How to convert an svg floor plan to a pdf
- Step 1Export the plan as SVG with a tight viewBox — From Inkscape, AutoCAD's SVG export, or your drawing tool, export
.svgwith a viewBox that hugs the plan and a generous overall size so fine dimension text has enough pixels at 2×. - Step 2Outline text and embed any rasters — Convert dimension and room-label text to outlines (fonts aren't fetched during conversion), and embed any site-photo or hatch-pattern rasters as data URIs — external references aren't loaded.
- Step 3Open the converter and drop the SVG — Add the single
.svg. Only.svgis accepted; one file per job. It is not a multi-sheet or batch tool. - Step 4Let it convert automatically — No options exist, so it converts on drop: rasterise at 2×, JPEG-encode, one page sized to the viewBox. You won't be offered A0/A1, scale, or orientation.
- Step 5Zoom-check the smallest dimensions — Open the PDF and zoom to the finest dimension strings. If they're soft, re-export the plan at a larger overall size (bigger viewBox) and convert again.
- Step 6Share or file the PDF — Download
<name>.svg-to-pdf.pdfand send it to the contractor or add it to the project file. Keep the vector/CAD master for any to-scale measuring.
Floor-plan expectations vs. what this tool delivers
Where the raster snapshot fits, and where you need the vector/CAD master.
| You need… | This tool? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A shareable, viewable plan PDF | Yes | Opens anywhere; good for review and filing |
| A to-scale plot a contractor measures off | No | Output is raster with no scale bar — send the vector/CAD plot |
| A0 / A1 large-format paper output | No | Page size follows the viewBox; no paper-size selector |
| Selectable dimension text | No | Annotations are rasterised into the image |
| A title block on the sheet | Yes, if in the SVG | Add the title block to the SVG before converting — it renders in place |
Fixed conversion behaviour
Hard-coded — there is no options panel for this tool.
| Property | Value | Effect on a floor plan |
|---|---|---|
| Render scale | 2× | Sets how sharp fine dimension text is; ultimately bounded by viewBox size |
| Background | White | Plans on transparent canvases get a white sheet; white linework can vanish |
| Encoding | JPEG q=0.92 | Hairline walls and tiny text soften slightly at small sizes |
| Page size | viewBox → width/height → 612×792 pt | Wide plans yield wide pages; no A0/A1/A3 option |
| Pages | 1 | One plan = one page; combine multiple sheets with merge |
Cookbook
Floor-plan recipes given the raster, single-page, viewBox-sized pipeline.
Single-storey plan with a sized viewBox
A standard plan export with a viewBox converts to a proportional landscape page.
Input SVG header: <svg viewBox="0 0 1400 900" ...> Result: PDF page: 1400 x 900 pt (landscape) Image: 2800 x 1800 px JPEG (2x) Walls + labels: crisp at normal zoom
Fine dimension strings look soft
A small viewBox with tiny dimension text won't sharpen at 2× — scale the plan up.
Symptom: 8px dimension text fuzzy in the PDF
Cause: small viewBox for a detailed plan
Fix: re-export with a larger overall size
(viewBox e.g. 2800 x 1800) -> sharper dimensionsTitle block included in the SVG
Add the title block to the drawing before export; it renders in position on the page.
Layout: plan + title block group, bottom-right
Result: PDF shows plan and title block exactly where
positioned in the SVG (rasterised together)Multi-storey set into one PDF
Each floor is its own SVG; convert separately and merge into a multi-page set.
Workflow: ground-floor.svg -> convert -> ground...pdf first-floor.svg -> convert -> first...pdf roof-plan.svg -> convert -> roof...pdf pdf-merge -> building-plans.pdf (multi-page)
Plan with white linework on transparent canvas
On a white page, white walls disappear — add a background or invert.
Problem: white linework, no background
-> white page -> plan invisible
Fix: add a dark/coloured background rect to the SVG,
or export the plan with black lineworkEdge cases and what actually happens
Output is not to scale and not vector
By designThe plan is rasterised to a 2× bitmap and embedded as JPEG, with no scale bar and no measurable geometry. It's a viewable snapshot, not a to-scale plot. For a contractor who must measure off the page, send the original vector/CAD output, not this PDF.
