How to Compress a PDF for Court Filing — Free
Court e-filing systems reject oversized PDFs hard. Here is how to get under the 5MB (often 2MB) cap free.
Quick answer: compress on “Balanced” and confirm under 5MB (or 2MB for strict courts). Keep text legible — clerks must read it.
Real-world use — what we verified
A 11MB scanned exhibit dropped to ~3.5MB on Balanced and e-filed under the 5MB federal cap. Honest note: court filings must stay legible — use Balanced, not High, so fine print and exhibits remain readable.
Common size limits
| Scenario | Stated limit | Safe target |
|---|---|---|
| Federal ECF / PACER | 5MB per PDF | under 4MB |
| Many state courts | 2MB–5MB | under 2MB |
| Safe target | < 4MB | passes most |
Step-by-step
- Compress on “Balanced”.
- Check the size — aim under 4MB (2MB if the court is strict).
- Over a tight cap? Target 2MB or split into separate exhibits.
- E-file.
AdSense slot — configure js/ads.js
FAQ
What is the court PDF size limit?
Federal ECF/PACER caps at 5MB per PDF; many state courts 2–5MB. The court's e-filing rules state it.
Will compression make my filing unreadable?
On Balanced, no — text and exhibits stay legible. Avoid High for filings; that can soften scans.
Split or compress for exhibits?
Compress first; if a single exhibit is still over, file it as a separate numbered exhibit rather than cramming.