How to Resize PDFs: 3 Simple Methods for File Size Reduction

To resize PDFs quickly and efficiently, you first need to decide whether you want to change the document’s size or the dimensions of the pages. For the former, you can use tools such as pdf.net, Microsoft Word, and Preview on Mac. However, the latter can be done using the Microsoft Print to PDF option in Google Chrome or the Layout option in Word.

Looking for an easy way to resize PDFs? This guide has you covered. We will show you how to use pdf.net tools to do this and discuss other resizing methods, along with the best troubleshooting tips.

Key takeaways

• Resizing PDFs can mean changing the document’s size or adjusting the dimensions of the pages, typically for printing purposes.
• You can compress PDFs using three simple methods—the pdf.net compression tool, Microsoft Word’s “Save as PDF” option, or the Preview app on Mac.
• To change the dimensions of the pages, you can use the “Print to PDF” option on Google Chrome or the “Layout” tab in Microsoft Word.
• For best results, you should balance file size and quality, select the right compression level (lossy vs. lossless), and use batch processing when handling multiple documents.
• Common issues, such as loss of quality, corruption, or limited compression, can be fixed using lossless algorithms, PDF repair tools, or by splitting and flattening large files.

Resizing a PDF: File Size vs. Page Dimensions

When we talk about resizing a PDF, that can mean two things: reducing the file size through compression or changing page dimensions through scaling. These two have different purposes and outcomes, which we would define as follows:

• PDF compression is essentially reducing the file size to make it smaller and easier to share. However, the document’s appearance doesn’t change on screen or in print, unless the compression is high enough to blur text and images.
• PDF dimension changes physically alter the size of the pages to achieve a certain goal; for instance, when the PDF might have to be scaled up or down to fit printing requirements. In this case, the changes are obvious and don’t affect just the file size.

Now, here’s a brief overview of the differences between the two:

It’s worth noting that, in this article, we will focus on PDF compression, not scaling. With that in mind, keep reading to find out how to change the size of your file with ease.

How to Resize PDFs: 3 File Size Reduction Methods

To resize PDFs, you can either use the pdf.net compression tool, save your file as PDF using Microsoft Word, or use the Print to PDF option on Google Chrome.

Let’s take a closer look at each method for making PDFs smaller:

#1. Resize PDF Online With pdf.net Tool

You can resize PDFs online using pdf.net in several short steps:

1. Open the website and select Compress from the drop-down menu.
   
2. Upload your file by dragging it to the box labeled Drop file here to compress or click the Choose file to select the document manually from your storage.
   
3. Select one of the three compression variants—Smallest file size, Balanced, or Better quality. Then, click Compress and download it to reduce the size of the PDF and save it to your drive.
   

#2. Resize a PDF Using Microsoft Word

Another way to compress PDFs is to save your document as a PDF using Microsoft Word. This method is also straightforward and includes the following steps:

1. Right-click your document, select the Open with menu, and choose Microsoft Word to open the file.
   
2. Click File in the top-left corner.
   
3. Choose Save As and select the location where you want to save your document.
   
4. Click Save as type and select PDF.
   
5. Under Optimize for, choose Minimum size (publishing online) and click Save to finalize this procedure.
   

#3. Resize PDF on Mac Using Preview

If you own a Mac, you can easily resize PDF files using Preview, the built-in software for viewing and editing PDFs. Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Open your PDF in the Preview app.
2. Click on the File dropdown menu, then select Export.
3. In the menu that opens next, click on the Quartz Filter option and select Reduce File Size.
4. Make sure to tick the box next to Save images as JPEG to ensure their size is compressed, too.
5. Name your document and click Save to finish the process.

How to Adjust PDF Dimensions

Adjusting PDF dimensions works a little differently; as mentioned before, this process alters the appearance of the document, not just its size in MB. As a result, you need to use a high-quality PDF resizer to ensure it retains its readability.

Below, we will cover two of the most common ways to resize a PDF by adjusting its dimensions: Google Chrome and Microsoft Word.

Google Chrome

Google Chrome allows you to resize PDF pages using the Microsoft Print to PDF feature. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Right-click your PDF file, hover your cursor over the Open with menu, and select Google Chrome.
   
