What's the difference between grayscale and monochrome?

Grayscale uses 256 shades of gray, preserving smooth gradients and details. Monochrome uses only pure black and white pixels (no gray), creating a high-contrast effect similar to photocopies. Choose grayscale for photos and detailed graphics, monochrome for text documents and simple diagrams.

How much will my file size reduce?

Typical reduction: 30-50% for grayscale, 40-60% for monochrome. Actual reduction depends on original color content. Enable compression for additional 10-20% reduction. Photos and colorful graphics see the most reduction.

Which quality level should I choose?

High: Best quality, minimal compression (for printing). Medium: Balanced quality and file size (recommended for most uses). Low: Smallest file size, more compression (for web/email).

Is converting to grayscale safe?

Yes, completely safe. All processing happens in your browser using WebAssembly. No files are uploaded to servers. Original files are never modified. The conversion is permanent in output files.

Can I convert back to color?

No, color information is permanently removed during conversion. Grayscale PDFs cannot be converted back to color. Always keep a backup of your original color PDF if you might need it later.

PDFyogi

Convert PDF to Black and White - Grayscale Converter

Make PDF black and white instantly for printing

or Drag & drop files here

Max 20 files•Max file size: 100MB

Supported formats: .pdf, application/pdf

Free PDF to Grayscale Converter Online

Convert color PDFs to grayscale or black and white instantly with our free online converter. Remove color from PDF documents to reduce file size by 30-50%, prepare for black & white printing, or create professional monochrome documents. With 'convert pdf to black and white' being searched 700+ times monthly and extremely easy to rank (KD:0-7), our privacy-focused tool processes everything in your browser—no uploads required.

100% free PDF to grayscale converter with batch processing for up to 20 files. Transform color PDFs to black and white directly in your browser with complete privacy.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to Convert PDF to Black and White Online

Transform color PDFs to grayscale in 4 simple steps with our free converter

Upload your color PDF files

Drag and drop color PDF files or click to browse. Batch process up to 20 files at once, each up to 100 MB in size.

Choose conversion mode

Select grayscale (256 shades of gray for photos) or monochrome (pure black and white for text documents and high contrast).

Set quality level

Choose High quality for printing, Medium for balanced results, or Low for smallest file size. Enable compression for additional size reduction.

Download grayscale PDFs

Download individual grayscale PDFs or get all files in a convenient ZIP archive for batch conversions.

Why PDFyogi

Why Choose PDFyogi for PDF to Grayscale Conversion?

The most trusted online tool for converting color PDFs to black and white

100% Browser-Based Processing

Your PDF files never leave your device. All color-to-grayscale conversion happens locally using Ghostscript WebAssembly technology, ensuring complete privacy for sensitive documents.

Significant File Size Reduction

Reduce PDF file size by 30-50% by removing color information. Grayscale PDFs are much smaller than color versions, making them easier to email, upload, and store.

Two Conversion Modes

Choose grayscale for smooth 256-shade gradients (ideal for photos) or monochrome for pure black and white output (perfect for text documents and diagrams).

Batch Processing Support

Convert up to 20 color PDFs to grayscale simultaneously. Process entire document sets at once and download all results in a convenient ZIP file.

Quality Control Options

Fine-tune output quality with High, Medium, or Low settings. Balance between image quality and file size based on your specific printing or distribution needs.

Optional Additional Compression

Enable extra compression to reduce file size by an additional 10-20% after grayscale conversion. Perfect for maximum size reduction when emailing or uploading.

Use Cases

PDF to Grayscale Use Cases

See how professionals use our grayscale converter daily

Black & White Printing Preparation

Prepare color PDFs for black and white printers to ensure accurate output. Converting beforehand gives you control over how colors translate to grayscale.

Example: An office manager converts colorful marketing brochures to grayscale for economical B&W printer distribution to staff.

Reduce Email Attachment Size

Convert large color PDFs to grayscale to meet email attachment size limits. Color removal can reduce file size by 30-50% while preserving readability.

Example: A consultant converts a 15MB color report to 8MB grayscale to stay within email attachment limits.

Document Archival

Archive documents in grayscale format to save storage space. Grayscale PDFs require significantly less disk space than color versions.

Example: A law firm converts years of color-scanned documents to grayscale for long-term archival storage, saving terabytes of space.

Academic Paper Submission

Many academic journals require grayscale figures for print publication. Convert color charts and graphs to proper grayscale before submission.

Example: A researcher converts color data visualizations to grayscale to meet journal submission requirements.

Cost-Effective Publishing

Print books, manuals, and documents more affordably by using grayscale instead of expensive color printing.

Example: A self-publisher converts their book interior from color to grayscale to reduce per-copy printing costs by 60%.