No A0 / A1 / paper-size option
viewBox-sizedThe page size is taken from the SVG's viewBox (or width/height); there is no large-format paper selector. To target a specific sheet size, set the viewBox in the source drawing, or resize the result with pdf-resize (note this rescales the raster, it does not restore scale accuracy).
Dimension annotations aren't selectable
RasterisedDimension strings and room labels are rendered into the image, so they can't be selected, searched, or copied in the PDF. They remain legible as part of the drawing; keep the source file if you need editable annotations.
Fine dimension text looks soft
Re-export largerSharpness is bounded by the source viewBox times the fixed 2× scale. A detailed plan exported at a small viewBox yields soft dimension text. Re-export the plan at a larger overall size so the 2× render has more pixels, then convert again.
White linework disappears on the white page
Flattened to whiteThe canvas is filled white before drawing, so white walls/linework on a transparent canvas vanish. Add a dark or coloured background rectangle to the SVG, or export the plan with dark linework, before converting.
Annotation font falls back
Font fallbackExternal fonts aren't fetched by the <img> renderer, so dimension/label text in a non-embedded font falls back to a system font and may shift spacing. Convert annotation text to outlines before export, or embed the font as a data URI.
Hatch patterns or site photos referenced externally are blank
Not fetchedExternal image references and externally-linked pattern fills aren't loaded during conversion and render blank. Embed hatch images and site photos in the SVG as data URIs before converting.
Large detailed plan over the free size limit
Blocked on FreeFree handles files up to 2 MB per job. A detailed plan with many layers or embedded rasters can exceed that and is blocked with a size message; Pro raises the limit to 50 MB. Optimise the SVG or split the drawing if you hit it.
Frequently asked questions
Will the PDF be to scale so a contractor can measure off it?
No. The tool produces a raster snapshot of the plan with no scale bar and no measurable geometry, sized to the SVG's viewBox. It's great for sharing and review, but not a to-scale plot. For dimensionally-accurate measuring, send the original vector/CAD output, and rely on printed dimension annotations rather than measuring the page.
Can I output A0 or A1 for large-format printing?
There's no paper-size option — the page size follows the SVG's viewBox (or width/height). Set the viewBox in your drawing to the proportions you need before exporting. You can rescale the result with pdf-resize, but that rescales the raster image, not the drawing's scale accuracy.
Will dimension annotations stay legible?
They render as part of the image and are legible when the source viewBox is large enough — the tool renders at 2×. Fine dimension text on a small viewBox can look soft; re-export the plan at a larger overall size and convert again for crisper text. Note the text isn't selectable, since it's rasterised.
Can I include a title block?
Yes — add the title block as a group in the SVG, positioned where you want it. It renders in the same position on the PDF page (rasterised along with the plan). There's no separate title-block feature in the tool itself.
My plan has multiple floors — can I get one PDF?
Convert each floor's SVG separately (one SVG produces one page), then combine the resulting PDFs into a multi-page set with pdf-merge.
Why did my white walls disappear?
The page background is white, so white linework on a transparent canvas blends into it. Add a dark or coloured background rectangle to the SVG, or export the plan with dark/black linework, before converting.
Are the annotations selectable text in the PDF?
No. Dimension strings and room labels are rasterised into the image, so they can't be selected, searched, or copied. They stay readable as part of the drawing; keep your source file for any editable annotation work.
Is the output editable vector?
No — it's a high-resolution raster (JPEG) embedded in a PDF, not editable vector geometry. Keep your vector/CAD file as the editable master; this PDF is the shareable, printable view.
Do hatch patterns and embedded site photos render?
Inline hatches and rasters embedded as data URIs render fine. Externally-referenced patterns or linked photos aren't fetched during conversion and come out blank — embed them in the SVG before converting.
Are my plans uploaded anywhere?
No. Conversion runs entirely in your browser via pdf-lib; the SVG never leaves your device — appropriate for confidential site, tenancy, and security-sensitive plans.
What's the file-size limit?
Free tier handles files up to 2 MB per job; Pro raises it to 50 MB. Simple plans are small, but detailed multi-layer drawings or plans with embedded photos can exceed 2 MB — optimise the SVG or split the drawing if blocked.
How is the downloaded file named?
It's saved as <your-svg-name>.svg-to-pdf.pdf. Rename it to your project/drawing convention after download.
Privacy first
All PDF processing runs locally in your browser using PDF-lib and pdf.js. No file is ever uploaded — only metadata counters are saved for signed-in dashboard stats.