PDFConvertersOnline.comHow to create a ZIP file
- Choose files, drop them here, or drop a whole folder. Add more until everything is in the list.
- Pick a compression level and type a name for the archive.
- Press Create ZIP, then download it. You'll see the size before and after.
One file is easier to send than fifty
Job applications that accept a single attachment, a folder of invoices for your accountant, source files for a print shop, a set of photos for a relative: sending them one by one is tedious and something always gets missed. A ZIP bundles them into a single file. Windows, macOS and ChromeOS open ZIP archives without any extra software, and so does the Files app on current iPhones.
Everything happens inside this browser tab. Your files are read from the disk, compressed in memory and saved back as one archive, so the documents never pass through anyone else's computer. That also means no upload wait: the only limit on speed is your own device.
Keep your folder structure
Drag a folder from your file manager onto the box and the tool walks through it, sub-folders included, and keeps the same layout inside the ZIP. Empty folders are kept too. On browsers that support it, the Choose a folder link opens a folder picker as an alternative to dragging. In the list, each dropped folder shows up as a single line with its file count and total size, so a folder with thousands of files stays easy to manage and easy to remove again.
If two files have the same name, the second one is renamed with a number, for example report (2).pdf, so nothing gets overwritten inside the archive.
Which compression level to choose
| Level | Best for |
|---|---|
| None | Fastest. Files are stored as they are. Good when you only need one file instead of many. |
| Normal | The usual choice. Text, spreadsheets, CSV exports, code and uncompressed images shrink noticeably. |
| Maximum | Squeezes out a little more at the cost of time. Worth it for large text-heavy folders. |
Photos, videos, music, PDFs and Office documents are already compressed internally, so zipping them again saves almost nothing. The tool recognizes these formats and stores them without recompressing, which is much faster and gives practically the same size. If your goal is a smaller file to email, shrink the photos first with Compress Image and then zip the results.
Sending the ZIP
Email services cap attachment sizes; Gmail, for example, allows up to 25 MB per message. The result screen shows the final size so you know whether it fits before you attach it. Archives are limited to 4 GB here, which is the classic ZIP limit this tool writes. For bigger jobs, split your files into a few groups.
File names with accents or non-Latin letters are stored in Unicode and marked as such, so they display correctly when the archive is opened with any current ZIP program. Received a ZIP yourself? Open it with Unzip Files to check its contents.
Frequently asked questions
Are my files uploaded to create the ZIP?
No. The archive is built on your device by code in this page. You can disconnect from the internet after the page loads and it still works.
Why is my ZIP almost the same size as the original files?
The files are probably photos, videos, PDFs or other formats that are already compressed. ZIP can't shrink them much further. Compress the images themselves if you need a smaller result.
Can I zip a whole folder?
Yes. Drag the folder onto the box, or use Choose a folder where your browser offers it. Sub-folders and empty folders are kept.
Is there a size limit?
Archives up to 4 GB can be created. Your device also needs enough free memory to hold the finished ZIP while it's being built.
Can I add a password to the ZIP?
Not with this tool. It creates standard, unencrypted ZIP files. For a sensitive document, consider a password-protected PDF made with Protect PDF.
Will the ZIP open on a Mac or Windows PC?
Yes. It's a standard ZIP archive, which both systems open by double-clicking.