Convert color PDF to black and white
Convert color PDF to black and white or grayscale in your browser. Use grayscale to keep photos readable, or pure black and white for crisp text and the smallest file.
- Grayscale or pure B&W
- Up to 300 dpi
- No watermark, no signup
Loading the Color PDF to black and white converter…
How to convert color PDF to black and white
- 1
Choose the PDF
Drop the file. Password-protected PDFs ask for the password, which stays on your device.
- 2
Pick grayscale or black and white
Grayscale keeps shades. Pure black and white turns every pixel black or white, and you can move the cut-off.
- 3
Download
Click Convert. The new PDF keeps the same page sizes and order.
Why use this free PDF black and white converter
Built for speed and privacy. It works on any modern browser, on desktop or phone.
Files never leave your device
It runs inside your browser. Nothing is uploaded to LeadCanal or stored anywhere.
Only the right files open
It accepts .pdf and checks each file's first bytes, so renamed programs or scripts are refused.
Free with no limits we impose
No signup, no watermark and no daily cap. Big files depend only on your device memory.
Several files at once
Where it makes sense, drop many files and download them together as a ZIP.
Grayscale or black and white?
| Grayscale | Pure black and white | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Photos, charts, scanned forms | Text documents, contracts, receipts |
| Look | Shades of grey | Only black and white, like a fax |
| File size | Medium | Smallest for text pages |
| Printing | Saves color ink | Saves the most ink and toner |
Other ways to make a PDF black and white
Printing only: in the print dialog choose Black and White or Grayscale. That saves ink but does not change the file.
Adobe Acrobat Pro: Print Production, Convert Colors, then convert to grayscale. It keeps text selectable but needs a paid plan.
Mac Preview: File, Export, Quartz Filter, Black and White. It works, but the filter is fixed and can wash out light text.
Step-by-step guides
Step-by-step help from our blog, written for the questions people ask most.
Your files stay on your device
This converter runs inside your browser, using your own computer or phone to do the work. The file is never uploaded to LeadCanal or anyone else, and nothing is saved on our servers. Close the tab and it is gone.
Each tool only opens the file types it is built for. We check the file extension and the first bytes of the file, so a renamed program or script is refused before it is opened.
Drop the PDF into the converter above, choose Grayscale or Pure black and white, and click Convert. The new PDF downloads straight away with no watermark.
No. Pages are rebuilt as images so every color is removed. If you need selectable text, keep the original for searching and use this copy for printing or submitting.
It gives the sharpest text for forms and contracts and usually the smallest file. Raise the cut-off if light grey text disappears.
Yes. Scans are images already, so grayscale or black and white works well and often shrinks the file.
Further reading
- Mac Preview user guide The built-in Mac option with the Black and White Quartz filter.
- Ghostscript documentation Command line grayscale conversion.
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