How to Convert PDF to Excel: A Complete Guide
PDF files are widely used for sharing documents because they preserve formatting across devices. But when you need to work with data — especially tables or numbers — PDFs can be limiting. That’s why many people search for ways to convert PDF to Excel so they can edit, analyze, and organize data efficiently.
In this post, we’ll show you why converting PDF to Excel matters, the best methods to do it, and some tips to ensure the process goes smoothly.
Why Would You Convert PDF to Excel?
Here are some common reasons people want to convert PDF files into Excel spreadsheets:
✅ Edit or update data — Unlike PDFs, Excel allows you to easily make changes.
✅ Perform calculations — You can apply formulas, filters, and pivot tables in Excel.
✅ Save time — Manual copying of tables from PDFs can be error-prone and slow.
✅ Create reports — Excel integrates well with charts, graphs, and dashboards.
If you regularly handle reports, invoices, financial statements, or survey data in PDF format, knowing how to convert PDF to Excel will save you hours.
Best Ways to Convert PDF to Excel
Here are three popular and effective methods:
1️⃣ Use Adobe Acrobat (Paid Tool)
Adobe Acrobat (the full version, not the free Reader) offers a straightforward export feature.
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Open your PDF in Acrobat.
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Click Export PDF on the right pane.
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Choose Spreadsheet → Microsoft Excel Workbook.
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Click Export and save the file.
Adobe’s tool usually maintains table structure and formatting well, making it a top choice for business users.
2️⃣ Use Free Online PDF to Excel Converters
If you don’t have paid software, many online tools can help:
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Smallpdf
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ILovePDF
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PDFtoExcel.com
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PDFCandy
Steps:
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Visit the website.
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Upload your PDF file.
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Click Convert to Excel.
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Download the converted Excel file.
⚠ Caution: Avoid uploading sensitive or confidential data to free online tools, as privacy may not be guaranteed.
3️⃣ Use Excel’s Built-in Import (Newer Versions)
Recent versions of Excel (Office 365 or Excel 2019+) include a “Get Data” feature that can pull data directly from a PDF.
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Open Excel.
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Go to Data → Get Data → From File → From PDF.
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Select the PDF and navigate the navigator pane to choose the tables you want.
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Load the data into your spreadsheet.
This option works best when the PDF has clearly defined tables.
Tips for Better Conversion
✔ Check the output carefully — Even the best tools can misalign columns or misread data, especially in complex PDFs.
✔ Use OCR for scanned documents — If your PDF is an image (like a scanned document), you’ll need Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to extract text. Many converters offer this feature.
✔ Break up large PDFs — For long or multi-section PDFs, consider splitting the document and converting section by section for better accuracy.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to convert PDF to Excel can significantly improve your workflow, especially when dealing with data-heavy documents. Whether you use professional software, online tools, or Excel itself, the right method depends on your needs, the complexity of your PDF, and the sensitivity of your data.
By mastering this simple but powerful skill, you can save time, reduce manual errors, and get more value from your data.