Someone sent you a price list, a report or a schedule as a PDF. You need it in Excel so you can sort it, add it up or change it. But a PDF isn't made for editing, and copying it often turns into a mess.
Here are three ways to get a PDF table into Excel, from free to fastest. If you just want it done, Sheetsnap turns PDF tables into an Excel file in a few clicks.
First, a quick test
Open the PDF and try to highlight a word in the table.
- Words highlight: the PDF has real text. All the methods below can work.
- Only a box appears: the PDF is a scanned picture. Copy and paste won't work, and Excel can't read it.
Method 1: Copy and paste (free, good for small tables)
- Open the PDF.
- Drag your mouse over the table to select it.
- Press Ctrl + C (Windows) or Command + C (Mac) to copy.
- Open Excel, click cell A1, and press Ctrl + V or Command + V to paste.
What usually happens: each row lands in one cell, with all the columns squashed together. You can often fix this:
- Select the column with the pasted rows.
- Click the Data tab, then Text to Columns.
- Choose Delimited, click Next, and tick Space (or Tab).
- Click Finish.
This works well when every cell is one word. It goes wrong when a cell has two words, like "New York," because Excel splits it in two.
Method 2: Excel's PDF import (free, Windows only)
Excel for Windows with Microsoft 365 can open PDF tables directly.
- Open Excel and click the Data tab.
- Click Get Data, then From File, then From PDF.
- Choose your PDF and click Import.
- In the list on the left, click each Table to preview it.
- Pick the one you want and click Load. If it needs tidying, click Transform Data first.
This handles neat tables with clear lines well. Tables without lines, or ones that run across several pages, can come out jumbled.
Method 3: Use Sheetsnap (fastest, works on any computer)
Sheetsnap is made for exactly this job, and it works on Windows, Mac and Chromebook because you use it in your web browser. Your file never leaves your device.
- Go to tools.ltd/sheetsnap.
- Click the big button and choose your PDF.
- Wait a few seconds while it finds the tables.
- Download your Excel file.
- Open it. Each column sits in its own Excel column.
Your file never leaves your device. The tables are read right in your browser, and nothing is uploaded. Sheetsnap can't read scans either.
After converting: three quick checks
Whatever method you use, take one minute to check your work.
- Count the rows. Does the Excel sheet have the same number of rows as the PDF table?
- Check a total. If the PDF shows a total, use Excel's AutoSum on that column and see if it matches.
- Look for numbers on the left. In Excel, numbers line up on the right of a cell. If some sit on the left, Excel thinks they're text. Select them, and click the small yellow warning sign, then Convert to Number.
Which method should I use?
| Your table | Best choice |
|---|---|
| A few rows, simple words | Copy and paste |
| Neat table, Excel for Windows | Excel's PDF import |
| Mac, long table, or many pages | Sheetsnap |
| A bank statement | MyBankToExcel |
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free way to get a PDF table into Excel?
Yes. Excel for Windows (Microsoft 365) can import PDFs, and copy and paste works for small, simple tables. Both may need some clean-up.
Can I do this on a Mac?
Excel for Mac doesn't have the PDF import option. You can copy and paste, or use Sheetsnap, which works in any web browser.
What about bank statements?
Bank statements are a special kind of table. MyBankToExcel is built for them and can also make QuickBooks files.
What happens to my file?
It stays on your device. Sheetsnap reads the tables right in your browser, so your PDF is never uploaded. See the privacy page for details.
Related guides: Copy a table from PDF to Excel without losing columns · Convert a bank statement PDF to Excel · More PDF to Excel guides