Convert DWG to PDF Online — Free CAD Converter

CONVERT DWG to PDF ONLINE

1) Upload DWG file to convert

Drop files here, or Click to select

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Allowed file types: gbr, jww, gcode, cut, dwg, dwf, dwfx, dxf, plt, hpgl, hpgl2, plo, cgm, step, stp, vsd

2) Set converting DWG to PDF options

3) Get converted file

DOWNLOAD CONVERTED FILE

Need to convert more than one DWG file?

This free tool converts one file at a time. Total CAD Converter does it in bulk - whole folders at once, recursively, and from the command line or a .bat script.

Batch hundreds of files in one run
Convert whole folders (recursive)
Automate from the command line or .bat

Download free trial See Total CAD Converter →

30-day free trial. $99.00 one-time. Windows 7/8/10/11.

How to convert DWG to PDF?

💾 Upload Your File: Go to the site, click on «Upload File,» and select your DWG file.

✍️ Set Conversion Options: Choose PDF as the output format and adjust any additional options if needed.

Convert and Download: Click 👉«Download Converted File»👈 to get your PDF file.

Cloud Based

Convert DWG to PDF with no AutoCAD or CAD viewer to install. Upload the drawing in your browser and download the PDF on any device.

Secure

CAD drawings can represent confidential designs and intellectual property. Your DWG upload is encrypted in transit with HTTPS/TLS and processed in access-controlled data centers during the conversion to PDF.

Ease of Use

Converting DWG to PDF online has never been so simple. Drop the AutoCAD .dwg file and the converter generates a clean vector PDF with all layouts, layers, line weights, text, and dimensions preserved. No AutoCAD, DWG TrueView, or LT install needed. Works with DWG R12 through DWG 2018+.

Privacy

Your DWG drawing and the PDF result are never viewed or reused. Both files are deleted automatically from our servers after the conversion. Privacy Policy.

DWG File

File extension	.DWG
Category	CAD File
Description	DWG is a Windows-based binary file format created by AutoDesk. It stores 2D and 3D design data created in CAD-package programs (AutoCAD, IntelliCAD, etc.) DWG files comprise vector image elements and metadata. The format is native to the CAD package, although there are non-native CAD applications, by aid of which you can open a DWG file. Since its introduction in 2000, several variations of the DWG format have been developed, and not all of them can be opened using a non-native application.
Associated programs	Adobe Illustrator AutoCAD Autodesk DWG TrueView CorelCAD
Developed by	Autodesk
MIME type	image/x-dwg application/dwg application/x-dwg application/x-autocad image/vnd.dwg drawing/dwg
Useful links	More detailed information on DWG files
Conversion type	DWG to PDF

PDF File

File extension	.PDF
Category	Document File
Description	Adobe Systems Portable Document Format (PDF) format provides all the contents of a printed document in electronic form, including text and images, as well as technical details like links, scales, graphs, and interactive content. You can open this file in free Acrobat Reader and scroll through the page or the entire document, which is generally one or more pages. The PDF format is used to save pre-designed periodicals, brochures, and flyers.
Associated programs	Adobe Viewer Ghostscript Ghostview Xpdf CoolUtils PDF Viewer
Developed by	Adobe Systems
MIME type	application/pdf application/x-pdf
Useful links	More detailed information on PDF files

2026-05-07

Client doesn't have AutoCAD. Converted a multi-layout DWG to PDF here and emailed it — all viewports came out correctly, dimensions readable.

Gregory Halloway

2026-03-25

Handles AutoCAD 2018 and later files without complaint. Pen-weight assignments sometimes need tweaking but the output is good for review.

Sven Andersson

2026-02-02

Used this to share floor plans with contractors who only opened PDFs. Layer visibility matched what I had set in CAD. No extra software needed.

Aditya Sharma

Rating DWG to PDF

4.6 (510 votes)Rate It

DWG to PDF — Frequently Asked Questions ▼

How do I convert a DWG file to PDF?

Upload the .dwg file to the converter above, choose PDF as the output format, and click Download converted file. The converter renders the active layout (or Model Space if no layout is set) as a vector PDF, preserving line weights, text, dimensions, and layer information. No AutoCAD, DWG TrueView, or LT install needed.

