Convert PDF to HTML that is actually usable on the web
The PDF to HTML converter gives you two very different kinds of HTML, because people convert PDFs for two different reasons. Reflowed output rebuilds the document’s structure — real <h1>–<h4> headings, paragraphs, bulleted and numbered lists, links, tables and optional images — so the text reads well on a phone, can be pasted into a CMS and is understood by search engines and screen readers. Positioned output keeps the page exactly as designed: every piece of text sits where it was in the PDF, over an image of the page’s graphics.
Either way you get one self-contained .html file. Images and page backgrounds are embedded as data URIs, so there are no folders of assets to upload alongside it.
The PDF is read and converted on your own device with Mozilla’s PDF engine; it is never uploaded.
How to convert a PDF to HTML
- Choose Reflowed (semantic HTML) for readable, editable content, or Positioned (keeps the layout) for a faithful copy of each page.
- Drop your PDF onto the upload area or click to choose it. Conversion starts immediately and you can limit it with Pages.
- For reflowed HTML, decide whether to detect tables, include images, skip page numbers and running headers, and mark page breaks. For positioned HTML, choose the page background quality — or none.
- Check the result in the sandboxed Preview, or switch to HTML code to read the markup.
- Press Download .html for the single-file page, or Copy HTML.
PDF to HTML Converter features
Headings from font sizes
Text sizes are ranked across the whole document: the largest becomes <h1>, the next <h2> and so on, while short bold lines at body size become minor headings.
Paragraphs and lists rebuilt
Lines are joined into paragraphs, hyphenated line breaks are mended, and lines that start with bullets or numbers — including bullets drawn as small shapes — become proper lists.
Links and emphasis kept
Clickable links in the PDF become <a href> elements, and bold and italic fonts become <strong> and <em>.
Tables as real tables
Ruled and borderless tables are detected and written as <table> with a header row and right-aligned numeric columns.
Faithful positioned mode
Text is placed with percentages and container-query units so the page scales to any screen, each word is stretched to its original width, and text colour is measured from the page so white headings on dark banners stay readable.
Private, single file
No upload and no external assets: the output works offline and can be emailed or hosted as it is.
Reflowed or positioned: which should you choose?
| Reflowed HTML | Positioned HTML | |
|---|---|---|
| Looks like the PDF | No — clean web styling | Yes — same layout, fonts approximated |
| Reads well on phones | Yes | Scales down, so small text gets smaller |
| Good for search engines and screen readers | Yes — real headings and lists | Partly — text is selectable but has no structure |
| Easy to edit or paste into a CMS | Yes | No |
| File size | Small (unless images are embedded) | Larger — one image per page |
| Best for | Articles, reports, manuals, blog posts | Brochures, forms, certificates, designed layouts |
How positioned HTML is built
Each page is drawn twice inside your browser: once normally and once with all text switched off. The text-free image becomes the page background, so graphics, photos, lines and coloured boxes stay exactly where they were, and the real text is laid on top as selectable, searchable HTML. Comparing the two drawings tells the converter the colour of every word.
Fonts are matched by family — sans-serif, serif or monospace, with bold and italic — rather than embedded, because the font data inside a PDF is usually a subset that cannot display ordinary text. Each word is horizontally scaled to its original width, so lines keep their length even when the substitute font is narrower or wider.
Limitations worth knowing
- Scanned PDFs contain pictures of text. Run them through PDF OCR first, then convert the result.
- Multi-column layouts are reflowed in the order the text is stored in the file, which for most generated PDFs is the reading order.
- Form-field values, comments and other annotations are not included, and text drawn with unusual effects such as outlines may come out as plain text.
- Need Markdown for a wiki or README instead? Use PDF to Markdown. For just the words, PDF to Text is faster.
PDF to HTML Converter FAQ
How do I convert a PDF to HTML for free?
Upload the PDF above, choose Reflowed or Positioned, and press “Download .html”. There is no sign-up, page limit or watermark, and the PDF to HTML conversion runs entirely in your browser.
Will the HTML look exactly like my PDF?
Positioned mode keeps the layout, graphics and colours, with fonts matched by family. Reflowed mode deliberately drops the page layout in favour of clean, responsive HTML.
Are images included?
In reflowed mode, tick “Include images (embedded)” and each image is cropped from the rendered page and embedded as a JPEG. In positioned mode every page’s graphics are part of its background image.
Can search engines read the converted HTML?
Yes. Reflowed HTML uses real headings, paragraphs, lists and tables, which search engines and screen readers understand. Add your own meta description and title before publishing.
Why is the HTML file so large?
Embedded page images make positioned files big. Choose “Standard image”, or “None — text only” for the smallest file; in reflowed mode untick “Include images”.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The file is processed by JavaScript in your browser tab, and the preview runs in a sandboxed frame.