PDF Tools
Compress PDF to 20 KB
Compress a PDF down to 20 KB - small enough for the strictest upload portals, including Indian government passport and visa forms.
The algorithm
Hitting a 20 KB target is aggressive. The tool will rasterize each page as a low-quality JPEG and embed it in a new PDF. For single-page scans this works well; multi-page PDFs will drop in visual quality but remain legible for form submission.
If your PDF has more than 3-4 pages, consider splitting it first or using a less strict target. Most forms that demand 20 KB are actually asking for single-page documents like a passport photo on a form.
A real use case
Common use: Indian passport renewal portal requires passport photos and signature scans at 20 KB or less. A photo scanned at 300 DPI usually starts around 1-2 MB - this tool brings it down to the required 20 KB while keeping it readable.
Common questions
Can every PDF be compressed to 20 KB?
Not always. Multi-page PDFs with heavy content may not fit under 20 KB even at the lowest quality. The tool will tell you if the target isn't achievable and suggest a larger size.
Which forms require 20 KB specifically?
Many Indian government portals: passport applications, visa applications, PAN card, Aadhaar updates, UPSC and SSC exam forms often specify 20 KB for photos and signatures. The exact limit varies by portal.
Is this really private?
Yes. The whole compression runs in your browser using JavaScript and Canvas APIs. Your PDF is never uploaded, stored, or seen by us. You can disconnect from the internet after the page loads and it will still work.
Will the text still be selectable in the compressed PDF?
For aggressive KB targets, each page is rasterized into a JPEG and embedded as an image, which makes text non-selectable. If you need searchable text, pick a larger target or use the regular compressor at /tools/pdf-compressor/.
What file size can I compress?
Up to around 200 MB on most devices. Very large or very long PDFs may exceed browser memory limits - if that happens, try splitting the PDF into smaller sections first.
Why does my file end up slightly under the target rather than exactly at it?
The tool uses a binary search to find the highest JPEG quality that still fits under the target. It stops at the first setting that lands under the limit, so output is always a little below the ceiling - which is exactly what upload portals want.