Can I convert DWG to PDF without AutoCAD?

Yes — that's exactly what this tool is for. The converter reads DWG files directly using a built-in CAD engine and produces a PDF without ever opening AutoCAD. This is the fastest path when you have a DWG drawing but don't have AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, or DWG TrueView installed (each takes 1-3 GB and a separate Autodesk account).

How to convert DWG to PDF in AutoCAD?

Inside AutoCAD: open the drawing, type PLOT (or press Ctrl+P), pick DWG To PDF.pc3 as the printer/plotter, choose the layout to plot (Model or a named layout), set paper size and plot area, then click OK. For batch conversion across many files use the PUBLISH command. If you don't have AutoCAD, use this online converter instead.

Will the PDF preserve layouts, layers, and line weights?

Yes. The converter writes a vector PDF — line weights from your DWG plot styles (.ctb / .stb) are honored, layouts become PDF pages, and layers are preserved as PDF optional content groups (you can toggle layers in Acrobat Reader). Text stays as searchable text rather than being rasterized.

What DWG versions are supported?

All major DWG versions from R12 (1992) through the latest DWG 2018+ format used by AutoCAD 2018-2024+. Both 2D and 3D drawings convert; 3D models are flattened to the active viewpoint. AutoCAD's annual format updates are added as they're released.

What about DWF, DXF, and AutoCAD LT files?

DXF (the open ASCII format) and DWF (Autodesk's design web format) convert through the same engine — see DXF to PDF and DWF to PDF. AutoCAD LT files are stored as DWG, so they convert identically to full AutoCAD drawings.

Can I batch convert hundreds of DWG files at once?

Not in the online tool — it processes one file at a time. For batch conversion (entire project folders, archive migrations, automated CI pipelines) install the desktop Total CAD Converter: it handles thousands of files per run, supports command-line automation, and lets you set per-folder output options.

Why does my PDF look different from AutoCAD's print preview?

Three common causes: (1) missing fonts — if the DWG references SHX or TTF fonts not embedded in the file, the converter substitutes them; (2) custom plot styles (.ctb / .stb) used by your AutoCAD setup aren't applied online; (3) drawing references xrefs (external references) that aren't bundled. For pixel-perfect output, plot from AutoCAD itself or use the desktop converter where you can attach plot style files.

Is my drawing data secure?

Yes. Files are sent over HTTPS, processed in isolated workers, and automatically deleted from our servers within one hour. We never read, share, or index your designs. For sensitive intellectual property (proprietary architecture, defense, or aerospace drawings) use the desktop Total CAD Converter — everything stays on your machine.

Is there a file size limit?

50 MB per file in the online converter. Most architectural and MEP DWG files fit comfortably; very large multi-discipline coordination models or full-building 3D drawings may exceed this. Use the desktop converter for unlimited size.

Is the DWG to PDF converter free?

Yes. The online converter is completely free — upload a drawing, download the PDF, no account and no payment at any step. It processes one file at a time. For batch conversion of project folders with command-line automation there is the paid desktop Total CAD Converter, but the online tool costs nothing.

Convert DWG to PDF — Share AutoCAD Drawings Without AutoCAD

DWG is AutoCAD's native drawing format — the industry standard in architecture, engineering, and construction. But a single AutoCAD seat costs over $2,000 per year, and most clients, contractors, planners, and reviewers don't have it. Converting DWG to PDF produces a vector document that preserves every line, dimension, annotation, and layer at full accuracy, viewable in any PDF reader on any device. No AutoCAD, no DWG TrueView, no viewer software required. Drop your .dwg file above and download a vector PDF in seconds.

What Is a DWG File?

DWG (Drawing) is Autodesk's proprietary binary format for CAD drawings, in use since AutoCAD 1.0 in 1982. It stores 2D and 3D vector geometry — lines, arcs, polylines, splines, hatches, blocks — along with text, dimensions, layers, plot styles, and references to external drawings (xrefs). The format has evolved through major versions every 3 years (DWG 2000, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2018, 2024), and newer files cannot be opened in older AutoCAD versions without a manual save-as operation.

