Drop a PDF and this tool converts every page to grayscale, then shows the original and the gray version side by side so you can check each page before you download. Text stays as real, selectable text and vector graphics stay sharp, because the tool changes the colors inside the PDF instead of turning pages into pictures. Photos are converted to true grayscale images. Your file is processed in your browser and never uploaded.
How to convert a PDF to grayscale
- Drop your PDF on the Original pane, or click Open PDF.
- Wait a moment while each page is converted and checked. The progress bar shows which page it's on.
- Flip through the pages with Previous and Next to compare the original and grayscale versions.
- Click Download grayscale PDF.
Two ways to convert
Keep text and vectors (recommended)
The converter rewrites the colors inside the PDF. Colored text and shapes become gray at the same brightness, images are converted pixel by pixel, and gradients, patterns, form fields, and annotations are converted too. Text stays searchable, links keep working, and the file is often smaller than the original.
After converting, the tool renders every page and checks it for leftover color. A few things, like JPEG 2000 images or unusual gradient types, can't be recolored directly. With Flatten pages that still have color turned on, only those pages are turned into grayscale images, so the rest of the document keeps its text.
Flatten pages to images
Every page is rendered and saved as a grayscale image. This always produces a fully gray PDF and works on any file, including encrypted ones, but the text can no longer be selected or searched. Pick a higher image quality if the text needs to stay crisp.
Grayscale vs. black and white
| Tone | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Grayscale | Every color becomes the shade of gray with the same brightness, so photos and charts keep their detail. | Reports, photos, slides, and anything you'll read on screen or print on a laser printer |
| Black and white | Dark colors become black and light colors become white, with no grays in between. | Text documents, forms, and contracts where you want crisp, high-contrast printing and the least ink |
Why convert a PDF to grayscale?
- Cheaper printing: print shops and office printers often charge more for any page that contains color, even a small logo. A true grayscale PDF prints at the black-and-white rate.
- Court and government filings: some courts, agencies, and archives ask for black-and-white or grayscale documents.
- Saving colored ink: home printers use colored ink to make "black" on color pages. A gray file prints from the black cartridge.
- Checking contrast: seeing a design in grayscale shows whether colors that look different actually have enough contrast.
Frequently asked questions
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. The conversion runs in your browser using JavaScript. Your PDF never leaves your device, which makes this safe for contracts, medical records, and other private documents.
Will the text still be selectable?
Yes, with Keep text and vectors, which is the default. The colors are changed but the text stays text. Only pages that had to be flattened to remove the last bit of color, or every page if you choose Flatten pages to images, lose selectable text.
Does converting to grayscale reduce the file size?
Often, yes. Grayscale photos need one channel instead of three or four, so image-heavy PDFs usually shrink. Text-only PDFs stay about the same. The size before and after is shown under the preview.
Will my printer or print shop treat it as black and white?
Yes. Text, shapes, and images are written in the PDF's gray color space, and every page is checked for leftover color before you download, so color-detecting printers and print shops see it as a grayscale document.
Can I convert a password-protected PDF?
Yes. If the PDF needs a password to open, enter it when asked. Encrypted PDFs are converted by flattening the pages to grayscale images, because their contents can't be edited directly.
Why does one page say flattened?
That page had color the converter couldn't change directly, such as a JPEG 2000 image or a complex gradient. To guarantee a fully gray result, that one page was turned into a grayscale image. The other pages keep their text.
Is there a page or size limit?
No fixed limit. Large PDFs with hundreds of pages take longer because every page is converted and checked, and very large files depend on how much memory your device has.