12 Tools You Need for Converting PDF to XLSX Spreadsheet

If you’ve ever tried manually data extraction from a PDF to work on Excel, you know how frustrating the conversion process can be. Although PDFs are great for sharing information, when you want to actually work with the embedded data like tables, there you must need a reliable way to convert pdf to xlsx format. This way enables editing, analyzing, and manipulation of the data easily without losing any detail.
Fortunately, there are many tools out there designed exactly for this pdf to excel spreadsheet conversions. Here’s a detailed list of 12 of the best pdf to xlsx tools to help you convert your PDFs into fully editable Excel spreadsheets, focusing on easy to process, accurate, and efficient conversion.
1. pdftoexcel.net
Starting with the crowd favorite, pdftoexcel.net is known for both simplicity and accuracy. You don’t need to sign up or download anything, pdf to xlsx conversion is a couple of clicks away.
How to convert PDF to Xlsx here:
- Open the website and fetch its pdf to excel converter.
- Click on the “Choose File” button.
- Select your pdf file that you wish to change into a pdf document.
- The pdf to excel conversion happens automatically.
- Download your Excel spreadsheet.
It works well with tables, keeps formatting clean, and is perfect if you want a quick and reliable pdf to xlsx converter.
2. Smallpdf
Smallpdf is a powerhouse in the PDF conversion world. It offers a very user-friendly interface, and its PDF to Excel feature handles most PDFs flawlessly.
Steps to export PDF data as Excel:
- Head to Smallpdf.com and choose the PDF to Excel tool.
- Drag and drop your PDF file into the box.
- Wait a few seconds while the file converts.
- Download the XLSX output.
Smallpdf also offers integration with cloud services like Google Drive and Dropbox, making it easy to manage your files on the fly.
3. Adobe Acrobat Online
Adobe, the creator of the PDF format, offers one of the most reliable converters for pdf to xlsx tasks.
How to use it:
- Visit Adobe Acrobat’s online converter.
- Upload your PDF.
- Adobe automatically converts the document.
- Download your editable Excel file.
Adobe’s tool is especially good with scanned PDFs thanks to its OCR technology, which can recognize text from images and convert it accurately.
4. iLovePDF
iLovePDF has steadily become a favorite for anyone dealing with PDFs daily. It includes a solid PDF to Excel converter that keeps your data structured.
Steps to convert PDF to XLSX:
- Go to iLovePDF.com.
- Select the “PDF to Excel” tool.
- Upload your file.
- Click “Convert to Excel.”
- Download your converted spreadsheet.
It’s free for light use and doesn’t require an account unless you want to access advanced features.
5. PDF2Go
PDF2Go is a versatile tool offering multiple PDF-related services, including converting PDFs into Excel spreadsheets.
To convert:
- Visit PDF2Go.com.
- Choose “Convert PDF to Excel.”
- Upload your PDF.
- Click “Start” to convert.
- Download your XLSX file.
PDF2Go also lets you do minor edits on your PDFs before conversion, like cropping or rotating pages.
6. Zamzar
Zamzar has been around for ages as a reliable file converter. It works with tons of file types, including PDF to XLSX.
Conversion process:
- Open Zamzar.com.
- Upload your PDF file.
- Select XLSX as your target format.
- Provide your email address.
- Receive the converted file by email and download it.
Although the email step adds a bit of wait time, Zamzar’s simple interface and support for many file types make it a solid option.
7. PDFCandy
PDFCandy’s PDF to Excel tool is fast and clean, handling both normal and scanned PDFs.
How to convert:
- Open PDFCandy.com.
- Select the “PDF to Excel” option.
- Upload your PDF.
- Wait for conversion.
- Download your XLSX file.
It’s free, doesn’t require signup, and produces good quality conversions.
8. Soda PDF Online
Soda PDF is a professional tool with both online and desktop versions. Their online PDF to Excel converter is smooth and accurate.
Steps to turn PDF into XLSX:
- Access SodaPDF.com online tools.
- Upload your PDF file.
- Click “Convert to Excel.”
- Download the Excel spreadsheet.
They also offer file encryption and other advanced PDF features if you upgrade.
9. CleverPDF
CleverPDF supports batch converting PDFs to XLSX, saving time if you have multiple files.
Usage instructions:
- Go to CleverPDF.com.
- Select PDF to Excel.
- Upload your PDFs (multiple files allowed).
- Start conversion.
- Download your converted Excel files.
The batch feature is perfect for busy professionals handling large volumes of documents.
10. Foxit PDF to Excel Online
Foxit is known for its lightweight yet powerful PDF software, and their online converter lives up to that reputation.
How to convert:
- Visit Foxit’s online PDF to Excel tool.
- Upload your PDF.
- Click “Convert.”
- Download your converted Excel spreadsheet.
Foxit’s output is clean, making it a trusted choice for business use.
11. Online2PDF
Online2PDF is a free tool that supports multiple PDFs at once and lets you merge results.
Steps:
- Visit Online2PDF.com.
- Upload up to 20 PDFs.
- Choose “Convert to Excel.”
- Click “Convert.”
- Download the merged or individual XLSX files.
It’s a great option for handling batch pdf to xlsx conversions with no cost.
12. Hipdf
Hipdf is a cloud-based PDF tool offering fast and accurate PDF to Excel conversion.
How to use it:
- Go to Hipdf.com.
- Select “PDF to Excel.”
- Upload your PDF.
- Convert and download the XLSX file.
Hipdf offers free use with some limitations and subscription plans for heavier users.
Why Using a PDF to XLSX Converter Is a Game-Changer
Working directly with PDFs can be daunting, especially when you decide to analyze data trapped in tables. The above-discussed pdf to excel spreadsheet tools make the process painless by letting you change PDF to XLSX quickly. Once in Excel, you can easily sort, filter, calculate, and visualize your data however you like.
Many of these pdf to excel converters use advanced OCR (Optical Character Recognition) for handling scanned PDFs, which are otherwise just images. This means even if your PDF isn’t digitally generated, you can still get a proper formatted Excel file.
Which Tool Should You Choose?
- For quick and free pdf to xlsx conversions, pdftoexcel.net, Smallpdf, or PDFCandy are excellent.
- If you want batch processing, CleverPDF and Online2PDF are your best bets.
- For professional-grade accuracy, Adobe Acrobat Online, Foxit, and Soda PDF shine.
- If you work offline or prefer desktop apps, Able2Extract and Nitro (not covered in detail here) are great investments.
Wrapping-it Up:
Whether you’re a student who needs to pull data from class PDFs, a business analyst working on reports, or anyone who requires a smooth way to turn PDF into XLSX, these earlier mentioned 12 tools have you covered. Each brings something unique to the table, so you can pick the one that fits your needs best.