How to Convert Word to PDF for Free
Send someone a Word document and you can't be sure what they'll see. A missing font, a different version of Word, or a phone app that handles layout its own way can all shift your pages around. Converting to PDF before you send it fixes the layout in place, so the document looks the same on any device.
When to send a PDF instead of a Word file
- CVs and cover letters, where layout is part of the first impression.
- Invoices, quotes, and contracts that shouldn't be casually edited after you send them.
- Anything you're uploading to a portal that asks for PDF.
- Documents you plan to print, so the page breaks land where you expect.
How to convert Word to PDF
- Open the Word to PDF tool and upload your .docx file.
- Click Convert.
- Download the resulting PDF.
What carries over
Text, headings, and basic layout carry over. Very complex layouts, like heavily nested tables or text wrapped tightly around images, may shift slightly, as they can with any DOCX-to-PDF conversion. Open the PDF and skim it before you send it, especially the page breaks.
Older .doc files
The converter is built for .docx, the format Word has used by default for years. If you have an older .doc file, open it in Word, save it as .docx, then convert it here.
Going the other way
If you receive a PDF and need to edit its text, use PDF to Word to get an editable document back, then convert again when you're done.
More guides
- How to Convert PDF to Excel Without RetypingCopying numbers out of a PDF table by hand is slow and easy to get wrong. Here's how to get the table into Excel.
- How to Edit a PDF Online for FreeFilling in a form, adding a note, or marking up a page doesn't need desktop software. Here's what you can do in the browser.
- How to Add Page Numbers to a PDFPage numbers make long documents easier to navigate, reference, and reassemble. Here's how to add them to any PDF.