Accessibility Enhancement

Create high-contrast monochrome versions of documents for readers with color vision deficiencies or low vision.

Example: A disability services office converts color forms to high-contrast monochrome for better accessibility.

Platform Guides

Convert PDF to Grayscale on Any Platform

Step-by-step guides for converting color PDFs to black and white on your device

PDF to Grayscale on Windows

Convert color PDFs to black and white on Windows 10 or 11 using any modern browser

Open Chrome, Edge, or Firefox on your Windows PC
Navigate to PDFyogi's PDF to Grayscale converter
Drag your color PDF files into the upload area or click Browse
Select grayscale or monochrome mode and download your converted files

PDF to Grayscale on macOS

Convert PDF to black and white on Mac with Safari, Chrome, or Firefox

Open Safari, Chrome, or Firefox on your Mac
Visit PDFyogi's grayscale converter in your browser
Drop your color PDF files or click to select from Finder
Choose conversion mode and download grayscale PDFs

PDF to Grayscale on Linux

Convert color PDFs to grayscale on Ubuntu, Fedora, or any Linux distribution

Open Firefox or Chrome on your Linux system
Go to PDFyogi's PDF to Grayscale tool
Upload your color PDF files using drag and drop
Configure settings and download grayscale results

PDF to Grayscale on iPhone/iPad

Convert color PDFs to black and white on iOS without any app

Open Safari on your iPhone or iPad
Visit PDFyogi's grayscale converter
Tap to upload and select your color PDF from Files
Convert and save grayscale PDF to Files or Share

PDF to Grayscale on Android

Convert PDF to black and white on any Android phone or tablet

Open Chrome or your preferred browser on Android
Navigate to PDFyogi's grayscale conversion tool
Tap upload and select your color PDF from storage
Download grayscale PDF to your Downloads folder

Comparison

PDF to Grayscale Converter Comparison

See how PDFyogi compares to other PDF grayscale conversion tools

Feature	PDFyogi	Adobe Acrobat	Online Converters
100% Free	✓	✗ ($13-23/mo)	Limited
No Upload Required	✓	✓	✗
Batch Processing	✓ (20 files)	✓	Limited
Grayscale Mode	✓	✓	✓
Monochrome Mode	✓	✓	✗
Quality Settings	✓	✓	✗
Additional Compression	✓	✓	✗
No File Size Limit	✓ (100MB)	✓	5-25MB
No Registration	✓	✗	Varies

PDFyogi offers the most comprehensive free PDF to grayscale conversion with both grayscale and monochrome modes. Unlike Adobe Acrobat's subscription model, PDFyogi is completely free. Compared to other online converters, we process files locally in your browser for complete privacy and support larger files without upload delays.

Pro Tips

Advanced PDF to Grayscale Tips

Expert techniques for optimal color-to-grayscale conversion

Choose the Right Mode for Your Content

Use grayscale (256 shades) for documents with photos, gradients, or detailed graphics. Use monochrome (pure B&W) for text-heavy documents, line art, or when you need maximum file size reduction.

Preview Before Batch Converting

Test conversion settings on a single file first before batch processing. Some color combinations may not translate well to grayscale—red and green can appear similar in gray.

Adjust Quality Based on Use

Use High quality for documents you'll print professionally. Medium is perfect for office printing and digital sharing. Low quality works well for screen-only viewing or when file size is critical.

Enable Compression for Maximum Reduction

After grayscale conversion, enable additional compression for 10-20% more size reduction. This is especially effective for scanned documents with image-based pages.

Consider Color-Coded Information

Before converting, check if your document uses color to convey meaning (like traffic light indicators). You may need to add text labels or patterns to maintain clarity in grayscale.

Keep Original Files

Grayscale conversion permanently removes color information. Always keep your original color PDFs backed up in case you need color versions later.

Technical Details

Technical Specifications

PDF to Grayscale converter capabilities and requirements

Conversion EngineGhostscript WebAssembly

Maximum File Size100 MB per file

Maximum Batch Size20 files simultaneously

Grayscale Depth8-bit (256 shades of gray)

Monochrome Output1-bit (pure black and white)

Processing Location100% client-side (browser)

Quality LevelsHigh, Medium, Low

Expected Size Reduction30-50% (grayscale), 40-60% (monochrome)

Browser CompatibilityChrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari (modern)

Output FormatPDF with preserved text/vector content

FAQ

PDF to Grayscale Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about converting color PDFs to black and white

Upload your color PDF to PDFyogi's grayscale converter, select grayscale or monochrome mode, choose your quality level, and click Convert. Download your black and white PDF instantly—completely free with no registration required.

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting PDF to Grayscale Conversion

Solutions to common grayscale conversion issues