Word documents are notorious for looking different on every computer. Fonts change, layouts shift, and formatting breaks. PDFs don't. Converting Word to PDF locks in every detail so your document looks identical on any device, in any country.
This guide covers how to convert Word to PDF properly, what to check before converting, and how to get the best results.
Why Convert Word to PDF?
Consistent Appearance Everywhere
Open the same Word document on two different computers and they might look completely different — different fonts, different margins, different page breaks. A PDF displays identically on Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, and every web browser.
Professional Sharing
Sending a resume? A proposal? A contract? PDF says "finished document." Word says "draft I might still be editing." Perception matters.
Font Embedding
Used a beautiful custom font in your design? PDF embeds the font in the file. Without embedding, recipients without that font see ugly substitutions.
Edit Protection
PDFs are harder to modify than Word documents. Share as PDF when you don't want recipients making "helpful" changes to your content.
Smaller File Size
Word documents with images can bloat quickly. PDFs often compress more efficiently, making them easier to email.
How to Convert Word to PDF
- Upload your document: Go to our Word to PDF converter and select your .doc or .docx file
- Convert: We process your document, preserving all formatting elements
- Download: Your PDF is ready instantly
What Gets Preserved?
- Text formatting: Fonts, sizes, colors, bold, italic, underline
- Paragraph styles: Alignment, indentation, spacing
- Headers and footers: Page numbers, dates, titles
- Images and graphics: Photos, charts, shapes, SmartArt
- Tables: Structure, borders, cell formatting
- Hyperlinks: Clickable URLs
- Page layout: Margins, orientation, columns
Tips for Best Results
Check Page Breaks
Preview your document before converting to catch any awkward page breaks. What looks fine at 100% zoom might split weirdly across pages.
Review Track Changes
Accept or reject all tracked changes before converting. Otherwise, markup might appear in your PDF.
Update Fields
If using date fields or table of contents, update them before conversion to ensure current values.
After Converting
Polish your PDF before sharing:
- Compress the PDF for easier email attachment
- Add a watermark for branding or draft notices
- Password protect sensitive documents
- Add your signature for contracts and agreements
- Merge with other documents for complete packages
The Reverse: PDF to Word
Need to edit a PDF? Our PDF to Word converter recreates editable Word documents from PDF files — perfect for updating old documents when you've lost the original.
Common Questions
Will my table of contents work?
Yes! Internal links in your table of contents typically remain clickable in the PDF.
What about comments and annotations?
Word comments don't transfer to PDF by default. If you need them, print to PDF with comments visible.
Can I convert password-protected Word files?
Yes, if you know the password. Protected files need to be unlocked before conversion.
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Lock in your formatting. Convert Word to PDF now — free and instant.