Convert HTML to RTF
To convert an HTML file to RTF, upload your .html or .htm file, choose RTF and convert. LibreOffice's RTF exporter on our server keeps bold and italic text, headings, lists and tables as rich text formatting. The resulting .rtf opens and can be edited in Word, WordPad, TextEdit and LibreOffice, which makes it a practical format for moving formatted HTML content into desktop software.
- Free, no sign-up
- Files deleted within 30 minutes
- Up to 100 MB
Files are permanently deleted from our servers within 30 minutes.
How to convert HTML to RTF
Upload your HTML file
Drag your HTML file onto the upload area or browse for it (up to 100 MB).
Keep RTF as the target
RTF is already selected in the menu; you can pick another format if you need one.
Convert and download
Press “Convert” and the download of the converted file starts automatically.
What is preserved?
Kept
- Bold, italic and underlined text
- Headings and lists
- Tables
- Hyperlinks
Changed
- Unstyled text uses a default font
- Complex CSS layouts are simplified
Not carried over
- Linked stylesheets, remote images and web fonts
- Content generated by JavaScript
When to use it
Moving HTML content into desktop software
Some older desktop programs, label designers and reporting tools import RTF rather than HTML. Converting first lets you bring generated HTML content into them with headings and lists intact.
An editable copy without Microsoft Office
If you need to edit an HTML report on a computer without Word, convert it to RTF and open it in WordPad or TextEdit; the headings and lists stay formatted instead of turning into plain text.
Limitations to know
- No URL input; upload a saved .html or .htm file.
- Simple editors such as WordPad may show some RTF table and image features only partially.
About the formats
What is HTML?
HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the markup language web pages are written in. Headings, paragraphs, lists, tables, links and images are defined with tags, and CSS controls how they look. An .html file opens in any web browser without extra software and reflows to the screen width instead of using fixed pages. External stylesheets, web fonts and remote images are separate resources and do not travel with the file unless they are embedded in it.
What is RTF?
RTF (Rich Text Format) is a document format published by Microsoft in 1987 that stores formatted text as plain text with control codes. It can carry bold and italic text, fonts, alignment, lists, tables and images. Its main strength is compatibility: RTF opens in WordPad on Windows, TextEdit on macOS, LibreOffice and Word. It is less capable than DOCX for complex layouts, and its appearance can vary between the programs that open it.
Frequently asked questions
Should I convert HTML to RTF or to Word?
Choose RTF when the file will be opened outside Word, especially in WordPad, TextEdit or older software that imports RTF. If the document will be edited and shared in Word, or relies heavily on images, DOCX offers broader support; use the HTML to Word converter for that.
Can I convert an HTML email to RTF?
Yes, as long as you can save the message as an .html file; many email clients offer a Save As option for messages. Upload that file and the formatted text is converted to RTF. Remote images in the email are not downloaded; only images embedded in the HTML can be carried over.
How is the character encoding of my HTML file detected?
The converter checks for a byte order mark first, then for a <meta charset> declaration in the file. If neither is present, it tries UTF-8 and falls back to Windows-1254. In the RTF output, non-ASCII characters are written as Unicode codes, so they display correctly in common editors.
Is converting HTML to RTF free?
Yes, completely free. There is no account, subscription or watermark — just upload your file and convert it.
Is my file safe and when is it deleted?
Your file is transferred over HTTPS and stored on our server under a random code. The upload and the output are permanently deleted within 30 minutes, and the download link only works for whoever holds your unique code.