Reduce PDF file size from Google Docs

A single uncompressed photo can add 5-10 MB to your PDF. Resize images to the dimensions they actually display at, and compress them with a tool like Squoosh or TinyPNG before inserting. Switching from PNG to JPEG for photographs alone can cut image weight by 70% or more.

Deleted images sometimes linger in version history and add to export weight. If your Doc has gone through heavy revisions with images, create a clean copy using File > Make a copy, then export from the fresh version. This strips accumulated history data from the file.

Each additional font family increases the embedded data in the PDF. Stick to two fonts maximum. Remove unused styles, and avoid heavy use of shadows, text effects, or complex table borders that add rendering overhead.

For diagrams, charts, and simple illustrations, Google Drawings or inserted SVGs export as vector data, which is dramatically smaller than raster images at any resolution. A flowchart as a drawing might be 20 KB versus 2 MB as a screenshot.

Export a quick PDF, check the file size, and compare it to your target. If it is still too large, identify the heaviest images with a right-click inspection and replace them with optimized versions. Repeat until you hit your size goal.