Docket Prime

Your PDF is too large for CM/ECF: how to fix it

Updated

When a PDF is over the court's limit, CM/ECF stops the upload with a size error. You have two choices: make the file smaller, or split it into parts that each fit. Splitting is what most clerks' offices recommend.

1. Find your court's exact limit

Federal courts set their limits individually, and they vary a lot:

Courts don't say whether "MB" means 1,000,000 or 1,048,576 bytes. To be safe, aim a few percent under the limit. Docket Prime targets 97% of it.

2. Split the PDF into parts

Split at page boundaries into consecutive parts that are each under the limit. File the first part as the main document (or as the first attachment) and the remaining parts as further attachments, in order. Give each part a clear description such as "Exhibit B, Part 2 of 3 (pages 41–80)". Some courts, such as the Eastern District of Washington, ask for parts to be named by their page ranges.

The checker on this page splits files for you. It finds the cut points so each part fits, and keeps your bookmarks pointing at the right pages in each part. Most PDF tools lose bookmarks when they split.

To do it in Adobe Acrobat instead: Organize Pages › Split, then choose File size and enter a number slightly under your court's limit.

3. Or make the file smaller

  • Don't scan what you can print. A document saved directly to PDF from Word is a tiny fraction of the size of a scan of the same pages, and it's searchable.
  • Re-scan in black and white at 300 dpi. Color and grayscale scans at 600 dpi are the usual cause of huge files.
  • Reduce file size in Acrobat: File › Save as Other › Reduced Size PDF.

4. Watch the per-filing limits

Some courts cap the total of all files in one filing, or the number of attachments. If you hit those, file the remaining parts in a second transaction, for example with a "Notice of Filing Exhibits", or follow the court's instructions for oversized filings, which can include delivering the record on a CD or USB drive.

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Common questions

What is the CM/ECF file size limit?
There is no single limit: each court sets its own. Among the courts we track it ranges from 3 MB (Bankr. E.D. Arkansas) to 750 MB (S.D. Alabama) per PDF. Your court's limit is also shown in its CM/ECF help pages.
Does the limit apply to the whole filing or each file?
Almost always to each PDF separately: the main document and each attachment can each be up to the limit. Some courts also cap the total per filing (for example 150 MB in the Tenth Circuit) or the number of attachments (10 in the Second Circuit).
Is it OK to split an exhibit into parts?
Yes. Courts expect oversized exhibits to be split into consecutive parts, each under the limit, and attached in order with clear names such as "Exhibit A, Part 1 of 3". Never split in the middle of a page.
Why is my scanned PDF so large?
Color scanning at high resolution produces very large images. Most legal documents read fine scanned in black and white at 300 dpi, which can make files ten times smaller.