Saving a Word document as a PDF is one of the most common tasks in any office — and it takes about ten seconds once you know where to look. Here are three ways to save a Word document as a PDF, depending on what you have available.

Jump to: Online Tool · Word's Built-In Export · Print to PDF · FAQ

Method 1: Use an Online Tool (Works on Any Device, No Software)

The quickest way to save a Word document as a PDF when you don't have Word installed, or when you're on a phone or tablet.

  1. Go to PDFfans Word to PDF converter.
  2. Drag your Word, DOC, ODT, or RTF file onto the upload area, or click Choose File.
  3. Click Convert to PDF — a document engine handles the formatting, then the PDF downloads automatically.

Your file is uploaded briefly for conversion and deleted automatically the moment the PDF is ready. Nothing is stored.

Method 2: Use Word's Built-In Export (Windows and Mac)

If you have Microsoft Word installed, this is the most straightforward route.

  1. Open your document in Word.
  2. Click File → Save As (or File → Export on Mac).
  3. In the format dropdown, select PDF.
  4. Choose a save location and click Save.

Word uses its own PDF engine, so fonts and layout stay consistent. This is the most reliable method for complex documents with custom fonts or tracked changes.

Method 3: Print to PDF (Works in Any App)

If the file is open in any application — Word, LibreOffice, Google Docs — you can "print" it as a PDF without a physical printer.

  1. Open the document.
  2. Press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) to open the print dialog.
  3. In the printer selector, choose Save as PDF (Mac) or Microsoft Print to PDF (Windows).
  4. Click Print and choose where to save the file.

This works for any file type, not just Word. The quality depends on the app — Word's native export usually produces a smaller, cleaner PDF than Print to PDF.

Which Method Is Best?

  • On a phone or tablet, or don't have Word → Method 1
  • Working on a desktop with Word installed → Method 2
  • Need to convert a file from an app that doesn't have a direct export option → Method 3

Need to go the other direction? See our guide on exporting Word to PDF on every platform, or use the PDF to Word converter if you need to edit a PDF afterward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does saving as PDF change the formatting?

It shouldn't, but it can with complex documents. Word's built-in export (Method 2) is the most reliable for preserving exact formatting. The online tool works well for standard documents. Print to PDF sometimes shifts margins or page breaks slightly.

Can I save only certain pages as a PDF?

With Word's export, yes — go to File → Save As → PDF and look for "Page Range" before saving. With Print to PDF, enter the page range in the print dialog. The online tool currently converts the full document.

Is the online conversion safe? Does my file get stored?

Your file is uploaded briefly so it can be converted, then deleted automatically the moment the PDF is ready. It's never stored or seen by anyone.

Can I convert a .doc file (older format) as well as .docx?

Yes — the online tool accepts .docx, .doc, .odt, and .rtf directly. No need to convert to .docx first.