CloudConverter

Grayscale PDF

Convert a colour PDF to black and white (grayscale) for cheaper printing and smaller files.

Click to add files or drag and drop them here

PDF files · up to 10 files · 50 MB each

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How it works

1

Choose a PDF

Tap the box or drag one or more PDF files onto it, up to 50 MB each.

2

Convert

Text, images and drawings on every page are converted to shades of grey.

3

Download

Save the grayscale PDF and see how much smaller it got.

Colour pages cost more to print, and some offices, exam boards and archives require black-and-white documents. Converting a PDF to grayscale turns every colour on every page (text, photos, charts and backgrounds) into shades of grey, so the file prints in black ink only and is often smaller too.

What changes, and what does not

All colours become grey tones with matching brightness, so photos and charts stay readable. Text remains real, selectable text, links keep working and page layout stays the same.

Charts that rely only on colour to tell lines apart (red vs green, for example) can become hard to distinguish in grey. Check those pages before printing.

Printing and file size

Most printers use colour ink even for “black” when a page is in colour. A grayscale PDF makes sure only black toner or ink is used, which saves money in shops and offices that charge for colour pages.

Colour images hold three channels and grayscale images one, so image-heavy PDFs often shrink noticeably. For the smallest file, run the result through Compress PDF too.

Where this comes in handy

Cheaper printing

Print documents and handouts with black ink only.

Submissions

Meet black-and-white requirements of exam boards, courts and offices.

Readable photocopies

Prepare documents that will be photocopied or faxed.

Smaller files

Reduce the size of colour scans for archiving.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a PDF black and white?

Upload the PDF here and press Convert. Every page is converted to grayscale.

Does text stay sharp?

Yes. Text stays as real text; only its colour changes to grey or black.

Will my file get smaller?

Usually, especially when it contains colour photos. Text-only PDFs stay about the same.

Can I convert it back to colour?

No, colour information is removed. Keep the original if you need colour later.

Are my files kept?

No. Each PDF is processed in a private temporary folder that is deleted right afterwards.

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