RTF to PDF Converter
RTF files still come out of WordPad, court and legal systems, medical records software and decades-old archives.
- RTF
- up to 25 MB per file
- Deleted after one hour
What RTF to PDF does
Rich Text Format predates Word's .doc, and it is still the export format of choice for software that must produce something every editor can open: court filing systems, medical records, older CRMs, WordPad. The trouble is that RTF specifies formatting loosely, so the same file can look noticeably different in WordPad, Word, and LibreOffice. A PDF settles it. This tool renders the RTF with LibreOffice Writer — which handles the full RTF specification, including tables, embedded images and the older control words — and produces a fixed-layout PDF that looks the same to everyone and can be attached to an email or uploaded where an .rtf would be refused.
Formats and limits
- Accepts
- .rtf
- Produces
- Files per run
- One
- Size limit
- 25 MB per file
How it works
- 01
Upload the .rtf
Any Rich Text Format file.
- 02
Convert
Rendered by LibreOffice Writer.
- 03
Download the PDF
Get a fixed-layout PDF that looks the same on every device.
When you'd use it
- An old RTF letter to archive as a fixed document
- Notes exported from a legacy system
- Sending a WordPad document to someone on a phone
Limitations
- RTF from very old or unusual generators can contain control words LibreOffice ignores; check the layout of tables in the output.
- Embedded OLE objects are rendered as their preview image.
Questions
Why does my RTF look different in every program?
RTF describes formatting loosely and each editor fills the gaps its own way. Converting to PDF freezes one rendering so everyone sees the same page.
Are embedded images kept?
Yes, images stored inside the RTF are placed in the PDF at their original position and size.
Is RTF to PDF the same as Word to PDF?
The result is the same kind of PDF, but the input differs. Use Word to PDF for .doc and .docx; this page handles .rtf.
My RTF was generated by a legal or medical system — will it convert?
Yes. Machine-generated RTF tends to be simple and converts cleanly. The typical quirks are fixed-width fonts and unusual margins, both of which are reproduced as written.
Can I convert RTF to Word instead?
Word opens RTF directly, so there is no need for a converter. This page is for when you need a PDF.
Is there a file size limit?
20 MB per file. RTF files with many embedded images can be large; if yours is over the limit, remove images you do not need or split the document.
What happens to your file
Processed over an encrypted connection and deleted after one hour.
Full detail in the Privacy Policy.
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