Convert RTF to PDF
To convert RTF to PDF, upload your .rtf file and choose PDF as the target. LibreOffice on our server lays the document out using the page size and margins defined in the RTF and produces a fixed PDF. That removes the problem of RTF looking different in every program: the recipient sees the same pages on any device. Fonts missing on the server are substituted.
- 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 RTF to PDF
Upload your RTF file
Drag your RTF file onto the upload area or browse for it (up to 100 MB).
Keep PDF as the target
PDF 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
- Page size and margins defined in the RTF
- Character formatting and paragraph alignment
- Tables and images
Changed
- Fonts not installed on the server are substituted
- Text is fixed in place and no longer editable
When to use it
Turning a WordPad or TextEdit draft into a final document
Convert a letter, invoice or statement written in WordPad or TextEdit to PDF and send a version that cannot be edited and looks the same regardless of the recipient's software.
Archiving RTF reports from legacy systems
RTF reports produced by older software can render differently in future programs. A PDF copy freezes how the report looks today, so it stays readable and easy to share even after the original software is gone.
Limitations to know
- If the RTF does not define a page size, LibreOffice's default page settings are used.
- The output is a standard PDF, not PDF/A.
About the formats
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.
What is PDF?
PDF (Portable Document Format) is a fixed-layout document format created by Adobe and standardised as ISO 32000. Every piece of text, image and line is stored with its position on the page, so a PDF looks the same on every device and prints reliably. The trade-off is editing: a PDF stores positions on a page, not paragraphs and tables. Scanned PDFs contain only page images and need OCR before any text can be extracted.
Frequently asked questions
Which page size will the PDF use?
An RTF file can define its own page width, height and margins, and LibreOffice reads these values to create the PDF at the same size. A document saved in US Letter produces a Letter-sized PDF, an A4 document produces A4. If no page size is defined, the default setting is used.
Why does the font look different in the PDF?
RTF files don't embed fonts; they only name them. If a named font is not installed on our server, LibreOffice uses the closest match. Letter widths and line breaks can shift slightly as a result, while the content and its order stay the same.
Do tables and images from the RTF appear in the PDF?
Yes. The conversion goes straight through LibreOffice without an intermediate HTML step, so tables keep their borders and embedded images keep their positions. Complex RTF layouts that look different from one program to another are fixed into a single appearance in the PDF.
Is converting RTF to PDF 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.