How to Convert a PDF to Excel and Extract Tables (Free, Online)
Tables in PDFs are awkward: you can see the rows and columns, but copying them into a spreadsheet usually turns everything into one jumbled column. A PDF to Excel converter reads the layout, finds the tables and puts each one into a proper sheet.
How to convert a PDF to Excel
- Open the PDF to Excel tool and add your PDF.
- Choose whether to put all tables on one sheet. Leave it off to give every table its own sheet.
- Press the PDF to Excel button.
- Download the XLSX file and open it in Excel, Google Sheets or LibreOffice.
What works well
The tool is built for PDFs that contain real text and clear rows and columns, such as:
- Bank or account statements
- Price lists and invoices
- Reports with data tables
- Timetables and schedules
A table needs at least two rows and two columns of aligned content to be detected.
One sheet or many?
| Option | Result | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Off (default) | Every table gets its own sheet | Documents with different kinds of tables |
| On | All tables are stacked on one sheet | Tables with the same columns that you want to sort or filter together |
If no tables are found
There are two common reasons:
- The PDF is a scan. A scanned page is a picture, so there is no text for the tool to read. Run OCR PDF first (read our guide to OCR), then convert the result.
- The "table" is only a layout. If the data is not laid out in aligned rows and columns, the tool cannot tell where one cell ends and the next begins.
Always check the result
Tables are detected automatically, so the output is a very good start, not a guarantee. Before you rely on the figures:
- Compare totals with the original PDF.
- Look at columns with merged cells or unusual alignment.
- Check that numbers are stored as numbers and dates as dates, not as text.
Other ways to use the data
- Edit the text of the whole document with PDF to Word.
- Turn pages into images with PDF to JPG.
- Get structured text for notes or documents with PDF to Markdown.
Is my file safe?
Your file is encrypted in transit and at rest and deleted automatically, by default within 2 hours. See the privacy page.
Frequently asked questions
Why were no tables found?
The tool detects tables in PDFs that contain real text. If your PDF is a scan or a picture, run OCR PDF first and convert it again.
Can I put all tables on one sheet?
Yes. Turn on the option to put all tables on one sheet. Otherwise every table gets its own sheet.
Will the numbers be correct?
Tables are detected automatically, so always check the numbers, especially columns with merged cells or unusual alignment.
Does it work on scanned PDFs?
Not directly. A scan has no real text, so run OCR PDF first so the text becomes real, then convert it to Excel.