How to Import PDF into Google Sheets: 5 Best Methods

Need to get table data from a PDF into Google Sheets? You have several options depending on your PDF type and how often you need to do this. The quickest way is using a browser extension that captures tables directly from your screen. For batch conversions, online tools work best. And for complex or handwritten documents, AI-powered solutions offer the most accurate results.

This guide covers five proven methods to import PDF data into Google Sheets. Each method has different strengths, so I'll explain when to use each one.

Best for Quick ExtractionsChrome Extension

Why We Chose It

The Parsea Chrome extension is the fastest way to extract table data from PDFs. It captures a screenshot of any table area on your screen and extracts the data instantly. No uploads, no downloads, no sign-ups required. This makes it ideal for quick, one-off extractions when you just need to grab data without leaving your browser.

How to Use It

1. Install the extension from the Chrome Web Store
2. Open your PDF in the browser
3. Click the extension icon and select the table area
4. Copy the extracted data and paste it into Google Sheets

You can also download results as CSV or send them to your email.

Best for Multiple TablesOnline PDF Converters

Why We Chose It

Tools like iLovePDF and Smallpdf excel at batch processing entire PDF documents. They automatically detect and convert all tables in a file, making them perfect when you need to extract multiple tables at once without selecting each one manually.

How to Use It

1. Go to iLovePDF's PDF to Excel converter
2. Upload your PDF file
3. Click "Convert to Excel" and download the result
4. Open Google Sheets and go to File → Import
5. Upload the Excel file and choose your import settings

Best for Custom ExtractionsChatGPT

Why We Chose It

ChatGPT offers the most flexibility for custom extractions. You can ask it to remove specific columns, reformat data, merge fields, or generate a downloadable CSV file with exactly the structure you need. It's free to use with a daily limit of 3 file uploads.

How to Use It

1. Upload your PDF to ChatGPT
2. Ask: "Extract the table, remove the price column, and give me a downloadable CSV"
3. Download the generated CSV file
4. Import the CSV into Google Sheets via File → Import

The real power is in custom prompts. Ask ChatGPT to filter rows, calculate totals, split columns, or any other transformation you need.

Best for Google WorkspaceGoogle Docs Conversion

Why We Chose It

Google Drive can open PDFs as Google Docs, preserving some table formatting. This method is completely free and doesn't require any third-party tools or accounts. If you're already in the Google ecosystem and have simple PDFs, this is the most straightforward approach.

How to Use It

1. Upload your PDF to Google Drive
2. Right-click the file and select "Open with → Google Docs"
3. Find the table in the converted document
4. Select the table, copy it (Ctrl/Cmd + C)
5. Paste it into Google Sheets (Ctrl/Cmd + V)

Best for ProfessionalsAdobe Acrobat

Why We Chose It

Adobe Acrobat Pro includes built-in export features that convert PDFs to Excel with high accuracy. According to Adobe's documentation, the tool preserves table structure and formatting during conversion. It's the industry standard for PDF handling and offers the most reliable results for complex documents.

How to Use It

1. Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro
2. Click "Export PDF" in the right panel
3. Select "Spreadsheet" and then "Microsoft Excel Workbook"
4. Save the file and import it into Google Sheets

Which Method Should You Use?

Here's a quick comparison to help you choose:

Once you have imported data into Google Sheets, you might want to explore other import methods for different data sources. For example, you can import JSON into Google Sheets, or convert documents to Excel or Google Sheets.

How We Choose the Best PDF to Sheets Tools

We tested each tool with a variety of PDFs including documents with complex layouts and multiple tables. In addition, we tested different platform including chrome extension, online converters, and desktop software.

We grouped our evaluation criteria into four categories:

• Accuracy: How well does the tool preserve table structure, cell alignment, and data integrity during conversion?
• Ease of Use: How simple is the workflow from PDF to Google Sheets? We considered steps required, learning curve, and user interface quality.
• Cost: What's the price point, and is there a free tier? We evaluated value relative to features offered.
• Speed: How quickly can you extract data, especially for time-sensitive tasks?

Each tool excels in different areas. Chrome extensions win on speed, online converters handle batch processing well, and professional tools like Adobe Acrobat offer the highest accuracy for complex documents.

Next Steps

You now have five reliable ways to get PDF data into Google Sheets. Start with the Chrome extension method for quick extractions, then move to batch converters or AI tools as your needs grow.

If you regularly work with PDFs containing tables, bookmarking iLovePDF or installing the Parsea extension will save you hours of manual data entry. For complex documents or ongoing workflows, investing in Adobe Acrobat or ChatGPT Plus may be worth the cost.