You can fax a PDF directly from your computer using your printer, an online fax service, or your email

Faxing a PDF no longer requires printing it first or owning a fax machine. Your computer can send a PDF to a fax number through three main routes: a printer with fax capability, a dedicated online fax service, or an email-to-fax gateway. Which one works depends on what hardware you have and whether you want to pay for the service.

The fastest route if you already own a multifunction printer is to use its built-in fax feature. If you don't have a printer with fax capability, an online fax service like FaxZero, eFax, or HelloFax will send the PDF for you—some offer free sends with limits, others charge per page. Email-to-fax services work if your recipient's fax machine can receive email, which is less common but worth checking first.

Key Takeaways

  • A multifunction printer with fax capability can send a PDF directly to a fax number without printing; you open the PDF, select "Print," choose the printer, and look for a "Fax" or "Send to Fax" option in the print dialog.
  • Online fax services like FaxZero and eFax accept PDF uploads and send them to any fax number; free services usually limit you to a few pages per month, while paid plans charge per page or offer monthly bundles.
  • Email-to-fax gateways let you send a PDF as an email attachment to a special address that converts it to a fax, but only work if the receiving fax machine supports email delivery.
  • Before sending, confirm the fax number is correct and check whether the service requires a cover page or has file size limits.

Faxing through a multifunction printer

If your printer has fax capability—most modern multifunction or all-in-one printers do—you can send a PDF without using a separate service. Open the PDF file on your computer, then go to File and select Print. In the print dialog, look for your printer's name in the dropdown menu and select it.

Once you've selected the printer, look for a button or tab labeled Fax, Send to Fax, or Fax Settings. This option appears in the advanced or additional settings section of most print dialogs. Click it, enter the fax number you want to send to, and then click Print or Send. The printer will handle the rest and send the PDF over your phone line or internet connection, depending on how your printer is set up.

Your printer must be connected to a phone line or have internet fax capability for this to work. If you see no fax option in the print dialog, your printer either doesn't support faxing or the fax driver isn't installed. Check your printer's manual or the manufacturer's website to confirm whether faxing is available on your model.

Using a free online fax service

Services like FaxZero and Fax.plus let you send a PDF to a fax number at no cost, though they limit how many pages you can send per month. Go to the service's website, click the button to upload or select your PDF file, enter the recipient's fax number, and submit. The service converts your PDF and sends it as a fax.

FaxZero allows three free faxes per day in the United States, with a limit of three pages per fax. Fax.plus offers one free fax per day with a 10-page limit. Both services may add a cover page with their branding unless you pay for an ad-free version. If you need to send more than the free limit allows, you can either wait until the next day or upgrade to a paid plan.

Free services usually require you to create an account and may ask for your email address and phone number. They also typically display ads on the website. If you send faxes regularly or need to send more than a few pages, a paid service is usually faster and more convenient.

Using a paid online fax service

Paid services like eFax, HelloFax, and RingCentral Fax charge per page or offer monthly plans. Pricing varies—some charge $0.10 to $0.25 per page, while others offer monthly subscriptions starting around $10 to $20 that include a set number of faxes. These services typically have no page limits per fax and no ads.

To use a paid service, create an account, upload your PDF, enter the fax number, and send. Most paid services deliver the fax within minutes. Many also provide a fax number you can receive faxes on, store faxes in the cloud, and integrate with email or document storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox.

Choose a paid service if you fax regularly, need to send more than a few pages at a time, or want the fax to arrive quickly without ads or branding. Compare the per-page cost against monthly plans to see which is cheaper for your usage.

Sending a PDF by email-to-fax gateway

Some fax machines and services support receiving faxes via email. If the recipient's fax machine has an email address, you can attach your PDF to an email and send it to that address instead of using a fax service. The fax machine will receive it as an incoming fax.

This method only works if the receiving fax machine is set up to accept email-to-fax conversion, which is less common than traditional faxing. Before attempting this, contact the recipient and ask whether their fax machine has an email address. If it does, send your PDF as an email attachment to that address. If it doesn't, you'll need to use one of the other methods above.

What to check before you send

Before sending your PDF, verify the fax number is correct—a single wrong digit will send your document to the wrong place. Double-check the number against the original source or call the recipient to confirm.

Check the file size if you're using an online service; most accept PDFs up to 10 to 25 MB, but some have smaller limits. If your PDF is larger, compress it or split it into multiple files. Also confirm whether the service will add a cover page automatically—if it will and you don't want one, look for an option to remove it before sending.

If you're faxing through a printer, make sure the printer is turned on and connected to a phone line or the internet. Test the connection by sending a short fax first if this is your first time using the printer's fax feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fax a PDF if I don't have a printer?

Yes. Use an online fax service like FaxZero, eFax, or HelloFax. These services accept PDF uploads and send them to any fax number. Free services have limits on pages and faxes per month, while paid services charge per page or offer monthly plans.

How long does it take to fax a PDF?

Faxing through a printer usually takes a few minutes. Online services typically deliver within minutes as well, though some may take up to an hour during peak times. Paid services are usually faster than free services.

What if the fax number is wrong?

If you realize the mistake before sending, cancel the fax. If you've already sent it, contact the service or your printer's support line to see if they can intercept it. Most services cannot recall a fax once it's been sent, so the best approach is to verify the number before hitting send.

Do I need to convert my PDF to a different format?

No. All fax services and printers with fax capability accept PDF files directly. You don't need to convert it to an image or other format.

Is it safe to use an online fax service?

Reputable online fax services use encryption to protect your documents. If you're sending sensitive information, choose a paid service with a privacy policy you've reviewed, or use your own printer's fax feature to keep the document on your local network.