PDF to Markdown converter
Turn the text of a PDF into clean Markdown, with headings, paragraphs, lists, tables and links rebuilt. Everything runs in your browser.
- 100% free
- Runs in your browser
- No uploads
- Runs on your deviceEvery tool works directly in your browser. No files are uploaded.
- Your privacy mattersYour files never leave your device, so there's nothing for us to store.
- No limitsUse any tool as much as you need. No daily caps, no waiting.
- Completely freeNo signup and no trial to cancel. Ads keep the tools free.
How to convert a PDF to Markdown
- Add the PDF. Drop it on the box or choose it. One file at a time.
- Wait a moment. Each page is read in turn; long documents show progress.
- Check the result. Switch between the Markdown and a preview. Change the options if headers or tables look wrong.
- Copy or download. Copy the Markdown, or save it as a .md file named after your PDF.
How the Markdown is rebuilt
A PDF doesn't store headings or paragraphs, only pieces of text at positions on the page, with a font and a size. The converter groups pieces on the same baseline into lines, then reads the layout:
| In the PDF | In the Markdown |
|---|---|
| Text larger than the body text | # Heading, ## Heading … by size |
| Lines close together; a gap between groups | Paragraphs, with hyphenated line breaks joined |
| Lines starting with •, –, 1. or a) | - bullet and 1. numbered lists, nested by indent |
| Words lined up in columns | | table | rows | |
| Clickable web links | [link text](https://…) |
| Bold, italic and monospaced fonts | **bold**, *italic* and code blocks |
What converts well, and what doesn't
- Converts well: PDFs exported from Word, Google Docs, Pages, LaTeX or a browser's "Save as PDF": reports, papers, manuals, articles, CVs.
- Needs tidying: magazine layouts with many columns and boxes, slides, and forms, where reading order isn't obvious.
- Doesn't work: scanned pages and photos (no text inside), and password-protected files that can't be opened without the password.
- Characters look wrong? Some PDFs store text with fonts that don't say which letters they draw, so copied text is garbled in every app. Converting from the original document works better.
Frequently asked questions
Why does it say my PDF has no text?
The PDF is a scan or a set of photos: each page is a picture of words, not text. This converter reads the text stored in a PDF and doesn't do OCR (recognising letters in images). Run the file through an OCR app first, such as Adobe Acrobat or a scanner app, then convert the result here.
How are headings found?
By size. The most common text size is taken as body text; larger sizes become headings, the largest as #, the next as ##, and so on. A short line that is all bold, on its own, also becomes a heading. Check the levels afterwards: some documents use sizes in unusual ways.
Does it keep tables?
Simple ones. Rows whose words line up in columns with clear gaps become a Markdown table, with the first row as the header. Tables with merged cells, cells that wrap over many lines or no gaps between columns may come out as plain text instead. Untick the table option if columns are found where there are none.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The file is opened and read by pdf.js inside this browser tab. Nothing is sent to a server, so it's safe for contracts, reports and other private documents.
Can I use the Markdown with ChatGPT or other AI tools?
Yes. Markdown keeps the structure (headings, lists, tables) in plain text, which AI chat tools, note apps like Obsidian and Notion, and static site generators read well. It is usually much shorter than the PDF, too.
What about images and page layout?
Images aren't extracted; only the text is. Text in several columns is read in the order the PDF stores it, which is usually column by column. Headers, footers and page numbers repeated on most pages are left out unless you untick that option.