How our PDF to CAD conversion works
There are two kinds of PDF. A vector PDF exported from CAD still contains lines, which can be imported – but usually as thousands of short segments, exploded text and no layers. A raster PDF (a scan) is just a picture. In both cases, automatic conversion gives you something that looks right and is painful to edit.
We redraw. Each sheet is scaled from known dimensions, walls and objects are drawn as clean polylines on proper layers, repeated items become blocks, text becomes editable text, and dimensions become associative dimensions. Where a scanned drawing is distorted or a dimension does not add up, we follow the written dimension and note the discrepancy.
For large paper archives, see CAD digitization. If the drawings then need to become a 3D or Revit model, see 2D to 3D conversion.
Deliverables you receive
- Editable AutoCAD DWG redrawn to scale (1:1 model space)
- Layers to your standard (or NCS / BS 1192 / AS 1100)
- Editable text, associative dimensions and hatches
- Blocks for repeated items: doors, windows, fixtures, equipment
- Title block and paper space layout matching the original
- Overlay check against the PDF before delivery
What we need from you
- PDF or scanned drawings (vector or raster)
- Known dimension or scale for each sheet
- Your layer standard and title block (optional)
- Which items must be included (e.g. furniture, text, hatches)
Who orders this service
- Architects renovating buildings with only PDF records
- Facility managers building a CAD library
- Contractors who received PDFs from the design team
- Manufacturers digitizing old part drawings
Auto-trace vs. manual redraw
| Automatic PDF import / raster-to-vector | Our manual redraw | |
|---|---|---|
| Lines | Thousands of short segments, gaps and overlaps | Continuous polylines and true arcs |
| Text | Exploded into lines or wrong fonts | Editable text in your style |
| Scale | Often slightly off, especially on scans | Scaled from real dimensions and checked |
| Layers | One or a few layers | Organised to your standard |
| Usable for further design | Rarely | Yes |
Software and file formats
We deliver DWG (any AutoCAD version from 2013), DXF and, on request, DGN or Revit. Input can be vector PDF, scanned PDF, TIFF, JPG or photos of drawings.
PDF to CAD Conversion standards in the USA, UK, Canada and Australia
We set up every project on the standard of the country where it will be built or manufactured. These are the references we work to most often:
| Country | Standards and codes we draft PDF to CAD conversion to |
|---|---|
| USA | NCS v6 / AIA layer names, imperial units, ARCH or ANSI sheet sizes as in the original |
| UK | BS 1192 / ISO 19650 layer naming, metric units, A-series sheets |
| Canada | Metric or imperial to match the source, NCS-style layering |
| Australia | AS 1100 conventions, metric units, A-series sheets |
How our PDF to CAD conversion process works
- 1Send your files
Upload sketches, PDFs, markups, photos, scans or a model through the quote form. Tell us the standard (US, UK, Canada or Australia) and the deadline.
- 2Fixed quote in hours
We review the scope and reply with a fixed price, the deliverables list and a delivery date. Nothing starts until you approve it.
- 3Drafting & modeling
Your project is drawn in AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, SolidWorks or the software you use, on your title block, layers and templates.
- 4QA check
A second drafter checks dimensions, annotations, layer standards, sheet numbering and cross-references against your input before anything is sent.
- 5Delivery & revisions
You receive native files plus PDFs. Comments come back as markups and we revise them quickly until the set matches the brief.
Turnaround and pricing
Simple sheets are usually delivered in 24 hours; batches of 20–50 sheets take 3–7 business days. Price is per sheet, fixed after we see the PDFs. Every job is priced as a fixed quote after we review your files, so you know the cost and the delivery date before work starts. See how our pricing works, or send your files through the quote form for a quick estimate.
Related services
PDF to CAD Conversion projects often need CAD digitization services, CAD conversion services and 2D drafting services as well. You can order them together on one quote, or browse every option in our CAD services.