2. Click the Print button in the upper-right corner of the webpage.
   
3. By default, the Destination menu shows Microsoft Print to PDF. Click the More settings menu and enter a number lower than 100 in the Scale field.
   
4. Click Print in the bottom-right corner, name your file, and click Save to end this process.
   

Microsoft Word

You can resize your PDF pages using the Layout feature in Microsoft Word. Here’s precisely how to do this:

1. Open Microsoft Word and click File, then Open to select your PDF document.
   
2. Click on Page Layout.
   
3. Click on Size to select one of the available preset ones or on More Paper Sizes at the bottom to input your own width and height.
   
4. Once you’re finished adjusting the size, go to File again and click on Save As.
   
5. Name your document and select PDF from the dropdown.
   
6. Save the file in your desired destination, and your PDF will be resized.

Why and When Do You Need to Resize PDF Documents?

You need to resize PDF documents because it eases the sharing, uploading, and loading process when using these files for business, school projects, and other occasions.

Let’s see the most common situations when you need to resize PDFs:

• Email attachments and uploads. Most email platforms have a 25 MB limit for file attachments. Other platforms (e.g., social media) also have similar limits. Therefore, resizing PDF files can help you send your documents via email hassle-free and share them easily on various platforms.
• Using PDF optimizers for faster loading and sharing. You can optimize PDFs for web pages, which lowers their size and allows web crawlers to recognize the file more quickly. Similarly, resizing documents will allow you to send them promptly through different channels (e.g., via messaging apps). This also reduces the chances of crossing the size limit or getting stuck during a transfer due to oversized files.
• Adapting files for business and government portals. Business and government portals may require you to upload your documents in the PDF file format for readability and safety. In such cases, it’s easier to upload low-size PDFs.

However, as we’ve established, resizing isn’t just changing the file size; there are situations when you may need to change the dimensions of the pages. Here are some examples:

• Meeting printing requirements. Some documents may need to be printed in a specific way (e.g., in an A4 format), in which case you might need to adjust the page size. By doing so, you ensure that all content fits, and there are no excessively large margins.
• Binding purposes. If you’re planning to bind your printed document, the margins typically need to be larger to accommodate this process. In this case, resizing will help you achieve the best text-to-blank-space ratio.
• Mobile viewing. Resizing pages can also help you read the content better on small screens like smartphones and tablets. Consider this option when you’re struggling to read a document.

3 Best Practices for Resizing PDFs

Compression software can be tricky, especially low-quality and free PDF resizing tools. Specifically, unstable compression may corrupt or poorly resize your files, leaving you with an unfavorable outcome.

Let’s examine the best tips for effortless PDF resizing:

#1. Maintain a Balance Between File Size and Quality

Both file size and quality are important, so you shouldn’t sacrifice one for the sake of the other. In other words, documents that are too large are not practical for sharing and using, while low-quality files can be unreadable and, therefore, useless.

Finding a balance between the two can be the best solution, as it allows for smaller and higher-quality files. To do so, you can use tools such as pdf.net, which offers a balanced compression level.

#2. Choose the Right Compression Settings

Another tip on how to resize PDFs is to choose your compression type based on how much you need to decrease the file size. Once you know the resizing purpose (e.g., sending a PDF via email), you can choose between high, medium, and low compression.

If you aim for the smallest size, you can use lossy (high) compression, which will affect the file quality. If not, you can use lossless (low) compression and reduce the file size a little while keeping its original quality. Medium (balanced) compression can lower the size of your document decently and minimally affect its quality, but it may not be adequate for huge files.

#3. Use Batch Processing for Multiple PDFs

Resizing numerous files separately can be tedious and time-consuming. On the other hand, using online PDF resizers with batch processing saves time and simplifies the process.

You can streamline this process by uploading multiple PDFs from your drive to a designated platform, selecting the compression level for all documents at once or for each one separately, and clicking the resize or compress button.

3 Common Issues With Resizing PDFs and Troubleshooting Tips

Resizing PDFs without losing quality is not always easy, as you may not get the best compression result, and the process may even damage your files.

Let’s learn more about the most common problems and how to troubleshoot them:

#1. Loss of Quality After Resizing

Loss of quality is the most common compression problem because certain compression algorithms (e.g., lossy compression) remove some PDF elements to reduce size.

