Free DWG to PDF converter
Turn a DWG into a PDF anyone can open.
Clients, inspectors and site crews don't all have CAD software, but everyone can open a PDF. Drop a DWG and Caddis writes a vector PDF of the whole drawing that stays sharp no matter how far you zoom in.
Why convert DWG to PDF?
A PDF is the easiest way to send a drawing to someone who doesn't use AutoCAD, to print it at a copy shop, or to attach it to an RFI, submittal or quote. Unlike a screenshot, a vector PDF keeps every line crisp.
How to convert DWG to PDF
- Choose your DWG (or DXF) file above, or drag it onto the box.
- Check that PDF is selected. You can switch to any other output.
- Select Convert. The file downloads straight away. Nothing is uploaded.
Good to know
- The page is sized to the drawing's proportions with A3 as the long side, and scales cleanly when printed to any paper size.
- Choose "All black" for a clean monochrome print, or keep the original layer colours (pale colours are darkened so they show on white paper).
- To mark up the drawing before sharing, open it in the free Caddis viewer and export an annotated PDF from there.
What converts, and what doesn't
- Geometry converts as it is drawn: arcs, circles and splines become runs of short straight segments, and blocks and dimensions are exploded into plain lines.
- Text becomes simple single-stroke lettering, so it reads correctly but is no longer editable text. Non-Latin characters may appear as character codes.
- Solid fills are kept. Hatch patterns may be missing.
- Only model space is converted. Paper-space layouts and viewports are not included.
- DWG files from Release 14 through the current AutoCAD 2018 format are supported. 2007-format (AC1021) files are only partially supported: some entities and colours may be missing.
Frequently asked questions
Is the PDF vector or an image?
Vector. Lines and fills are written as PDF paths, so the file stays sharp at any zoom and is usually much smaller than a high-resolution image.
Does it print to scale?
The PDF fits the whole drawing to the page, so it isn't at a fixed drawing scale such as 1:100. For a check-measurement, use the measuring tools in the free Caddis viewer instead.
Which DWG versions can be converted?
DWG files saved by AutoCAD Release 14 through the current AutoCAD 2018 format (used by AutoCAD 2018 and later). 2007-format files (AutoCAD 2007–2009) are only partially supported, so some content may be missing. Use the free DWG version checker if you're not sure which version you have.
Is my file uploaded?
No. The file is read and converted by the Caddis engine running inside your browser tab. It is never sent to a server, so confidential drawings stay on your device.
Need to measure or mark up the drawing too?
The same engine powers the free Caddis viewer on the web and on iPhone. Open DWG, DXF, STEP and STL files, measure, and add markup, all on your device.
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