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PDF to Grayscale

Turn a colour PDF black & white (greyscale).

Click to upload or drag & drop

Select a PDF file

How to use the PDF to Grayscale

  1. 1
    Upload your PDF file

    Drag and drop or click to select the PDF file.

  2. 2
    Convert to Grayscale

    Click Convert to Grayscale and we process it on our secure server.

  3. 3
    Download

    Your greyscale PDF downloads automatically.

Convert a PDF to greyscale

This tool converts a colour PDF to true greyscale (black and white) using Ghostscript on our server. Unlike a screenshot, the text stays sharp and selectable — ideal for cheaper black-and-white printing or a cleaner look.

When to use it

  • Prepare a PDF for black-and-white printing.
  • Remove colour to reduce distraction or ink use.
  • Standardise scanned documents to greyscale.

Private & secure

Your PDF is re-rendered to grayscale with Ghostscript on our server. It is uploaded over an encrypted link, processed in a workspace reserved for that job, and deleted the moment the grayscale file downloads — nothing is stored.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the text stay selectable?

Yes. This is a true greyscale conversion, not a flattened image, so text remains sharp, searchable and selectable.

Are my files uploaded to a server?

Yes. Converting every page to true grayscale uses Ghostscript on our server, so the PDF is uploaded for the moment it takes. It runs in an isolated workspace and is removed once the result is returned.

Is it free? Is there a watermark or size limit?

Yes — free, no sign-up, and no watermark added. PDFs up to 100 MB each are supported.

From the blogHow to Convert a PDF to GrayscaleConvert a colour PDF to true greyscale online free — save on colour printing and shrink the file. Why printing in black and white is not the same thing.Read the full guide

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