How to convert excel to pdf format

Sharing Excel files can be challenging, especially when the person you are sharing with does not have the necessary software. Excel helps in creating reports and analyzing large data. But they are not the best format when sharing. That’s where PDF comes in. It is a largely accepted format that can be easily opened and viewed by anyone. Pdf can be viewed on computer or mobile.

Converting Excel to PDF is a simple process that can save you time. In this guide, we will show you how to convert Excel to PDF in just a few easy steps.
Convert Excel to pdf

Why Convert Excel to PDF?

 Before jumping into the How, let’s talk about the Why. Excel files are best for organizing data, but they are not always the easiest to share or print. Let’s quickly understand why you might want to convert an excel file to a pdf. Here are some reasons:

  • Easy to share and print: PDFs are universal and it can be opened on any device and they are easy to print without any changes in format.
  • Security: You can protect PDFs with passwords, making it harder for others to harm your data.
  • Preserving Formatting: One of the best and biggest benefit of PDFs is that they keep your formatting safe.

How to Convert in Just a Few steps

 There are multiple ways to convert an Excel file to PDF, depending on your device and software. Let’s Explore the simplest options, starting with the methods most commonly used.

Method 1: Convert Using Microsoft Excel

The simplest way to convert is directly through Excel itself. Here are the steps:

  1. Open your Excel file that you want to convert.
  2. Click on the File tab at the top left corner.
  3. Select Save As from the options.
  4. Choose PDF from the list of formats (Under the “Save as type” dropdown).
  5. Click Save. You Excel file is now a PDF.

Your Excel data is now a PDF, ready to share, Print or secure.

Method 2: Convert Using Google Sheets (For Free)

Don’t have excel? No problem! Google sheets is an excellent another option for easy PDF conversion. Here are the steps:

  1. Open Google Sheets and upload the Excel file you want to convert.
  2. Click on the File tab at the top left corner.
  3. After clicking File, go to Download and the select the PDF Document.
  4. Make Adjustment as needed, then click Export.
  5. Google Sheets will now convert the file into the PDF, which you can save into your computer or cloud.

Method 3: Convert on Mac OS X

Mac users can now easily convert Excel to PDF and don’t even need Excel to convert an Excel file to a PDF on Mac OS X. Below are the steps:

  1. Open the Excel File.
  2. Click on File and Select Print.
  3. In the bottom-left corner, click on the PDF
  4. Choose Save as PDF.
  5. Name your file and select the location where you want to save it.

How to Convert Excel to PDF in Landscape Mode

Some Excel files are too wide to fit into a portrait layout, especially if you are dealing with large tables. Here’s how you can convert in landscape mode to ensure all your data fits on one page.

  1. In Excel, Click on the Page Layout tab.
  2. In the Page Setup section, click on Orientation and select Landscape.
  3. Then, follow the usual steps to save the file as a PDF, and your spreadsheet will appear in landscape mode.

FAQs: 

  1. How do I convert Excel to PDF for free?
    You can use Excel’s built-in PDF export feature or online converters like PDF Converterly for free and you don’t need any software installation for this.
  2. Can I convert an Excel file to a fillable PDF?
    Yes! First, convert your Excel file to PDF, then use Adobe Acrobat or another PDF editor to add fillable fields like text boxes and checkboxes.
  3. Can I convert Excel to PDF without losing formatting?
    Yes, if you use Excel’s built-in PDF export tool or trusted online converters like PDF Converterly, the formatting will be safe. Just make sure to select the correct page setup before converting.
  4. How do I convert Excel to PDF in landscape?
    To convert in landscape, simply change the page orientation to landscape under the Page Layout tab before saving as PDF.