PDF to CAD questions
Short answers about converting PDF drawings to DXF and DWG.
Is the PDF to CAD converter really free?
Yes. Converting single PDF drawings is free, with no account, no email and no watermark.
Where does my file go?
Nowhere. Your browser reads and converts the PDF on your own computer. There is no upload, so nobody else sees the drawing.
Which file do I get?
A DXF file in the R12 version, readable by AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, BricsCAD, DraftSight, ZWCAD, LibreCAD, QCAD, FreeCAD, Fusion, SolidWorks, SketchUp Pro, Rhino, Inkscape and most laser, plasma and CNC software.
How do I get a DWG?
Open the DXF in AutoCAD, BricsCAD or DraftSight and save it as DWG. The free ODA File Converter does the same without a CAD program.
Why is my drawing tiny or huge?
A PDF stores paper size only. Use Set scale with a dimension you know, and the drawing comes out at real size.
Why is the result empty?
The page is a scan: a picture of paper with no lines inside. Ask for the PDF straight from the CAD program, or for the DWG itself.
Are curves and circles kept?
Yes. They arrive as smooth polylines that follow the original curve closely enough for drafting and laser cutting.
Is text editable?
Yes, when the PDF stores it as text. Some PDFs turn letters into outlines; those come across as shapes.
Does it work on a Mac, on Linux or on a tablet?
Yes. It runs in any current browser: Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari.
Who runs this site?
convertpdftocad.com is run by the team behind CADChain, a company that builds tools to protect CAD files and design IP. See the About page.