Your PDF is too large to send via email? Here are quick solutions to get your file under the attachment limit without losing important content.
Email Attachment Limits
Common email service limits:
- Gmail: 25 MB
- Outlook: 20 MB
- Yahoo: 25 MB
- iCloud: 20 MB
- Corporate email: Often 10-15 MB
Quick Solution: Compress Your PDF
- Go to Compress PDF
- Upload your large PDF
- Choose compression level (start with "Medium")
- Download the smaller file
- Attach to your email!
Compression Level Guide
| Level | Typical Reduction | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 20-40% | Documents that will be printed |
| Medium | 50-70% | Most email attachments |
| High | 70-90% | Quick preview, viewing only |
Other Methods to Reduce Size
Split the Document
If compression isn't enough, split the PDF into smaller parts:
- Use Split PDF to divide by pages
- Send as multiple emails
- Recipients can merge if needed
Remove Unnecessary Pages
Only send what's needed:
- Use Remove Pages to delete extras
- Include only relevant sections
Use Cloud Sharing Instead
For very large files, upload to cloud storage and share a link:
- Google Drive
- Dropbox
- OneDrive
- WeTransfer
đĄ Quick Tip
Most people won't notice the quality difference with medium compression. Try it first before using other methods.
What Makes PDFs Large?
- High-resolution images: The #1 cause of large PDFs
- Embedded fonts: Full font families add size
- Scanned pages: Image-based pages are larger than text
- Many pages: More content = more space
Before vs After Examples
| Document Type | Before | After (Medium) |
|---|---|---|
| 10-page report with images | 15 MB | 3-5 MB |
| Scanned 20-page document | 30 MB | 5-8 MB |
| Photo album PDF | 50 MB | 10-15 MB |
| Text-only contract | 500 KB | 200 KB |
FAQ
Will compression hurt the quality?
Medium compression maintains good quality for viewing on screens. If the document will be printed, use low compression.
Can I compress password-protected PDFs?
You'll need to unlock the PDF first using the password.
What if compression isn't enough?
Try high compression, split the document, or use cloud sharing for very large files.