How to convert a PDF to Excel (tables, statements and reports)
Updated · PDF Converter
Copying a table out of a PDF and pasting it into Excel usually ends with everything in one column, or numbers that Excel treats as text. Retyping a long statement by hand is slow and error-prone. A PDF to Excel converter rebuilds the rows and columns for you. This guide shows how to do it for free, how to choose the right options, and what to do with scanned documents.
The quick way: convert the whole PDF
- Open PDF to Excel and add your PDF.
- Under Sheets, choose One sheet per page or Everything on one sheet.
- Tick Only export detected tables (skip running text) if you want the numbers without the surrounding paragraphs.
- Press PDF to Excel and open the XLSX file in Excel, Google Sheets or LibreOffice Calc.
How the conversion works
The tool analyses where each piece of text sits on the page, groups it into rows and aligned columns, and writes the result into spreadsheet cells. Amounts, dates and percentages arrive as real numbers you can sum and sort: values like “$1,250.00”, “12%” and “(300)” are converted to numbers, while anything ambiguous stays as text.
It works best with text-based PDFs exported from accounting, banking or reporting software. A digital bank statement, for example, comes out with one transaction per row.
Which sheet layout should I choose?
| Option | Best for |
|---|---|
| One sheet per page | Reports where each page holds a different table, or when you want to compare the result with the PDF page by page |
| Everything on one sheet | Long statements and lists that continue across pages, so you can filter and total everything at once |
Tip: for a multi-page bank statement, choose Everything on one sheet and tick Only export detected tables. You get one continuous list of transactions, ready for a pivot table.
Only need a few tables? Use Extract Tables
If a long PDF contains just one or two tables you care about – a research paper, a price list, an annual report – Extract Tables is quicker. It scans each page for aligned columns and shows every table it finds in a live preview. You can then export all tables to one Excel workbook, where each table gets its own sheet named after its page, or download any single table as CSV.
Detection looks for two or more aligned columns across consecutive lines. Very sparse tables, or tables with long wrapped text, can be missed. In that case, convert with PDF to Excel and leave Only export detected tables unticked, so all text is exported.
Need CSV instead of XLSX?
For imports into accounting software, databases or scripts, PDF to CSV writes plain CSV files. Choose the Delimiter – Comma, Semicolon (for Excel versions that use a comma as decimal separator) or Tab – and whether to export Detected tables only or All text, split into columns. Files are UTF-8 with a byte-order mark, so Excel shows accented characters correctly.
Scanned PDFs: run OCR first
A scanned statement or a photographed invoice contains no text, only a picture of text, so there is nothing for the converter to put into cells. Run the file through OCR PDF first to add a text layer, then convert the searchable result to Excel. Clean, straight scans give the best results; check the numbers afterwards, because OCR can misread characters.
What to check after converting
- Merged and multi-line cells are simplified, so complex table headers may need tidying.
- Formulas are not created. A PDF stores values, not formulas, so totals arrive as plain numbers.
- Formatting such as colours and borders is not carried over – you get the data, not the design.
Conversion runs in your browser, so statements and financial reports are not uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
Can I convert a bank statement PDF to Excel?
Yes, if it is a digital statement with selectable text. Each transaction line becomes a row. For a scanned or photographed statement, run OCR PDF first.
Why does my converted table have everything in one column?
The columns in the PDF may not be aligned clearly enough to detect. Try Extract Tables to preview what is found, and check that the PDF has selectable text – if not, it needs OCR.
Can I convert only the tables and skip the other text?
Yes. Tick “Only export detected tables (skip running text)” and paragraphs outside tables are left out.