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Convert a PDF to grayscale, free

Convert a PDF to shades of grey for cheaper printing. Text stays sharp and selectable; colours, pictures and gradients become grey.

  1. 1Choose file
  2. 2Set options
  3. 3Download

Drop your PDF here

PDF → grayscale PDF · up to 100 MB

Choose file You can also paste a file or screenshot with Ctrl+V.

    AI assistant

    Add a PDF above to ask questions about it, summarise it or give it a better name.

    Grayscale PDF in 3 easy steps

    1. Choose your file (PDF → grayscale PDF): drop it on this page or click “Choose file”.
    2. Check the options (smart suggestions can set them for you), then click “Convert to grayscale”.
    3. Download the result. Everything runs in your browser, so your files are never uploaded.

    Why use GrovePDF

    • Free, with no signup, no watermark and no daily limit.
    • Private: your files are processed on your device, never on a server.
    • AI built in: smart suggestions and an assistant that answers questions about your PDF.
    • Works on any device with a modern browser, in nearly 110 languages.

    Updated · GrovePDF team

    Print cheaper, meet the rules

    Colour toner is expensive, and some offices and portals ask for black-and-white documents. Grayscale PDF converts every colour on the page to a shade of grey.

    Two modes

    • Keep text sharp (recommended): only the colours change. Text stays selectable and searchable, and the file usually gets smaller.
    • Pages as images: each page is redrawn in grey. Everything is converted, including rare kinds of picture or gradient that can't be changed in place, but text becomes part of a picture.

    If something stays in colour in the first mode, the result tells you; switch to Pages as images.

    Several files at once

    Add several PDFs: they're converted one after another and come back together in a ZIP file.

    Want a smaller file rather than grey pages? Compress PDF keeps the colours. Scanning paper? The black-and-white and grey filters in Scan to PDF give a cleaner result than converting a colour scan afterwards.

    Grayscale PDF: questions and answers

    Does the text stay sharp?

    Yes. Only the colours change, so text stays selectable and searchable, and the file usually gets smaller.

    Why is something still in colour?

    A few rare kinds of picture and gradient can't be changed in place; the result tells you when that happens. Choose “Pages as images” to make sure everything is grey.

    Can I make several PDFs grayscale at once?

    Yes. Add several files: they're converted one after another and come back together in a ZIP file.

    Will my printer really save colour ink?

    Grey pages are printed with black ink on most printers. Some print grey by mixing colours; choose 'Black and white' or 'Grayscale' in the print settings too.

    Is the file uploaded?

    No. The conversion runs in your browser.

    Guide: How to compress a PDF under 1 MB (and keep the text sharp)