How to Convert Word to PDF Online

Sending a Word document is risky: the recipient may not have Word, their fonts may differ, and a tracked-change balloon or a reflowed table can make a careful layout look sloppy. A PDF fixes the layout so the document looks the same everywhere – on a phone, in a browser or printed.

This guide shows how to convert Word to PDF with the Word to PDF converter, and how to make sure the result looks right.

Which files can you convert?

The converter accepts the common word-processing formats:

• DOCX – Microsoft Word 2007 and later
• DOC – older Word documents
• ODT – LibreOffice and OpenOffice Writer
• RTF – Rich Text Format

Password-protected documents and files containing macros are rejected for security reasons. Remove the password, or save a copy without macros (as a normal .docx), before uploading.

Step by step

1. Open the Word to PDF converter.
2. Choose your document or drag it into the upload box. One file is converted per conversion.
3. Press Convert to PDF.
4. Download the PDF and open it to check the result.

The document is converted on our own server. The upload is deleted after the conversion, and the PDF is deleted automatically shortly afterwards.

What is kept

Text, styles and headings, lists, tables, images, headers and footers, page breaks and page size are all converted. Because the PDF is created from the layout of your document, page and line breaks normally match what you see in your word processor.

Fonts: the one thing to check

The most common difference between your document and the PDF is the font. A PDF can only use fonts available where it is created. On our server:

• Calibri, Cambria, Arial, Times New Roman and Courier New are replaced by free fonts with the same character widths. Line and page breaks stay the same; the letter shapes look slightly different.
• Other commercial fonts are replaced by a similar font, which can change line breaks.

If the exact typeface matters – for example in a branded document – export the PDF from Word on your own computer instead (File › Save As › PDF), where your fonts are installed.

Other things worth checking

• Tracked changes and comments. Accept or reject changes and delete comments before converting, unless you want them visible.
• SmartArt, complex charts and embedded objects can render slightly differently from Microsoft Word. Check those pages.
• Hidden text stays hidden.
• Non-Latin scripts. Chinese, Japanese and Korean text depends on fonts that may not be available for conversion. Check that every character appears in the PDF.

When to use the online converter

An online converter is useful when:

• you don't have Word installed (for example on a shared or work computer, a Chromebook or a phone),
• you received a .doc, .odt or .rtf file and need a PDF quickly, or
• you want a PDF that is created consistently, regardless of the device.

If you're already working in Word with the right fonts installed, Save As PDF in Word is equally good.

Frequently asked questions

Will my PDF look exactly like my Word document?

Usually yes for text, tables, images and page breaks. Differences come mainly from fonts that aren't available on the server and from advanced features such as SmartArt.

Can I convert a document with macros?

No. Documents with macros are rejected for security reasons. Save a copy as a normal .docx (without macros) and convert that.

Can I combine several Word files into one PDF?

No – each conversion handles one document. Combine the documents in your word processor first, then convert the result.

How do I edit the PDF later?

Keep the original Word file. If you only have the PDF, the PDF to Word converter turns it back into an editable document.

Summary

Converting Word to PDF locks the layout so your document looks the same everywhere. Upload a DOCX, DOC, ODT or RTF file, convert it and check the PDF – especially the fonts. For documents with special branded fonts, use your word processor's own PDF export; for everything else, an online conversion is quick and consistent.