PDF to Base64 Converter
Convert PDF to Base64 online in seconds. Drop in a PDF and instantly get the Base64-encoded string — copy it to your clipboard or save as a text file. No signup, no server upload.
Click to upload or drag & drop
PDF files only
PDF to Base64, encoded online
Need to embed a PDF in a JSON payload, store it in a database column that only accepts text, or attach it to an API request that doesn't speak multipart? This tool encodes any PDF as a Base64 string you can paste straight into your code, with an optional data:application/pdf;base64,... Data URI prefix for embedding directly in HTML, CSS, or markdown.
The conversion runs entirely on your device — the PDF never leaves the browser, so even sensitive documents (invoices, contracts, signed agreements) stay private. Whether you need to convert PDF to Base64 online for a one-off task or you're wiring up an integration that expects the file as text, the workflow is the same: drop, copy, done.
Need the reverse? Use our Base64 to PDF tool to decode a Base64 string back into a downloadable PDF file.
How to convert PDF to Base64
Three steps, all running online — your file stays on your device.
Drop your PDF
Click the upload area or drag a PDF onto the page. Files of any size that fit comfortably in browser memory are supported.
Pick a format
Choose between a raw Base64 string or a full data:application/pdf;base64,... Data URI. Most APIs want raw; HTML embeds want the URI.
Copy or download
Tap Copy to send the result straight to your clipboard, or Download to save it as a .txt file. Reuse it however you need.
Where you'll use the Base64 output
Base64 turns a binary PDF into plain ASCII, which means it travels comfortably through any system that handles text. Common destinations:
- Inside JSON API payloads — many REST and GraphQL endpoints accept files only as Base64-encoded strings in a JSON field. Paste the output straight in.
- Database TEXT columns — when your schema doesn't support BLOBs (or you'd rather not store binaries), a TEXT column with a Base64 string works fine.
- Inline in HTML or CSS — paste the full
data:application/pdf;base64,...URI into an<embed>,<iframe>, or anchor href to ship the document without a separate URL. - Email and webhook payloads — many SMTP and webhook integrations transfer files as Base64 inside the body.
- Text-only transports — older APIs, chat bots, or middleware that strips binary uploads still pass plain ASCII just fine.
When you'll reach for this tool
A few of the situations where converting PDF to Base64 online is the quickest path forward:
- Integrating with an API that wants Base64 — payment processors, e-signature services, and document workflows often demand PDFs as Base64-encoded fields. Convert here without scripting it out first.
- Embedding small PDFs in code — sample documents, test fixtures, or example invoices baked into a frontend bundle or unit test.
- Migrating into a text-only store — when you need to move binary documents into a system that only accepts strings.
- Quick API debugging — round-trip a PDF through Base64 to compare your generated output against what an upstream system expects.
- Sharing documents through text-only channels — paste the Base64 string into chat or a form and decode on the other end.