A filing that fits on paper can still be refused electronically. The electronic filing system of a federal court has a cap on how big one PDF may be, and the number differs from court to court. A stack of scanned exhibits is the classic way to hit it.
This guide covers file size only. It does not cover who may e-file, deadlines, page limits or how to format a motion. For those, use the court's local rules and the clerk's office. It is general information, not legal advice.
Every court sets its own limit
The PACER help page answers the question directly: "Each court sets a limit on the size of PDF files submitted for electronic filing." It adds that if a document exceeds the limit, the recommendation is to break it into separate, smaller documents, and that the Court CM/ECF Lookup shows the limit for each court.
The court pages below were read in October 2026. They show the most common figure and the range. They are examples, not a complete list.
- Central District of California: a notice dated August 2, 2019 states that the maximum file size for PDF documents filed electronically is 35 MB, and that files over 35 MB must be divided into sub-volumes.
- Northern District of Texas: the court requires any document larger than 35 MB to be split into separate PDF documents of 35 MB or smaller.
- Southern District of Texas: the electronic filing FAQ says there is a 35 MB limit in CM/ECF.
- District of Nebraska: documents cannot exceed 35 MB per PDF. The court recommends keeping the total of each transaction under about 100 MB.
- District of South Carolina: the system will not accept PDF documents larger than 35 MB.
- Southern District of Florida: the court page gives 50 MB per document.
- Southern District of Indiana (Bankruptcy): a document may not exceed 35.0 MB. It gives the example that a 36.0 MB exhibit should be divided into two equal parts before filing.
Because the limits differ and can change, confirm the figure for your court on its own site before you file. A court may also set separate rules for the combined size of one filing.
Why scans go over the limit
Courts that comment on this agree that scanning is the cause. The Florida page says size problems come up more often when scanning and recommends converting directly from the word processor. The Nebraska page says to request depositions in electronic form instead of scanning them. The South Carolina and Southern District of Texas pages give scanner advice:
- Scan at 300 dpi. South Carolina calls this the court's standard scanner resolution and says to avoid higher resolutions that create much larger files.
- Use black and white for ordinary text pages, and colour only when needed. South Carolina says output should normally be set to black and white. Nebraska says to avoid 24-bit colour or grayscale for standard documents.
- Keep embedded fonts to cases that need them, because they increase file size.
- The Southern District of Texas also says not to run OCR on the scanned document, since it makes very large files. Other courts checked did not address OCR, so read your own court's instructions.
A practical order of work
This sequence is judgement based on the pages above, not a court rule.
- Create the document in a word processor and save it as PDF whenever you can. It is smaller than a scan.
- For paper, set the scanner to 300 dpi and black and white before scanning, and scan one exhibit at a time.
- Check the size of each PDF before you start the filing.
- If a file is over the limit, split it into logical parts, such as Exhibit A part 1 and part 2, or shrink it if the result stays legible.
- Name the parts clearly so the clerk and the other side can follow them.
How to do it with DocPro
The tools run in your browser, so confidential exhibits are not uploaded to DocPro.
- Check the size: open the file in PDF info. It shows File size and Pages.
- Photos of pages instead of a scanner: Images to PDF builds one PDF. Set Page size to Letter and press Create PDF.
- Colour scan too big: Grayscale has a Mode choice of Grayscale or Black & white, and Resolution of 100, 150 or 200 dpi. Press Convert to grayscale. Check that the output is still legible. The top setting is 200 dpi, below the 300 dpi that two courts mention, so rescanning at 300 dpi black and white is better when you can.
- Still too big: Compress PDF offers Quality presets, or Aim for a target size with a Target size (KB). For a 35 MB court, 35 MB is about 35,840 KB, so aim for something like 30,000 KB. Press Compress PDF and read After.
- Split into parts: Split PDF has By ranges. Type pages in Ranges (one file each), for example 1-120, 121-240, and press Split PDF. Several parts come as a ZIP. Open each part in PDF info to confirm it is under the limit.
- Combine pieces first: if you scanned a document in several runs, Merge PDF joins them before you decide where to split.
Grayscale and Compress PDF both turn pages into pictures. Selectable text and links are lost. Some courts or judges may expect searchable text, and the pages above do not say. Check your court's rules, and keep the original file.
Common mistakes
- Assuming 35 MB applies everywhere. One court page gives 50 MB, and limits change.
- Scanning everything in colour at a high resolution.
- Splitting a file mid-exhibit so the parts are hard to follow.
- Shrinking a document until stamps, signatures or small print are unreadable.
- Waiting until the filing deadline to find that a file is over the limit.
What DocPro cannot do
DocPro cannot file anything with a court, check a filing against local rules or guarantee that a clerk accepts it. It cannot split a PDF by file size, so you choose page ranges and then check each part. It cannot raise the true resolution of a scan that was captured at a low setting. This guide does not cover state courts, which use other systems and their own limits, or whether a person without a lawyer may e-file in a given court. Ask the clerk's office.
Frequently asked questions
What is the PDF size limit for CM/ECF?
It depends on the court. The PACER help page says each court sets its own limit and points to the Court CM/ECF Lookup. Several court pages state 35 MB per PDF, and one states 50 MB.
What do I do if my PDF is over the limit?
The PACER page recommends breaking the document into separate, smaller documents. Several courts give the same advice and some describe how to name or attach the parts. Check your court's instructions.
What dpi should I scan court documents at?
Two court pages, from the District of South Carolina and the Southern District of Texas, say 300 dpi in black and white. Your court may say something different, so read its instructions.
Should I run OCR on a scanned court filing?
The Southern District of Texas says not to run OCR on scanned documents because of very large file sizes. The other court pages checked do not address it, so follow your own court's rule.
Are my exhibits uploaded to DocPro when I compress or split them?
No. The tools run in your browser and the files stay on your device.