To convert text to PDF, paste your text into the Paste or type your text box above, or select Open .txt file. Pick a page size, font, font size, margins and line spacing, then select Create PDF. The PDF downloads straight away, and long text continues onto new pages automatically.
How to convert text to PDF
- Add your text. Paste or type into the Paste or type your text box, or select Open .txt file to load a text file from your device.
- Choose the page. Set Page size to A4 or Letter, and Margins to Narrow, Normal or Wide.
- Style the text. Pick Sans, Serif or Monospace, a font size from 10 to 16 pt, and line spacing of Single, 1.15, 1.5 or Double. The word count and page estimate update as you go.
- Download. Select Create PDF and the file saves to your device.
How to convert a TXT or Notepad file to PDF
For a .txt file, select Open .txt file and the text loads into the box. For text that's open in Notepad, TextEdit or an email, select it all (Ctrl+A, or Cmd+A on a Mac), copy it, and paste it in. Either way you can edit the text in the box before you create the PDF.
Your computer can also do this without a website, with fewer layout choices:
- Windows Notepad: choose File › Print, pick Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer, and save. Margins and fonts follow Notepad's page setup.
- Mac TextEdit: choose File › Export as PDF.
The online text to PDF converter on this page is handy when you're on a phone or a shared computer, or when you want to set the font and spacing and check the page count first.
Choosing a font, size and line spacing
The three fonts are the standard ones built into every PDF reader, so the file looks the same on any device:
| Font | Looks like | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Sans | Helvetica | Notes, lists and anything read on screen |
| Serif | Times | Letters, essays and long printed text |
| Monospace | Courier | Code, logs, and columns lined up with spaces |
For a printed page, 11 or 12 pt with 1.15 spacing reads comfortably. Use 1.5 or Double when someone will write comments between the lines of a printed draft. If the page estimate is higher than you'd like, drop the font size by one point or switch to Narrow margins, then check the estimate again.
Which languages does the text to PDF converter support?
Because it uses the standard PDF fonts, the converter covers English and most Western European languages, including accented letters in French, Spanish, German and Portuguese. Characters outside that set, such as Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Hindi and other Indic scripts, and emoji, won't display correctly in the PDF.
For text in those scripts, paste it into Google Docs or Word, set a font that supports the language, and save as PDF from there (in Google Docs, File › Download › PDF Document (.pdf)).
Getting a clean result from copied text
Text copied out of a PDF or an email often has a hard line break at the end of every line, which makes the PDF look choppy. Paste it into Remove Line Breaks first, then bring the cleaned text back here.
The converter makes plain text pages, without page numbers or headers. If you need numbered pages, run the finished file through Add Page Numbers. To join it with other PDFs, such as a cover letter and a CV, use Merge PDF. For a formatted document with headings and lists, the Word to PDF converter is the better fit.
Frequently asked questions
How can I convert text to PDF online free?
Paste your text into the box on this page, choose the page size and font, and select Create PDF. It's free, there's no sign-up and no watermark.
How do I convert Notepad to PDF?
Select Open .txt file and pick the file you saved from Notepad, then select Create PDF. On Windows you can also print from Notepad to Microsoft Print to PDF.
Is my text sent to a server?
No. The PDF is built in your browser with the jsPDF library. Your text stays on your device.
What happens with long text?
Long lines wrap to fit the page, and the text continues onto new pages automatically. The live page estimate shows roughly how many pages the PDF will have.
Why do some characters show up wrong in my PDF?
The converter uses the standard PDF fonts, which cover English and most Western European languages. Chinese, Arabic, Hindi and other scripts, and emoji, aren't included in those fonts, so they won't display correctly.
Can I make a PDF from text on my phone?
Yes. Open this page in Safari or Chrome, paste your text or tap Open .txt file, and tap Create PDF. The PDF saves to your downloads or the Files app.