There are several ways to maintain and restore quality before or after compression, with the best ones being:

• Using lossless compression. Low or lossless compression may not shrink your files too much but will prevent quality loss. To preserve quality, you can use the JBIG2 compression algorithm for text and the PNG algorithm for images. If your first attempt resulted in lossy compression, you can re-compress it with these settings if you have the original file.
• Re-scanning PDFs for better quality. You can regain PDF quality (at least for the most part) using the online scanning software. To do so, scan your document at a high dots-per-inch ratio (DPI) and set the maximum scan resolution (300 or higher) for the best results.

#2. Corrupted PDF After Resizing

Corrupted files are another common compression problem, usually related to low-quality software. If you end up getting one, you can recover it by:

• Using PDF repair software. Online PDF repair software finds and recovers inaccessible data in damaged PDFs. The success rate varies according to the level of corruption, but it is generally high.
• Restore the previous version or use a backup file. Some platforms save original documents on the cloud as customers use their tools, meaning you can retrieve the original file if the new document is damaged. In this case, it is important not to exit the browser tab where your document is open.
• Convert to another format and do back-conversion. You can convert the faulty PDF file to another format (e.g., turn PDF into Word) and then back to PDF to repair it. This method does not have a high success rate, but it is worth trying.
• Try a different reader. Sometimes, only specific readers can open damaged PDFs. Switching between different options may help you find one that will let you open broken files and access some or all their parts.

#3. File Too Large Even After Compression

Even if you use the best PDF compressor, huge PDF documents may only become less large and still be beyond the size limit for some platforms. You can tackle this issue in a few simple ways:

• Resize images and limit embedded fonts. After resizing, you can manually compress PDF images. As these typically take up a lot of space, this will preserve their quality while lowering the size of your file.
• Separate your PDF into smaller ones. If you can split your document into multiple ones logically, this may be a good way to transfer, upload, and share multiple documents separately. The receiver can later merge them into one if needed.
• Remove unnecessary elements and flatten layers. If your PDF contains comments, annotations, bookmarks, and other unnecessary elements, you can remove them to make it smaller. You can also flatten your PDF to make all layers uniform, which can significantly reduce your file size.

Use pdf.net For All Types of PDF Editing

Compressing PDF files is just one of the many editing tools available on pdf.net. In addition to this, you can edit text, merge, split, and annotate, as well as rearrange pages to achieve better flow.

Moreover, pdf.net allows you to:

• Convert your file to another format by using the Converter tool, which allows you to turn PDFs into JPGs, PNGs, Word files, and Excel documents. Similarly, it lets you convert some of these file types to PDF.
• Password-protect your PDF to limit unauthorized access and gain full control over who gets to view and edit its content.
• Unlock PDFs to access their content when you have the owner’s permission.

Essentially, pdf.net is a one-stop shop for all kinds of PDF editing, and you won’t need to use any other tool.

Final Thoughts

As we’ve seen, resizing PDFs can mean either compressing the file size or changing the page dimensions. These actions have different purposes and goals, and the methods used differ, as well. Hopefully, our explanation will help you decide what kind of resizing you need, so you can get the desired results.

How to Resize PDFs FAQs

#1. How do you make a PDF smaller?

You can make a PDF smaller using the pdf.net compression tool, Microsoft Word, or the Microsoft Print to PDF feature. Our platform boasts high compression success rates, as it offers three different compression types (low, medium, and high).

#2. Does resizing a PDF reduce quality?

Resizing a PDF reduces quality if you use high or lossy compression or low-quality PDF compression tools. In contrast, pdf.net offers lossless and balanced compression, keeping your file quality intact.

#3. What’s the best file size for email attachments?

The best file size for email attachments is any size below 25 MB. This is because files over 25 MB are considered oversized and can’t be sent via email.

#4. Can I resize a password-protected PDF?

Yes, you can resize a password-protected PDF after removing this security layer. Our unlock PDF tool makes it easy to remove the password, and our software can compress your file within minutes.

#5. Is online PDF resizing safe?

Whether online PDF resizing is safe depends on the platform and tools you use. For instance, pdf.net guarantees privacy and document safety through encryption and cloud storage security.

#6. How to resize a PDF without losing formatting?

To resize a PDF without losing formatting, use pdf.net software; our tools ensure high-quality file size reduction, which implies maintaining flawless formatting.

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