Convert PDF to grayscale
Upload your PDF and convert every color to grayscale (black & white) in one go. Ideal for cheaper printing and crisp black & white output — your fonts stay embedded and the layout stays exactly the same.
The difference
Converting a color PDF to black & white is a hassle
- In Acrobat or a design app, grayscale conversion is buried in pre-flight menus.
- Print a color PDF on a black & white printer and the driver decides the conversion — often dull and inconsistent.
- The printer charges for color while your document is really black & white.
- Converting page by page or image by image by hand takes time and goes wrong.
Pure grayscale in one click
- Upload your PDF and we convert every RGB and CMYK color to grayscale (DeviceGray).
- A predictable, consistent black & white result on every printer and press.
- Text, vectors and layout stay sharp; fonts stay embedded.
- Multiple files at once — you get a ZIP back.
How it works
Upload your PDF
Drag your PDF or ZIP here or pick files. Multiple files at once is fine.
Convert to grayscale
We convert every color to grayscale. There’s nothing to set up.
Download your black & white PDF
Download instantly. One file gives a PDF, multiple files a ZIP.
What the tool does
A clean, fully black & white PDF — without losing quality.
Full color conversion
RGB and CMYK are converted to grayscale, including photos and illustrations.
Fonts stay embedded
Your text doesn’t shift — embedded fonts are preserved.
Layout stays the same
Page sizes, positions and vector text stay exactly as in the original.
PDF and ZIP
Upload single PDFs or ZIP archives, up to 200 files at once.
Use cases
Cheaper printing
Convert brochures, reports and manuals to black & white and save on color printing.
Black & white printing
Print crisp on a black & white printer or copier, without a gray color cast.
Archiving
Store documents compact and color-neutral for archiving or email.
Proofing & review
Judge text and contrast in a neutral black & white version, without distracting colors.
Learn more about print-ready PDF
How to make a print-ready PDF: the complete guide
CMYK, fonts, bleed and PDF/X — everything a printer needs, explained step by step.
Read articleConvert a PDF to grayscale without Acrobat
Turn a color PDF into clean black-and-white for cheaper, predictable printing.
Read articleCompress, rasterise and repair your PDFs
Shrink large files and fix problem PDFs before you send them to print.
Read articleFrequently asked questions
What does converting a PDF to grayscale mean?
It converts all colors (RGB or CMYK) to shades of gray, so the PDF only contains black, white and grey. The layout, text and page dimensions stay the same.
Will my text stay sharp?
Yes. The conversion only changes the color space, not the resolution or vector text. Text and lines stay as sharp as in the original.
Are images converted too?
Yes, color photos and illustrations are converted to grayscale as well. The result is a fully black & white document.
Does it use credits?
Yes, 1 credit per file. New accounts start with free credits so you can try. With multiple files you receive a ZIP.
Which files can I upload?
PDF files and ZIP archives containing PDFs. You can convert up to 200 files at once.
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