Grayscale PDF
Turn a colour PDF into clean black and white. Grayscale files print more cheaply on mono printers and are usually much smaller than the colour original.
Select a PDF to convert to black and white
Drag & drop here, or choose from your device.
PDF files · up to 100.0 MB each
Privacy note: this tool runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your file is read into memory on your own device and is never uploaded to PDFQuick or any third party. Read our privacy policy.
How to use Grayscale PDF
Add your PDF
Choose one PDF up to 100 MB — it stays on your device.
Set detail and quality
Higher detail keeps small text crisp; lower quality makes the file smaller.
Download
Compare the before and after sizes, then save the grayscale copy.
Why use PDFQuick for this
Cheaper printing
Mono printers and print shops often charge far less for pages with no colour.
Smaller files
Removing colour usually cuts the size of photo-heavy PDFs substantially.
Consistent look
Every page uses the same conversion, so scans and slides match.
Private by design
Conversion happens in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
Will the text still be selectable?
No. Pages are re-rendered as grayscale images, so text becomes part of the picture. Keep your original if you need to copy text.
Is this the same as printing in black and white?
The result looks the same, but here the colour is removed from the file itself, so it prints mono anywhere.
Can I undo it?
Not from the new file — always keep the colour original.
Why is my file bigger?
Very simple text PDFs can grow when converted to images. Raise compression or keep the original.
Related guides
How to merge PDF files without uploading them anywhere
Combine contracts, scans and reports into one document — and keep the files on your own machine while you do it.
How to reduce PDF file size (and when you should not)
Email limits are usually 10–25 MB. Here is what really drives PDF size and how to shrink it without wrecking the document.
Converting PDF pages to JPG without losing readability
Pick the right render resolution the first time, so your exported pages stay sharp wherever you use them.