Google Sheets has a built-in PDF export, but getting your spreadsheet to look good on paper takes more effort than you would expect. Here is how to use Google's export properly — and a faster alternative when you need professional results.
Free — 3 PDFs per month. No credit card required.
Two methods: direct download and print dialog.
This is the most common method and gives you the most control over the output.
The print method opens the same settings dialog as the download method. The only difference is the button label — it says "Next" instead of "Export" and proceeds to the browser's print dialog where you select "Save as PDF" as the printer destination. The output is identical.
If your spreadsheet has header rows, freeze them before exporting (View > Freeze > 1 row). Google Sheets will repeat frozen header rows at the top of each page in the PDF, which makes multi-page spreadsheets much easier to read.
The export works, but spreadsheets and paper do not always get along.
Spreadsheets with many columns are either cut off at the right margin or scaled down to an unreadable size. The "Fit to width" option helps, but a 20-column spreadsheet on Letter paper results in tiny, hard-to-read text.
The PDF output always uses the spreadsheet's own styling. There is no way to apply a professional template, choose a font for the PDF, or add branded headers beyond the limited token system (page number, date, sheet name).
To export only a specific range, you need to select the cells before opening the export dialog. If you forget to select first, you have to close the dialog, select the range, and reopen. There is no visual range selector within the export dialog itself.
Headers and footers only support predefined tokens — page number, total pages, date, time, sheet name, and workbook title. You cannot add a company logo, custom text, or branded elements to the header or footer area.
Charts and images embedded in Google Sheets sometimes render at the wrong size or position in the PDF. Chart labels may overlap, and image placement can shift compared to what you see on screen.
Capture your spreadsheet exactly as it appears, with professional templates applied.
Navigate to the spreadsheet in Chrome. Adjust the view so the data you want is visible — scroll to the right range, show or hide columns as needed.
The extension captures the spreadsheet exactly as it appears on screen — including the current scroll position, visible columns, and any chart or image overlays.
The Corporate template works especially well for spreadsheet data, with clean table formatting and professional typography. Click Generate PDF for your document.
| Feature | Google Sheets Export | Pretty PDF |
|---|---|---|
| Spreadsheet export | Native — good | Captures visible content |
| Formatting control | Basic (margins, orientation) | 5 professional templates |
| Wide sheets | Scaled/cropped | Captured as rendered |
| Custom branding | Limited header tokens | Logo, colors, headers (Pro) |
| Price | Free | Free (3/mo) / $5/mo |
Free — 3 PDFs per month. No credit card required.
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