PDF to CSV — Data Extraction
Extract tables and structured data from PDF reports into CSV spreadsheets. This is ideal for financial statements, inventory lists, and any PDF with tabular data you need in Excel or Google Sheets for further analysis.
Drop PDF file here
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Supports PDF files up to 50MB
document.pdf
0 MB
Output Format
Your PDF will be converted to CSV format (.csv) which can be opened in Excel, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice Calc.
Converting...
Processing PDF to CSV...
Conversion Complete!
Your data is ready
Why Convert PDF to CSV?
Turn PDF tables into editable spreadsheets for analysis, reporting, and database imports.
Full Editing Control
Gain precise control over extracted data. Easily edit individual cells, sort columns, filter rows, and reorganize your dataset with granular precision.
Analyze Faster
Accelerate your data analysis by transforming PDF tables into structured CSV. Instantly create pivot tables, perform VLOOKUPs, and apply complex formulas for rapid insights.
Collaborate Easily
CSV is the universal language of data. Easily import your extracted data into databases, CRMs, business intelligence tools, or share with colleagues for seamless team collaboration.
Repurpose Content
Migrate critical data from PDF reports, invoices, or statements directly into your existing databases and ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) workflows. Streamline data management and re-use.
Preserve Formatting
Our advanced algorithms focus on accurate column and row boundary detection, minimizing data misalignment. Smart delimiter handling ensures your tables are perfectly structured in CSV.
Present Anywhere
CSV's universal compatibility allows you to open your extracted data in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc, Python pandas, R, or directly import it into SQL databases.
How to Convert PDF to CSV
Our converter detects tables and exports them as structured CSV data. Here's how it works.
Upload PDF
Drag and drop or select your PDF file. We support files up to 50MB with up to 20 pages.
PDF Analysis
Our intelligent algorithms analyze your PDF to identify tables, recognizing row and column boundaries, even in complex layouts.
Convert
Once tables are identified, FastlyConvert processes the data. You can often select preferred delimiters (comma, tab, semicolon) and encoding options.
Download & Edit
Download your newly created CSV. Open it in Excel, Google Sheets, or any data analysis software, ensuring proper column mapping for optimal usability.
Common Use Cases
PDF to CSV conversion is essential in many professional scenarios.
Business Reporting
Extract crucial financial data from bank statements, invoices, and audit reports into CSV for seamless integration with accounting software or financial analysis.
Educational Content
Academics and researchers can extract tabular data from scientific papers, survey results, or datasets embedded in PDFs for statistical analysis in tools like R or Python.
Update Old Decks
Convert product catalogs, price lists, or supplier manifests from PDF to CSV to easily update inventory systems, e-commerce platforms, or supply chain databases.
Marketing Materials
Public sector bodies and journalists can extract data from government reports, statistical publications, or public datasets in PDF format for open data initiatives and analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PDF to CSV conversion.
Can FastlyConvert extract tables from scanned or image-based PDFs?
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For scanned or image-only PDFs, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is required to convert the image of text into selectable, searchable data before table extraction can occur. FastlyConvert offers integrated OCR capabilities to process these types of PDFs into extractable CSV data.
Can I edit text after conversion?
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Yes! Text-based PDFs convert to editable text in CSV. You can modify, delete, or add text freely. Scanned PDFs convert as images — to edit text from scans, you'd need OCR processing first.
What software can open the CSV file?
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CSV files work with Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, Apple Numbers, LibreOffice Calc, and most modern data software. You can also view them in web browsers via Office Online.
How long does conversion take?
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Most PDFs convert in 15-60 seconds, depending on file size and number of pages. Larger files with many images take longer. You'll see a progress indicator during conversion.
Is my PDF file secure?
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Yes, all uploads are encrypted and automatically deleted within 24 hours. Our servers process files without human access. We never store, share, or analyze your content.
What's the file size limit?
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Free users can convert PDFs up to 50MB with up to 20 pages. Pro users have access to larger files and unlimited pages for batch processing needs.
Understanding the CSV Format
CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is one of the oldest and most universal data interchange formats in computing. Its origins trace back to the early 1970s when IBM mainframes needed a simple way to export tabular data between incompatible systems. The format's genius lies in its simplicity: each line represents a row, and commas separate individual values — no proprietary encoding, no binary overhead.
Despite its age, CSV remains the de facto standard for data portability. Unlike Excel's XLSX format (which is actually a compressed XML archive), CSV files are plain text that can be read by virtually any programming language, database, or spreadsheet application. Python's pandas library, R's read.csv(), SQL's LOAD DATA INFILE, and every major BI tool all natively support CSV import. This universality makes CSV the safest choice when you need data to move between systems.
Modern CSV files typically use UTF-8 encoding, which supports international characters. When opening CSV in Excel, adding a BOM (Byte Order Mark) at the start of the file ensures special characters display correctly. For data containing commas within fields — like addresses or descriptions — values are wrapped in double quotes, a convention standardized in RFC 4180. Understanding these nuances helps ensure clean data extraction from your PDF tables.
Privacy & Security
Your documents are processed securely. We take your privacy seriously.
- check_circleAutomatic Deletion: Files deleted within 24 hours after processing.
- check_circleEncrypted Transfer: HTTPS/SSL encryption for all file transfers.
- check_circleNo Human Access: Automated processing without viewing your content.
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