPG to PDF tool first. It can create the PDF and keep it under 100 KB in one step.
“Multiple documents in one file not allowed.” Some portals want a separate file per certificate. Split the pages before uploading rather than compressing everything together.
Blank or black pages after compressing elsewhere. Some converters fail on transparent elements. Here every page is drawn on a white background first.
When not to compress
If the portal accepts your original PDF, upload the original — it is always the best quality. The tool tells you when a file is already under your target. Also keep digitally signed PDFs (like DigiLocker documents) as they are when the portal needs to verify the signature, because redrawing the pages removes the digital signature.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compress a PDF to 100 KB on mobile?
Open this page in your browser, keep 100 KB selected, tap Choose PDF and pick the file from Downloads or Files. In a few seconds you get a Download PDF button showing the new size. No app or login is needed.
Is it safe to compress my marksheet or Aadhaar PDF here?
Yes. Most PDF websites upload your file to their server. This one opens the PDF inside your own browser using JavaScript, so the document never leaves your phone. You can disconnect the internet after the page loads and it still works.
Why can’t I select the text in the compressed PDF?
To reach very small sizes like 100 KB, each page is redrawn as an image at a lower resolution. That makes the file tiny but turns text into a picture of text. Portals only need to display your document, so this is normally fine.
My PDF has 10 pages. Can it still go under 100 KB?
Often yes, especially with Black & white on, but each page then gets only about 10 KB, so small print may blur. If the portal allows it, use 200 KB or 500 KB, or upload only the pages that are asked for.
The tool says it cannot reach the target. What now?
Turn on Black & white, remove pages that are not needed, or choose a slightly larger target. Colour photos of documents with dark shadows are the hardest to compress — rescanning in good light helps.
Does it work with password-protected PDFs?
No. Remove the password first (for example by opening the PDF and using Print → Save as PDF), then compress the new file.
Related tools
- JPG to PDF under 100 KBAdd photos of your documents, put them in order, and download one A4 PDF that fits the size limit.
- Resize image to 100 KBFor certificates, ID proofs and larger photos — choose 100 KB or 200 KB and download a clean JPG.
- Resize image to 50 KBThe 50 KB limit is the most common one on exam forms. Get a clear JPG below it in seconds.
- Resize photo in KBType the width, height and KB range from your form, choose a photo, and download a file that fits.
हिंदी में जानकारी
PDF फाइल को 100 KB से कम करने के लिए ऊपर 100 KB चुनें, Choose PDF दबाकर फाइल चुनें और थोड़ा इंतज़ार करें। छपे हुए दस्तावेज़ के लिए Black & white चालू करें, इससे छोटी फाइल में भी अक्षर साफ दिखते हैं। फिर Download PDF दबाएँ। आपकी PDF किसी सर्वर पर अपलोड नहीं होती।