Convert PDF to grayscale for black-and-white printing

1 min read·24 July 2026

Colour printers charge more per page when colour is used. Converting a PDF to grayscale first lets you print more cheaply — even if the printer is set to "black and white".

Why grayscale instead of just printing B&W?

Many printers and copiers charge colour rates as soon as the document contains even one colour pixel, even if you select "black and white" in the print menu. Converting the PDF to grayscale first removes all colour data and ensures you always pay the cheaper monochrome rate.

How do I convert a PDF to grayscale?

Upload the PDF on PDFrust's Grayscale page. The tool converts each page to grey tones: colours disappear, black stays black, white stays white, all tones in between become shades of grey. Download the converted PDF and print.

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How much do I save?

It depends on your printer. With typical office copiers a colour page costs four to eight times more than a monochrome page. A 20-page report with charts and photos printed every week can save tens of euros a year.

Is quality lost?

For reading purposes barely at all. Text stays sharp. Charts with colour coding can become less clear if the tones are equal in grayscale — a blue and red line both become mid-grey. Check such elements before printing.