The website asks for a PDF of 500 KB maximum? Many job portals and scholarship applications set this size per document. Choose your file: PDFRoll automatically finds the best possible quality under 500 KB, right in your browser.
How it works
- Select your PDF.
- Check that “Maximum file size” is set to 500 KB: it’s already done on this page.
- Start the compression, then download the file. Its size before and after is shown.
Frequently asked questions
Will the file really be under 500 KB?
Yes, whenever that’s possible without making the document unreadable. PDFRoll targets 500 KB strictly (1 KB = 1,000 bytes), so the file also passes on websites that count 1 KB = 1,024 bytes. If the limit can’t be reached, you get the best possible result and a message tells you so.
Will the text stay selectable?
PDFRoll first tries lossless compression, which keeps the text. To reach a small size, pages often have to be converted to images: the text is then no longer selectable, but it stays readable.
Is my document sent to a server?
No. Compression happens in your browser, on your device. That matters for the ID documents, statements and certificates these forms often ask for.
Can I do it on my phone?
Yes. Open this page in your phone’s browser, pick the PDF from your files and download the result.
What usually fits under 500 KB
- A CV with a photo and a cover letter.
- A bank statement of several pages.
- A file of five to ten scanned pages.
What if the PDF won’t go under 500 KB?
- Remove unnecessary pages with “Delete pages”: every page less makes the file noticeably smaller.
- Send the document as several files with “Split PDF”, if the website accepts more than one attachment.
- For a scan, redo it in black and white or at a lower resolution: it’s often more effective than any compression.
Good to know about size limits
At 500 KB, most documents under ten pages keep very good readability.
Always check the file before sending it: open it and zoom in on the important parts (numbers, signatures, stamps) to make sure they’re still readable.
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