File Limits and Supported Formats

Limits in iHatePDF depend on the tool you choose, the file size, the number of pages, and the complexity of the document itself.

Here you'll find the service's specific restrictions and the general logic behind them, so it's easier to understand why one file goes through right away while another is better split, compressed, or simplified first.

Limits depend on the tool and current load

Restrictions on size, file count, and task composition can differ between tools and change depending on the current operating mode.

Large and complex files take longer to process

Even if upload is allowed, the result depends on the document's structure, page count, and overall volume of input data.

The current limit is shown at upload time

The active restriction for your session is displayed in the upload interface.

If an error occurs, shrink the file or split the task

If processing fails, try simplifying the input, splitting the document, or choosing a more precise tool for the task.

Main restrictions

  • The maximum size of one file is determined by the current session limits and shown in the upload interface.
  • The maximum file count and total job size depend on the selected tool and current plan.
  • Results are stored for a limited time after processing completes, then deleted automatically.
  • Page count limits depend on the tool and are shown in the upload interface.

Supported formats

The list of formats depends on the tool you choose. Below is the full list of input and output formats by group.

  • PDF tools (merge, split, compress, rotate, organize, sign, protect, unlock, annotate, edit): input format PDF, output format PDF.
  • PDF to images (PDF to JPG): input format PDF, output format JPG — one image per page.
  • Images to PDF (JPG to PDF, HEIC to JPG, Scan to PDF): input formats JPG, PNG, HEIC; output format PDF or JPG.
  • PDF to Office (PDF to Word, PDF to Excel, PDF to PowerPoint): input format PDF, output formats DOCX, XLSX, PPTX.
  • Office to PDF (Word to PDF, Excel to PDF, PowerPoint to PDF, HTML to PDF): input formats DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, HTML; output format PDF.
  • OCR and recognition (OCR PDF, PDF to Text): input format PDF (especially scans), output format PDF with recognized text or TXT.
  • PDF/A and archival formats (PDF to PDF/A): input format PDF, output format PDF/A-1b or PDF/A-2b.

Format-specific notes

  • Office conversion (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx): complex formatting, multi-column layouts, and tables may not convert perfectly — always check the resulting file.
  • HTML to PDF: styles and external resources (fonts, images) must be accessible during conversion; dynamic JavaScript content is not loaded.
  • OCR: recognition quality depends on scan quality, text clarity, and image resolution. At least 150–200 DPI is recommended.
  • HEIC: Apple's photo format; converted to JPG for further use.
  • PDF/A: a strict archival format — a PDF with embedded fonts, no external links, and no JavaScript. Suitable for long-term document storage.

What determines the limits

  • the tool selected;
  • the size of the source file;
  • the number of pages;
  • the type of content inside the PDF;
  • the total task size, if there are multiple files.

What this means in practice

The same document can behave differently across different tools. For example, a file may open and split into parts just fine but be too heavy for another operation.

Large documents, long scans, and PDFs with many images usually take longer to process and are more likely to hit limits. If a task doesn't succeed the first time, reducing the volume of input data often helps.

What to do if a file doesn't go through

  • split a large PDF into parts and process them one at a time;
  • compress the document before the next operation;
  • remove unnecessary pages;
  • use a more suitable tool;
  • check that the format is actually supported.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum size of a single file?

The current maximum file size is shown in the selected tool's upload interface. If a document exceeds it, compress the file or split it into parts.

How many files can I upload in a single task?

The current file-count and total-size limits are shown in the upload interface; they depend on the tool and plan.

How many tasks can run at the same time?

Capacity for simultaneous and queued tasks depends on the current service configuration and plan; current availability is shown in the interface.

How long are files and results stored?

Uploaded files and results are automatically deleted after processing completes. Download your result as soon as it's ready.

Why doesn't my file go through processing?

The most common reasons are an unsupported format, exceeding the size limit, or a corrupted source document. Check the format and size, and split the task if needed.

Back to the main sections

Once you've checked the limits, you can go back to the catalog, open the FAQ, or contact support about a specific error.