Quick Methods to Convert PDF to Excel for Free

Doing a PDF to Excel conversion is often useful when your original document has tables and other content that can only be edited in a spreadsheet program. Since PDF itself doesn't inherently work with tabular data, the best way to make changes, add formulas, and perform other table operations is to do it in Excel.

However, in most cases, in order to convert PDF to Excel format so it is editable, you need special tools, many of which allow you to convert PDF to Excel free if you're only doing one document at a time. This article shows you an excellent PDF to Excel converter for desktop users. It also allows you convert scanned PDF to Excel with OCR.

Method 1. How to Convert PDF to Excel with UPDF

UPDF is an easy-to-use PDF tool that can help you convert PDF to Excel, convert PDF to CSV, and more than a dozen other file formats in an editable form so the information can be modified on native platforms. It's a handy and intuitive utility with a simple interface but many powerful features. To try UPDF, tap on the below Free Download button.

Convert PDF to 14 different file formats including images, MS Office, HTML, Text, CSV, and more.
Advanced conversion options such as OCR for text recognition in scanned or image-based PDF documents.
A simplified interface that requires minimal user input.
High accuracy in terms of content integrity after conversion.
Handles very large PDFs with ease.
View, annotate, edit, protect, and share a PDF file quickly.

Steps to Convert PDF to Excel with UPDF

Step 1: Import the PDF

Drag and drop the PDF into the UPDF interface to import it.

Alternatively, you can use the "Open File" button of the software window for the same result.

Step 2: Choose the Excel Output File Format

In the right panel, click the "Export PDF" tab and then select the "Excel" option.

Step 3: Convert the PDF to Excel with One Click

Then you can click the "Export" button at the bottom of the pop-up window. Finally, select a destination folder to save the converted file. That's how to Convert PDF to Excel with UPDF. To try UPDF, click the Free Download button below.

Additionally, if you are a scanned PDF or PDF image, you can open "Text Recognition Settings" to open the OCR feature. This feature can identify your scanned PDF or PDF image words and convert it to editable ones.

Video Tutorial on How to Convert PDF to Excel

Method 2. How to Convert PDF to Excel with Able2Extract Professional 17

Able2Extract PRO 17 is a slick and intuitive PDF editor with a powerful conversion engine to transform PDF workflows into a variety of file types including Excel, and so on. The software is uncannily good with complex PDF tables and renders them near-perfectly as properly formatted Excel files just the way they looked in the PDF. The platform also offers an online version to convert one file at a time, but the PRO desktop version can process more than 100 PDF tables per minute without losing accuracy.

PDF to Excel Conversion Steps in Able2Extract Professional 17

Step 1: Using the Open button on the left extreme of the ribbon toolbar or the File → Open menu, open the PDF to be converted to Excel
Step 2: There are multiple options to choose from: select with your mouse, select a page range or select the All or Area option. Pick one now and apply the required parameters.
Step 3: Click the Excel icon on the ribbon toolbar or click File → Convert to Excel
Step 4: In the pop-up window, you'll see a custom option on the right where you can define the table structure prior to conversion; or else, simply click the Convert button on the left

Method 3. How to Convert PDF to Excel with TalkHelper PDF Converter

This Windows-only PDF conversion utility comes with OCR and file/page management tools. The interface is relatively simple and clear, and it all happens in a single window. The conversion accuracy is fairly good for most file conversion combinations including when you convert PDF to Excel. Other features are pretty minimal.

Steps to Convert PDF to Excel Spreadsheet with TalkHelper

Step 1: Use the Add File(s) option near the bottom of the software interface to import your PDFs
Step 2: Select PDF to Excel in the panel on the left side of the software interface
Step 3: Set the destination folder near the top of the software window - you can choose the same or different folder from the location of the source PDF file
Step 4: Click the Convert button near the bottom and wait for the conversion to be processed. Save the output file when prompted

Method 4. How to Convert PDF to Excel with Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

Acrobat Pro DC is undoubtedly one of the best and most feature-rich PDF editors around. The conversion engine is also very accurate, powerful, and well-suited to heavy PDF workloads. In most cases, pricing is quite prohibitive, which may be the case for students, cash-strapped entrepreneurs, and smaller companies that process a lot of paperwork. Nevertheless, as the market leader in the PDF space, no list of PDF conversion tools would be complete without mentioning Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.

Steps for How to Convert PDF to Excel without Losing Formatting in Acrobat Pro DC

Step 1: In the Acrobat Pro DC interface, click the My Computer button in the Home tab to navigate to and select the file you want to convert to Excel. Import the required PDF file
Step 2: Click the Tool tab to see the list of options on the left-hand side panel. Choose Export Excel and, if you want the file to open automatically after conversion, check the box against where it says "Open file after export". When prompted to choose the destination folder, select it and hit Save to begin the conversion process

The file should automatically open in MS Excel once it's been created; if not, you can simply go to Explorer and double-click it from there, after which you can edit it natively on MS Excel.

Method 5. How to Convert PDF to Excel with Kofax Power PDF

Kofax, formerly known as Nuance, is a powerful PDF editing and conversion tool with a host of other functions to handle document workflows, such as creating and editing forms and tables, PDF security, electronic signature, page numbering, page organizing, etc.

Steps to Convert PDF to Excel in Kofax Power PDF

Step 1: Use File → Open to import the PDF to be converted
Step 2: Click File again but this time choose the Save As an option
Step 3: In the Explorer or Finder window, select the target folder
Step 4: Select Output Format and Save to Convert. Change the file type to Excel. Click Save to convert the PDF to Excel and save it in the chosen folder

Compare with 5 Methods to Convert PDF to Excel

	Pros	Cons	Price
UPDF	● Simple interface - zero learning curve ● Convert PDF to 14 different file formats. ● OCR feature. ● Support - Windows and Mac versions. ● High accuracy in terms of content integrity after conversion.	Everything is great. No downsides for now.	$29.99/Year $49.99/Perpetual
Able2Extract PRO 17	● Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux distributions	● Expensive if you're only going to use it for PDF to Excel and other conversions ● Smart Layout Detector is only available in the latest Able2Extract version 17	perpetual license: $149.95
TalkHelper	● Convert from PDF to and to PDF from various formats	● OCR quality is merely acceptable ● Table conversions may show errors or wrong formatting at times	single perpetual license: $49.95
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC	● A full suite of PDF tools ● Comprehensive conversion features	● Some operations are complex for first-time users ● Expensive PDF utility	Annual subscription: $239.88/year
Kofax Power PDF	● Popular with former Nuance users ● Available for Mac and PC	● No advanced tools such as OCR and batch processing ● Bulk processing only for the Combine PDF feature ● The advanced version is fairly expensive	Standard:$129 Advanced:$179

Bottom Line

Regarding converting PDF to Excel, UPDF is the best choice for you. With a user-friendly interface, zero learning curve, and accurate and fast conversion capabilities, this is absolutely the final destination when it comes to converting PDF files into other editable formats. To try UPDF the below button.

How to Convert PDF to Excel with 5 Methods