How to convert an Excel spreadsheet (XLSX) to PDF
A report, quote or invoice built in Excel is better sent as a PDF: the recipient sees the numbers exactly as you prepared them, with no formulas to tamper with and no columns shifting when opened in another program.
This converter turns your XLSX workbook into a paginated PDF ready to send or print.
Step by step
- In Excel, set the print area, orientation and page scaling of each sheet.
- Click Select file and choose the .xlsx (up to 50 MB).
- Check that Convert to shows PDF and click Convert XLSX to PDF.
- Download the PDF and check how the columns were split across pages.
How the sheet is split into pages
A spreadsheet has no pages, so the result depends on the print settings saved in the file: print area, orientation, margins and scaling. If a wide table does not fit, its last columns move onto another page.
The most useful trick is to set landscape orientation and Fit to 1 page wide in Excel before converting. That way the whole table fits across.
What the PDF shows
The PDF shows cell values with their visual formatting (colours, borders, number formats), not the formulas. The workbook's sheets are included one after another; if you only need one, delete or clear the others before converting.
The conversion is done by an Excel-compatible office engine. Charts are included, though very elaborate ones may vary slightly. Password-protected workbooks cannot be opened.
For invoices and quotes, check that headers and footers, such as your company details or page numbers, are set up in Excel's page layout, as they are what appears on each page of the PDF.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is my table cut across several pages?
- It does not fit across with the current print settings. Set the sheet to fit one page wide in Excel and convert again.
- Are formulas visible in the PDF?
- No, the calculated values are shown with their formatting.
- Are all the sheets converted?
- Yes, the workbook's sheets are included according to their print settings.
- Can I convert a password-protected Excel file?
- No. Remove the protection before converting.
