Are you wondering how to insert a PDF into Excel as an image? Tag along while I explain the process with clear steps and real illustrations.

Imagine needing to combine an Excel spreadsheet with a PDF document. It’s like needing to mix oil and water—they just don’t blend on their own.

This skill can be frustrating if you’re unsure how to make it work smoothly. Inserting a PDF into Excel as an image might seem tricky, but this tutorial breaks it down into easy steps.

I’ll guide you from start to finish, showing you exactly how to integrate your PDF content into your spreadsheet without the usual headache. Also, I’ll present multiple methods so you can take your pick depending on your Excel expertise level.

Let’s dive in and get that PDF right where you need it in your Excel file.

Using the Excel Screenshot Tool

To embed a PDF document as an image, you must get a matching file for the source. The Excel Screenshot tool allows you to get an image of the document as well as import that into the destination worksheet.

Use any PDF viewer app to open the source document in one window.

Now, navigate to the worksheet where you’d like to insert the PDF file.

Click on the Screenshot command in the Illustrations block of the Insert tab.

You’ll see the PDF document’s thumbnail preview in the Available Windows panel.

Click on the PDF file’s thumbnail.

Excel will instantly add the screenshot as an image in the active worksheet.

Navigate to the Picture Format tab and click on the Crop command inside the Size block.

You can now crop the screenshot according to your preference.

Once you’re done cropping the image, click on any blank cell in the worksheet to complete the process.

That’s it! You’ve successfully imported a PDF file in an Excel sheet in an image format.

You’ll need Excel 2016 or a better desktop application to use this method.

Using the Insert Object Command

Excel’s Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) feature allows you to embed files from supported software, like Word, PowerPoint, Projects, Adobe Acrobat, and so on. It’s available in Excel 2016 and newer desktop apps.

Open the Excel sheet where you’d like to insert a PDF document as a picture.

Click on the Object command in the Text block of the Insert tab.

The Object dialog box will open.

Click on the Create tab and choose an Object type from the table. For example, you can choose Adobe Acrobat Document if you’re using this PDF viewer app.

Since I usually use the Foxit PhantomPDF app, I’ve selected the Foxit PhantomPDF FDF Document in the dialog box.

Once you select an object type, click on the OK button to insert it in the worksheet.

The Windows Explorer dialog box will open. Use that to select the PDF file you want to import. Click Open.

Navigate to the Excel worksheet. You’ll see a Shape object for the imported PDF document’s page.

Select the Shape and press Ctrl + C to copy the object.

Create a new worksheet, select a cell, and press Ctrl + Alt + V keys to open the Paste Special dialog.

Select Picture (JPEG) in the list of files and click OK.

Excel will convert the object into a picture and place it over the selected cell.

The downside of this method is it only imports the first page of the PDF file. Therefore, if your PDF file contains multiple pages, you must split it into different documents before importing it into Excel.

Using the Export Feature of a PDF Viewer

Most PDF viewer apps, like Adobe Acrobat, Foxit PhantomPDF, etc., allow you to export the pages of a PDF file as image files, like PNG, JPEG, etc.

Once you’ve converted the PDF into images, you can simply use the Pictures import command to insert the PDF as an image in the worksheet.

This method is suitable for most Excel desktop editions since you don’t need to rely on modern Excel features, like the Screenshot or OLE tool.

Open your PDF document with a PDF reader, like Foxit PhantomPDF.

Go to the Convert tab and click on the To Image drop-down menu.

Choose an image file type from the drop-down menu, like PNG, JPEG, etc.

You’ll see the Save As dialog box to select a destination for the converted image file.

If you’re using Adobe Acrobat Reader, navigate to the All tools tab and click on the Export a PDF option.

You’ll see the Convert navigation panel. There, select the Image format option in the Export PDF To section.

Hit the Convert button to save the PDF as an image file.

Now, go to the destination worksheet and click on the Pictures drop-down menu in the Illustrations block.

Hover the cursor over the Place over cells menu and click on the This Device option in the Insert Picture From context menu.

Use the Insert Picture dialog box to select the image created from the source PDF and hit Insert.

Excel will attach the inserted image to the active worksheet.

Conclusions

So far, you’ve learned how to insert a PDF into Excel as an image using the Screenshot tool, Insert Object dialog box, and the Insert Pictures command.

Did this Excel guide help you to learn a new skill? You can share your experience in the comment box. Also, if you know of a better technique to insert a PDF as an image that I might have missed to describe, mention that in your comment.