Compress a PDF for Court (Free & Private)
Large scans stall e-filing portals and frustrate opposing counsel. CourtPDF's Compress PDF tool rebuilds every page as a right-sized JPEG so the final file stays legible but drops in size. Everything runs locally, so discovery packets and filings never leave your device.
Step-by-step compression
- Open the Compress PDF tool in your browser.
- Drag in your PDF (or load the sample) to calculate an instant size estimate.
- Pick a preset: Court-Friendly (200 DPI / 0.7), Max Smaller (150 / 0.5), or High Quality (300 / 0.85).
- Review the estimated output size and confirm it meets your court's filing limit.
- Click Compress PDF to render each page with progress updates.
- Download the rebuilt PDF. Keep the original nearby if you need searchable text.
Why render each page?
Compress PDF intentionally redraws every page rather than just tweaking metadata. That guarantees consistent DPI, smooth annotation flattening, and predictable file sizes. It also keeps sensitive exhibits on your device; no uploads, no queue, no waiting.
FAQ
Will it stay readable for court?
Yes. The Court-Friendly preset uses 200 DPI, which keeps signatures, stamps, and receipts crisp while trimming the file for e-filing portals.
What about color versus grayscale?
The tool renders exactly what you provide. If you only need grayscale, choose the Max Smaller preset or rescan in monochrome first for additional savings.
Does OCR survive the rebuild?
Rebuilding pages as JPEGs removes searchable text. Keep the original copy for searching until our OCR tool launches, or rerun OCR after compression if you need both.
Ready to shrink your filing?
Try the tool on your next scanned exhibit packet and download a court-friendly version in minutes.