Compress large PDF files to 1MB or under. Free PDF compressor with quality options. Perfect for email and uploads. No signup, no watermark.

A 1MB limit shows up most commonly on job application portals, HR systems, and some email servers with strict attachment limits. Getting under 1MB is achievable for almost any document without visible quality loss. ## How to Compress PDF to 1MB 1. Visit [pdfhub24.com/compress-pdf](/compress-pdf) 2. Upload your PDF 3. Choose **Medium Compression** — this keeps quality high and gets most documents under 1MB 4. Download and verify size 5. If still over 1MB, rerun with **High Compression** ## Expected Results by File Type | Original File | Original Size | After Medium Compression | After High Compression | |---|---|---|---| | 10-page scanned report | 8MB | 1.2MB | 600KB | | CV with photo | 3MB | 700KB | 300KB | | Contract (text only) | 2MB | 400KB | 200KB | | Colour brochure | 20MB | 4MB | 1.5MB | ## When to Use Medium vs High Compression **Medium compression** is the right choice when you need to email the document to someone who'll print it professionally. The output quality is nearly indistinguishable from the original. **High compression** is right for digital submission where the file will be viewed on screen but not printed at high resolution — job application portals, HR systems, and web-based forms. ## The 1MB Limit for Job Applications Many job application platforms (Workday, Taleo, Greenhouse) have a 1MB limit per file. If you have a CV with a professional photo and a separate cover letter, both need to be under 1MB. Compress each separately, then if the portal accepts only one attachment, merge them using [pdfhub24.com/merge-pdf](/merge-pdf) and check the combined size.