Resize And/or Scale PDF Files

Template:StubMany companies today use the PDF format to distribute and view documents. Scroll down to learn how to resize and scale PDF files.

Steps

Install the free CutePDF Writer. Make sure to disable any bundled adware when installing. If you have Adobe Distiller installed already, it will serve the same role as CutePDF.
Open the PDF in your viewer software, such as SumatraPDF, a fast, small (<3Mb), portable viewer. Adobe Reader works too.
Bring up the Print dialog (File -> Print, or Ctrl+P)
Select CutePDF or Adobe as the printer.
Click Preferences, then Layout -> Advanced
In Paper Output, choose the desired page size.
For maximum quality, select 4000dpi. The default 600dpi will yield a somewhat smaller file size, with potentially visible quality loss.
- This will create a new PDF, maintaining vector drawings and images without recompression. PDF comments (if any) will be lost.

Open your PDF in Preview or any other viewing software.
Open the Print preferences.
- Choose a different page size, or find the box that lets you determine percentage scale. (The locations of these options will depend on your software.)
- Take the PDF down to the size you want or enlarge to paper size.
Print as PDF.

Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat (Standard or Pro).
Go to Advanced -> Print Production -> PDF Optimizer. You should be able to resize from here.
- An alternative to this is going to Document -> Reduce File Size, or in Acrobat 11, File -> Save As Other -> Optimized PDF
Save your new version.

Unfortunately, there aren't many ways to resize a PDF for free. Ask around and see if you have a friend who owns Adobe Acrobat, and would be willing to let you use it. You could also check the public-use computers at universities or libraries.