This tutorial shows how to export PDF tables from Adobe Acrobat to Excel. We will also look at how to copy and paste tables from Acrobat to Excel.
The export method is best if you want to save the table as a standalone Excel file. The copy and paste method is best if you want to insert the table into an existing Excel file.
Table of Contents
- How to Export PDF Tables from Adobe Acrobat to Excel (PC & Mac)
- How to Copy and Paste PDF Tables from Adobe Acrobat to Excel (PC Only)
Important Note: Adobe Acrobat doesn’t currently provide a direct way to create tables in PDFs. Instead, you can create tables in another program, such as Microsoft Word, and then convert that file to the PDF format.
Therefore, these steps assume that you are working with a PDF that already has a table created elsewhere.
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The images below are from Adobe Acrobat Pro. These steps also apply to Adobe Acrobat 2020 and Adobe Acrobat 2017. These steps don’t apply to Adobe’s free PDF display software, Acrobat Reader.
How to Export PDF Tables from Adobe Acrobat to Excel (PC & Mac)
- Select the Selection tool.
- Click and drag the Selection pointer from one corner of the table to the opposite corner.
- Release the pointer when a blue rectangle appears over the entire table.
- Right-click (PC) or Control-click (Mac) the table, and then select Export Selection As from the shortcut menu.
- Select the location to save the file in the Save As dialog box.
- Enter a name into the File name text box.
- Select Excel Workbook (*.xlsx) from the Save as type menu. (This menu is called Format on Mac.)
- Ensure that View Result is selected if you want the table to open in Excel after you complete the export process.
- Select the Save button.
A series of information boxes will appear in the bottom, right corner showing the export progress.
- If you selected View Results, select the Yes button in the dialog box asking if you want to launch (open) the .xlsx file. (The file will only open if you have Excel installed on your computer.)
The table should open in Excel.
You can now edit the table data in the Excel file as you normally would.
How to Copy and Paste PDF Tables from Adobe Acrobat to Excel (PC Only)
- Select the Selection tool (see figure 1).
- Click and drag the Selection pointer from one corner of the table to the opposite corner (see figure 2).
- Release the pointer when a blue rectangle appears over the entire table.
- Right-click the table, and then select Copy With Formatting from the shortcut menu.
- Open the Excel file, place your cursor in the spreadsheet cell where you want the table to begin, and then select the Paste button or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + V.
The table should be pasted into the Excel file.
Related Resources
How to Convert PDFs to Microsoft Word Files in Adobe Acrobat
How to Convert Web Pages and Websites to PDFs in Adobe Acrobat (PC & Mac)
How to Insert Excel Tables into Microsoft Word (PC & Mac)
Updated August 27, 2023