Compress Scanned PDF
Scanned PDFs contain large embedded images that balloon file size to 10-50MB or more. Apply extreme compression to dramatically reduce your scanned document size — perfect for uploading, emailing, or archiving.
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Supported formats: .pdf
Why Are Scanned PDFs So Large?
Unlike native PDFs that store text as vector data, scanned PDFs store every page as a high-resolution image. A 10-page scanned document can easily reach 30-50MB. OmnisPDF applies extreme compression that targets these embedded images, dramatically reducing file size while keeping text legible.
- ✓ Extreme compression targets large embedded scan images
- ✓ Dramatically reduces scanned document file size
- ✓ Preserves existing OCR text layers
- ✓ Works on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux
- ✓ No installation — compress scanned PDFs in your browser
Common Use Cases
Scanned Contracts and Agreements
Signed contracts scanned at high resolution can be enormous. Compress them to a manageable size for email attachments, cloud storage, or uploading to document management systems.
Archived Documents
Digitizing paper archives creates massive PDF files. Compress your scanned archives to save storage space while keeping documents accessible and searchable.
Scanned Receipts and Invoices
Expense reports and accounting records often include scanned receipts. Compress them to reduce storage costs and make sharing with your accountant or bookkeeper easier.
Scanned ID Documents
Passport scans, driver's licenses, and other ID documents are often required for applications with strict file size limits. Compress your scanned IDs to meet upload requirements.
How to Compress a Scanned PDF
Upload or drag and drop your scanned PDF into OmnisPDF.
Click Compress PDF — extreme compression is applied automatically to target embedded images.
Download your smaller PDF. If still too large, try splitting the file first, then compress each part.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are scanned PDFs so large?
Scanned PDFs contain full-page images instead of text. Each page is essentially a high-resolution photograph, which is why scanned documents are typically 10-50MB or more. Compression targets these embedded images to dramatically reduce file size.
Will compression make my scanned document unreadable?
Text in scanned documents remains legible after compression. Extreme compression reduces image resolution, but printed text stays readable for most purposes. If you need perfect image quality, consider using recommended compression instead.
Can I compress a multi-page scanned PDF?
Yes. OmnisPDF compresses all pages in your scanned PDF at once. Multi-page scans often see the largest size reductions because every page contains a full image that can be optimized.
How much can a scanned PDF be compressed?
Results vary depending on the scan resolution and number of pages. Scanned PDFs typically compress very well — reductions of 50-80% are common, though exact results depend on your specific document.
Does compressing a scanned PDF affect OCR text?
If your scanned PDF already has an OCR text layer, compression preserves it. The text layer is separate from the image layer, so you can still search and copy text after compression.
What if my scanned PDF is still too large after compression?
Try splitting the PDF into smaller sections with our Split PDF tool, then compress each part individually. You can also remove unnecessary pages before compressing to reduce the overall size further.
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Compress Scanned PDF