How to Convert PDF to HTML (For Websites and Email)

Need to embed PDF content in a website or email? Learn how to convert PDF to HTML format with free tools and online converters.

By PeacefulPDF Team•

You've got a PDF and you need to put some or all of its content on a website. Or maybe you want to email the contents of a PDF instead of attaching the file. Converting PDF to HTML solves these problems.

This guide covers the different ways to convert PDF to HTML, when to use each method, and what to watch out for.

Why Convert PDF to HTML?

There are several reasons you might want to convert PDF content to HTML:

  • Website content: Turn a PDF report or document into web pages
  • Email bodies: Embed the content in an email instead of attaching a file
  • Searchability: Make content searchable on your site
  • Mobile access: HTML works better on mobile devices than PDFs
  • SEO: Search engines read HTML better than PDFs

Method 1: Using Online Converters (Easiest)

Online converters are the fastest way to turn a PDF into HTML. You upload the file, they convert it, and you download the HTML.

How It Works

  1. Find a PDF to HTML converter online
  2. Upload your PDF file
  3. Choose HTML as the output format
  4. Download the converted file
  5. Clean up the code if needed

What to Expect

Online converters generally do a decent job of preserving:

  • Text content and paragraphs
  • Basic formatting (bold, italic, lists)
  • Images (usually embedded)
  • Tables (with varying success)

They often struggle with:

  • Complex layouts
  • Advanced formatting
  • Forms and interactive elements
  • Some fonts

Limitations

Uploading sensitive documents to online converters isn't ideal for privacy. The files are processed on their servers. For confidential documents, use a desktop application instead.

Method 2: Using PDF to HTML Tools (Better for Privacy)

Browser-based tools like PeacefulPDF's convert tool handle the conversion without uploading your file to external servers. The processing happens in your browser.

This is a good middle ground — easier than desktop software but more private than traditional online converters.

Method 3: Copy and Paste (Quickest for Simple Content)

If you only need a small amount of content from a PDF, copying and pasting directly might be the fastest solution.

In Adobe Acrobat Reader

  1. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader
  2. Select the text tool (or just highlight text with your cursor)
  3. Select the content you need
  4. Copy (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C)
  5. Paste into your HTML editor or email

In Preview (Mac)

  1. Open the PDF in Preview
  2. Select text with your cursor
  3. Copy and paste as needed

The Problem with Copy-Paste

When you copy from a PDF, you often get weird formatting artifacts. The text might paste with strange line breaks, font codes, or styling that doesn't work in HTML.

You can clean this up by pasting into a plain text editor first (like Notepad or TextEdit), then copying from there into your HTML destination. This strips most of the formatting.

Method 4: Using Google Docs (Free, Good Formatting)

Google Docs can open PDFs and convert them to editable documents, which you can then export as HTML.

Steps

  1. Go to drive.google.com
  2. Upload your PDF
  3. Right-click the file and open with Google Docs
  4. Google will convert the PDF to a Docs document
  5. File → Download → Web Page (.html)

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Free and easy
  • Preserves formatting reasonably well
  • Good for longer documents

Cons:

  • Uploads your file to Google (privacy concern)
  • Layout might shift
  • Requires a Google account

Method 5: Using PDF2HTML (Desktop Software)

PDF2HTML is open-source software that converts PDFs to HTML. It runs locally on your computer, so your files stay private.

Installation

On Linux, it's usually available in your package manager. On Windows and Mac, you can find it on the PDF2HTML website.

Basic Command

pdf2html [options] input.pdf output.html

Common Options

  • --embed — Choose how to handle images (image, svg, none)
  • --css-filename — Specify a custom CSS file
  • --split — Split output into multiple pages

Converting for Email: What to Know

Embedding PDF content in emails is trickier than website embedding. Here's what works:

For Plain-Text Emails

Copy the text content from your PDF and paste it directly. Keep it simple — emails with complex HTML often get flagged as spam.

For HTML Emails

Most email clients don't handle complex HTML well. If you're converting for email:

  • Keep the layout simple
  • Use inline CSS (no external stylesheets)
  • Test in multiple email clients
  • Consider just linking to the PDF instead of embedding

Common Problems and Solutions

Problem: Images Don't Appear

Some converters don't embed images properly. Check if the converter has an option to embed images as base64 or inline. Alternatively, save images separately and add them to your HTML manually.

Problem: Weird Characters or Encoding

PDFs sometimes have encoding issues when converted. Make sure your HTML file specifies UTF-8 encoding in the head: <meta charset="UTF-8">

Problem: Layout Looks Wrong

PDF layouts don't always translate to HTML. Be prepared to do some manual cleanup. Focus on getting the content right, then fix the styling.

Problem: Links Don't Work

Internal PDF links (links to other pages in the same PDF) won't work in HTML. You'll need to recreate these as HTML links or remove them.

Tips for Better Results

  • Start with a well-designed PDF — it converts better
  • Use vector graphics where possible (they scale better)
  • Avoid scanned PDFs without OCR (they won't convert to text)
  • Check and fix the HTML after conversion
  • Test on multiple browsers before publishing

When to Use What

  • Quick content extraction: Copy and paste
  • Privacy important: Browser-based tools or desktop software
  • Long documents: Google Docs or PDF2HTML
  • Email: Keep it simple, consider linking instead
  • Website: Use a converter and clean up the code

Wrapping Up

Converting PDF to HTML isn't always straightforward, but with the right method for your use case, you can get decent results. For quick jobs, copy-paste works. For better formatting, use a converter. For privacy, stick with browser-based or desktop tools.

Remember: the converted HTML will almost always need some manual cleanup. Plan for that time when you're budgeting the project.

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