How to convert a Word document to PDF
A PDF looks identical on every phone, laptop and printer, which makes it the right format for a CV, contract or invoice. If you do not have Word, or your version cannot save as PDF, you can convert the file online in under a minute.
Convert the document
- Open Word to PDF.
- Add a DOCX, DOC, ODT or RTF file of up to 100 MB.
- Press Convert and download the PDF when it is ready.
This tool runs on our server because converting Word files properly needs a full office suite. Your file is deleted automatically once you have downloaded the result, and within an hour at the latest.
Keep the layout the same
- Use common fonts such as Arial, Times New Roman or Courier. These convert with matching line breaks.
- An unusual font that is not installed on our server is swapped for a close match, which can move a line or two.
- Check page breaks and tables in the PDF before you send it.
- Remove any password from the Word file first, because protected documents cannot be converted.
What to do next
- Make a big PDF smaller for email: Compress PDF.
- Stop others opening it: Protect PDF.
Before you convert: a quick checklist
- Run the spell check and read the document once more. A PDF is hard to correct afterwards.
- Accept or reject tracked changes and delete comments, so only the final text appears.
- Update the table of contents and page numbers if the document has them.
- Check the page breaks, since a heading stranded at the bottom of a page looks sloppy in a PDF.
Fonts, images and tables
Common fonts such as Arial, Times New Roman and Courier convert with matching line breaks. A less common font that is not available on the server is replaced by a similar one, which can shift a line or two. If a layout is tight, such as a one-page CV, check the last lines of each page.
Pictures and tables carry over. Very large images can make the PDF big, so shrink them in the document or compress the PDF afterwards.
Other ways to make a PDF
- In Microsoft Word, choose File, then Save As, and pick PDF as the type.
- In Google Docs, choose File, then Download, then PDF Document.
- In LibreOffice, choose File, then Export as PDF.
These work on your own computer. If a document is highly confidential, exporting it with your own software means it never leaves your machine. This website converts Word files on its server, and deletes them as soon as your download is ready and within an hour at most, but for sensitive material the local route is the cautious choice.
What this tool does and does not convert
This converter is for text documents: DOCX, DOC, ODT and RTF. For a spreadsheet or a presentation, use the export option in the program you made it in, so charts and slides come out as designed.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Microsoft Word installed?
No. The conversion happens on our server, so you only need a browser.
Will my images and tables be kept?
In nearly all documents, yes. Text, tables, images and page layout carry over.
What happens to my document afterwards?
It is deleted automatically as soon as your download is ready, and within one hour at most.
Will tracked changes and comments appear in the PDF?
They can, depending on how the document is set. Accept or remove them in Word before converting.
Can I convert an Excel or PowerPoint file here?
No. This tool handles DOCX, DOC, ODT and RTF. Export spreadsheets and presentations from their own programs.
Why did my text move slightly?
A font that is missing on the server is swapped for a close match, which can change a line break. Common fonts avoid this.
Is the PDF editable afterwards?
Not easily. A PDF is made for reading. Keep your Word file as the source and convert again after changes.