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How to Convert Images to PDF — JPG, PNG, WebP and More

You have a folder of receipts to send to your accountant, a stack of photos for a portfolio, or a series of screenshots that need to be one neat document. Sending them as individual JPGs or PNGs is messy. The fix is simple: turn them into a single PDF.

Why convert images to PDF?

A PDF beats a pile of image files for almost every "send this to someone" use case:

  • One file instead of many — much easier to email, upload, or print
  • Consistent ordering — recipients see your pages in the order you intended
  • Universal viewer support — every device, every OS, no special software
  • Smaller total size in many cases — PDF can package multiple JPEGs efficiently
  • Looks professional — invoices, portfolios, applications, and reports are expected as PDFs
  • Easy to print — one print job instead of selecting 30 images

What image formats work?

Modern conversion tools support most everyday formats:

FormatCommon usesNotes
**JPG / JPEG**Photos, scans, phone cameraSmallest file size for photos
**PNG**Screenshots, logos, transparent imagesLossless quality
**WebP**Modern web imagesOften smaller than JPG/PNG
**GIF**Old web graphics, simple animationsOnly the first frame is converted
**BMP**Older Windows screenshotsLarge but lossless
**HEIC**iPhone photosConvert to JPG first on most tools

Free methods to convert images to PDF

Method 1: Built-in tools on your computer

  • Mac (Preview) — Open all images in Preview, select them in the sidebar, File → Print → PDF dropdown → "Save as PDF"
  • Windows (Print to PDF) — Select images in File Explorer → right-click → Print → choose "Microsoft Print to PDF" → Print → choose location
  • Linux (img2pdf) — `img2pdf *.jpg -o output.pdf` from the terminal

Method 2: Phone built-in tools

  • iPhone (Files / Photos) — Select photos → Share → Print → pinch out on the print preview to convert to PDF → Share to save
  • Android (Files by Google) — Select images → Share → Print → "Save as PDF"

Method 3: Browser-based tools

The fastest option for one-off jobs and any device. Look for tools that process locally in your browser rather than uploading your images. Our Image to PDF converter runs entirely client-side — your photos never leave your device.

Choosing page size and orientation

The right page size depends on what you're producing:

  • Auto — Each page matches its image's exact dimensions. Best for portfolios, photo albums, and any case where you want zero white space around images.
  • A4 / US Letter — Standard printable sizes. Best for invoices, scans of documents, and anything you'll print.
  • US Legal — For longer documents like contracts and certificates.

For orientation, Auto is usually right — it picks portrait or landscape based on each image's shape. Override only if you want the whole document to be one orientation regardless.

Image fit modes explained

When you put an image on a fixed-size page, three things can happen:

  • Fit (recommended) — The image keeps its original shape and is scaled to fit the page. You may see white borders. Use for photos, scans, logos.
  • Fill — The image fills the entire page, cropping any overflow. No white borders, but parts of the image may be cut off. Use for background images and full-bleed posters.
  • Stretch — The image is squashed or stretched to exactly match the page shape, distorting it. Use for very rare cases — usually never.

Tips for great results

  • Order matters — Drag thumbnails to reorder before converting. The order you see is the order in the PDF.
  • Add margins for printing — A 36–72pt margin (about ½–1 inch) prevents content from being cut off by printers.
  • Compress photos first — A 12 MP photo is overkill for a PDF that will be viewed on a screen. Resize to ~1500px wide before converting if size matters.
  • Group related images — If you have multiple sets, make multiple PDFs rather than one giant file.
  • Compress the result — If the PDF is too large for email, run it through a compression tool afterward.

Common use cases

  • Receipts and invoices — Phone-photographed receipts → one tidy PDF for expense reports
  • ID and document scans — Passport + driver's license + utility bill bundled for KYC submission
  • Portfolios — Photographers and designers turn their best work into a portable PDF
  • Multi-page screenshots — Capture a conversation or a long article as a single document
  • Whiteboard photos — End-of-meeting brainstorm photos combined into one shareable file
  • Recipe collections — Photos of cookbook pages bundled for travel or sharing

What to do after converting

Privacy considerations

Photos can carry surprising amounts of metadata: GPS coordinates, camera model, timestamps, and even thumbnails of the original image. When you embed photos into a PDF using a browser-based tool that runs locally, this metadata stays on your device. Server-based converters can — and often do — log file metadata. For anything sensitive, prefer a client-side tool.

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