Ppdfsmerger.com

BMP to PDF, for free

Convert BMP bitmaps into a PDF that is a fraction of the size and opens on any device. Bitmaps are enormous for what they contain, which is usually the reason people need them converted.

Select BMP images

or drop BMP images here

Files are uploaded securely and deleted from our servers after conversion.

How it works

  1. 1

    Choose or drag in your BMP files.

  2. 2

    Arrange them into page order.

  3. 3

    Click Convert and download the PDF.

Why use this converter

  • Substantially smaller files

    Uncompressed bitmaps usually shrink around tenfold once converted, with no visible change.

  • Actually sendable

    Bitmaps routinely exceed attachment limits; the resulting PDF comfortably fits.

  • Opens off Windows

    BMP support on macOS, iOS and Android is patchy — PDF is universal.

  • Batch several at once

    Combine a stack of individual bitmaps into one multi-page document.

When to use it

  • The file is too big to email: An uncompressed bitmap frequently exceeds mail limits where the PDF will not.
  • Output from an older scanner: Some scanning software still writes BMP by default, though PDF is what recipients expect.
  • Sharing with non-Windows users: Bitmap support outside Windows is inconsistent at best.
  • Reclaiming disk space: Store legacy bitmaps as compact PDFs instead of leaving them to consume gigabytes.

What a bitmap is, and why it persists

BMP is a Microsoft format dating to the earliest days of Windows. It writes pixel data directly with no compression applied, which makes it simple and completely lossless, and by any modern measure extraordinarily wasteful.

Bitmaps still surface from older scanning software, legacy business applications, Microsoft Paint and assorted Windows utilities. The format has barely changed in decades, which is precisely why support for it outside the Windows world stayed so thin.

How much smaller will the PDF be?

Usually dramatically. Because BMP applies no compression at all, converting to a PDF with efficiently encoded images commonly cuts size by a factor of ten or more, and for large images the gap widens further.

Almost all of that saving comes from removing the format's inefficiency rather than from discarding meaningful detail, so for viewing, sending and ordinary printing the document looks like the bitmap you started with.

Multi-page scans saved as separate files

Where a scanner has produced one bitmap per page, upload the whole set and arrange them into reading order to get a single document rather than a directory of oversized images.

This is far and away the most practical way to handle scans that were saved page by page — the output is one file to send, file and print.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my BMP file so large?

Bitmaps store every pixel uncompressed. A photo that would be a few megabytes as a JPEG can easily reach thirty or forty as a BMP, which is why they so often exceed email limits.

How much smaller does it get?

Typically around ten times smaller or better. The saving comes from replacing BMP's complete lack of compression with efficient encoding.

Will the image look worse?

Not noticeably. At normal viewing and printing sizes there is nothing to distinguish it from the original bitmap.

Why will my BMP not open on my phone?

BMP is a Windows format, and support on macOS, iOS and Android is inconsistent. A PDF opens reliably everywhere, which is one of the main reasons to convert.