Google Sheets can’t open a PDF directly, so getting a table out of a PDF and into a spreadsheet takes an extra step. The good news is that you can usually do it for free with Google Drive, Excel, or a simple copy and paste. Which method works best depends on whether the PDF contains real text or is a scanned image, and how complex the table is. This guide covers each approach and how to clean up the results.
Quick answer
Upload the PDF to Google Drive, right-click it, and choose Open with > Google Docs. Google converts the PDF to an editable document, including scanned text. Copy the table from the Doc and paste it into Google Sheets, then use Data > Split text to columns if everything lands in one column.
Which method should you use?
| Your PDF | Best method |
|---|---|
| Small table with selectable text | Copy and paste |
| Scanned document or photo | Google Drive and Docs conversion |
| Many pages or complex tables | Excel’s From PDF import |
| No Excel and a very messy layout | A trusted converter (non-sensitive files only) |
To check whether a PDF has selectable text, try highlighting a word with your cursor. If you can select it, the PDF contains real text. If the whole page highlights like a picture, it’s a scanned image.
Method 1: Convert with Google Drive and Docs
- Go to Google Drive and click New > File upload. Choose your PDF.
- Right-click the uploaded PDF and select Open with > Google Docs.
- Google creates a new Doc with the PDF’s text. Scanned pages are run through text recognition.
- Select the table or data you need and press Ctrl + C.
- Open a new Google Sheet, click cell A1, and press Ctrl + V.
Simple tables often paste into separate cells. Complex layouts may lose some formatting, so check the data carefully. For more on this conversion, see how to open a PDF in Google Docs.
Method 2: Copy and paste directly
If the PDF has selectable text, you can skip Docs entirely.
- Open the PDF in a browser or PDF reader.
- Drag to select the table and copy it.
- Paste into Google Sheets. Try Ctrl + Shift + V (paste values only) if the formatting looks messy.
This works best for small, simple tables.
Method 3: Use Excel, then open in Sheets
Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows can import tables from PDFs with much better structure than copy and paste.
- In Excel, go to Data > Get Data > From File > From PDF.
- Choose the PDF. Excel lists every table and page it found.
- Select the table you want and click Load.
- Save the workbook, upload it to Google Drive, and open it with Google Sheets.
Method 4: Use a converter or add-on
Many websites and Google Workspace Marketplace add-ons convert PDFs to spreadsheets. They can handle complicated tables well, but you’re uploading your file to a third party. Avoid them for sensitive documents like bank statements, tax forms, or anything with personal information, and check the privacy policy before using one.
Clean up the data in Google Sheets
- Split one column into many: Select the column, then choose Data > Split text to columns and pick the separator, such as a space or comma. See how to split columns in Google Sheets.
- Remove extra spaces: Use Data > Data cleanup > Trim whitespace.
- Fix numbers stored as text: Select the cells and choose Format > Number > Number. Remove currency symbols or commas first if the conversion fails.
- Delete duplicate headers: Multi-page tables often repeat the header row on every page. Sort or filter to find and delete them.
Scanned PDFs
If the PDF is a scan or photo, the text isn’t really text yet. Google Drive’s conversion to Docs uses text recognition, which works well on clear, high-contrast scans. Blurry or skewed pages produce errors, so check numbers carefully against the original. Rescanning at a higher resolution often helps.
Related: How to insert a Google Sheet into a Google Doc.
Frequently asked questions
Can I import a PDF straight into Google Sheets?
No. Google Sheets’ Import option supports spreadsheet and text files, such as .xlsx and .csv, but not PDFs.
Why did my table paste into a single column?
The PDF stores the table as lines of text. Use Split text to columns to separate the data.
Can I convert a PDF to Google Sheets on my phone?
It’s much easier on a computer. On a phone, you can open the PDF in the Google Drive app and copy small amounts of text, but converting tables and cleaning up columns works best in a desktop browser.
Is there a limit on PDF size?
Very large PDFs may only partly convert in Google Docs. Split long PDFs into smaller files first.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.