DWG is supported natively by AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, BricsCAD, ZWCAD, and a handful of other CAD applications. It is partially supported by FreeCAD, LibreCAD, and DraftSight. For everyone else — clients, project managers, permit offices, and contractors who need to view or mark up drawings — PDF is the universal alternative.

DWG vs PDF — Format Comparison

Property	DWG	PDF
Requires CAD software	Yes ($2,000+/year)	No — any PDF reader
Vector accuracy	Full precision	Full precision (vector PDF)
Layers	Yes (editable)	Yes (viewable in Acrobat)
Measurable to scale	Yes (native units)	Yes (in Bluebeam, Acrobat Pro)
Markup / annotation	Requires CAD app	Any PDF reader
Mobile viewing	Requires DWG viewer app	Any browser or PDF app
File size	Can be large (xrefs)	Self-contained, typically 1–10 MB
Archival format	Version-dependent	PDF/A — ISO archival standard

When Do You Need DWG to PDF Conversion?

Sharing with non-CAD recipients: Clients, contractors, planning departments, and end users rarely have AutoCAD installed. PDF is universal — every laptop, tablet, and phone has a PDF reader. Converting removes the "please install a CAD viewer" conversation.
Permit and planning submittals: Government planning offices and building departments require PDF deliverables for permit applications, RFIs, and bid sets. Even when source drawings are DWG, the official submission is always PDF.
Drawing review and markup: Reviewers comment on PDFs using Acrobat, Bluebeam Revu, or Foxit. Converting to PDF for the review cycle, then incorporating comments back into the DWG source, is standard workflow on most projects.
Archival and version control: DWG format changes every 3 years. PDF/A is the ISO-standardised archival format designed to be readable for decades. Converting finished drawings to PDF/A protects them from format obsolescence.

Email and cloud sharing: DWG files referencing xrefs and attachments can balloon to hundreds of MB when bundled. The PDF version is self-contained and typically 1–10 MB — easy to email or upload to client portals without packing xrefs.
Construction document packages: General contractors assembling bid packages combine drawings from multiple consultants into a single PDF set. DWG-to-PDF is the first step in building a coordinated PDF drawing package.
Mobile site access: Site managers and contractors on tablets and phones need drawing access without a CAD app. PDF drawings open in any browser, any tablet PDF reader, and any mobile device.
Client deliverables: Final project deliverables to owners and developers are always PDF — the DWG source files stay with the design team. PDF is the contractual record of the design intent.

Online Conversion vs. Total CAD Converter

Feature	Online (this page)	Total CAD Converter
File size limit	50 MB	No limit (large xref sets supported)
Batch conversion	One DWG at a time	Entire project folders
Software required	No	Windows install
Layout / paper size control	Active layout only	All named layouts, custom paper size
Layer visibility control	Default layer state	Per-layer on/off control
Automation / CLI	No	Yes — batch with .bat scripts
Price	Free	From $49.90

Command-Line Batch Conversion

Total CAD Converter accepts full folder paths and wildcards, making it straightforward to build automated DWG-to-PDF pipelines without manual intervention:

TotalCADConverter.exe C:\Drawings\*.dwg /pdf /out C:\PDF_Set\

Add /layout "Sheet A1" to export a specific named layout instead of the active one, /paper A1 to set the output paper size to match your drawing sheet, or /monochrome to produce black-and-white PDFs that match traditional CAD plotting conventions for permit submissions. Combine with a Windows Scheduled Task to nightly export a project DWG folder as a fresh PDF drawing set for distribution to contractors.

Feature	Online Converters	CoolUtils Desktop	AutoCAD Built-in	Other Software
Batch Conversion	Limited	✅ Unlimited	Manual only	Limited
File Size Limit	1-5MB	✅ No limits	System dependent	Varies
Privacy & Security	Upload required	✅ 100% offline	✅ Local only	Varies
Conversion Speed	Internet dependent	✅ Fast local processing	Slow	Medium
Advanced Options	Basic	✅ Full customization	Limited	Basic
Cost	Free/Premium	One-time purchase	Requires Office	Subscription
Formatting Preservation	Good	✅ Excellent	Good	Varies
Multiple Formats Support	Limited	✅ 40+ formats	Few formats	Limited

Convert DWG to PDF Online — Free CAD Converter