How to Fax a PDF -- No Printing, No Fax Machine
Already have a PDF? You are two minutes away from faxing it. Upload your PDF to OneFaxNow, enter the fax number, and pay. Your document is automatically optimized for fax quality -- converted to grayscale and compressed -- then delivered to any U.S. or Canada fax machine.
Why PDF is the best format for faxing
PDF is the most commonly faxed file type -- and for good reason. A PDF preserves your formatting, fonts, and page layout exactly as you created it. Whether it is a signed contract, a medical form, or a government application, the recipient sees exactly what you see.
OneFaxNow accepts PDF uploads directly. You do not need to print the PDF, feed it through a fax machine, or convert it to another format. Upload and send.
Digital-native PDF
Excellent qualityCreated in Word, Google Docs, or Adobe Acrobat. Contains vector text that faxes with crisp, sharp edges. File sizes are typically small (50KB-2MB).
Scanned PDF
Good at 300 DPICreated by scanning a paper document. Contains raster images of each page. File sizes can be large (5-20MB) depending on scan resolution and color depth.
What you'll need
PDF document
Any PDF up to 20MB per file
Fax number
U.S. or Canada number
Email address
For delivery confirmation
Payment
Card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay
Step-by-step: Fax a PDF online
Open OneFaxNow
Go to OneFaxNow.com in any browser -- phone, tablet, or computer. No account creation, no sign-up. You go straight to the fax form.
Tip: Sending medical records or other sensitive documents? Toggle HIPAA mode at the top of the form for encrypted transmission with an instant BAA.
Upload your PDF
Tap "Choose Files" and select your PDF from local storage, iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, or an email attachment. You can upload up to 15 PDF files (50 pages total) per fax.
OneFaxNow automatically optimizes your PDF for fax quality -- converting color pages to grayscale and compressing large files -- so the recipient gets a clear, readable document.
Tip: Large scanned PDF (over 10MB)? No problem. The optimization pipeline can reduce a 12MB color scan to 1-2MB with no visible quality loss.
Enter fax number and email
Type the recipient's U.S. or Canada fax number. The form auto-formats as you type -- just enter the digits.
Enter your email address to receive a delivery confirmation when the fax goes through. Optionally toggle "Add Cover Page" to include sender/recipient details and a message.
Tip: Double-check the fax number. A wrong digit sends your document to the wrong machine.
Pay and send
Review your fax details -- number, email, page count, and price -- then tap "Pay & Send".
Pay with credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. Your payment is authorized but not charged until the fax is delivered successfully.
Pay-on-success guarantee: If the fax fails after 3 automatic retries, the authorization is released and you're never charged.
Track delivery
After payment, you'll see a live status page that updates in real time: Sending → Delivered.
- Watch transmission progress live
- Automatic retries if the line is busy (up to 3 attempts)
- Email confirmation when delivery is complete
Automatic PDF optimization for fax quality
You do not need to prepare your PDF before uploading. OneFaxNow automatically optimizes every PDF for fax transmission.
Grayscale conversion
Color pages are converted to grayscale. Fax machines only print in black-and-white, so color data just wastes bandwidth.
300 DPI normalization
Pages are normalized to 300 DPI -- the optimal resolution for fax quality. Higher resolutions add no benefit since fax machines max out at 200x400 DPI.
Compression
FlateEncode compression reduces file size by 75-90% for large PDFs. A 12MB color scan becomes 1-2MB with no quality loss.
Smart skip
PDFs under 500KB are already efficient and skip the pipeline entirely. No unnecessary processing.
Your original PDF is preserved with SHA-256 hash verification. Only the optimized version is transmitted to the recipient's fax machine.
PDF quality tips for the best fax results
Use digital-native PDFs when possible
PDFs created in Word, Google Docs, or Adobe Acrobat contain vector text that faxes with crisp edges. Scanned PDFs are images and depend on scan quality.
Scan at 300 DPI in Black & White
If you must scan a paper document to PDF, use 300 DPI and Black & White (not grayscale or color). This produces the crispest text with the smallest file size.
Remove unnecessary pages
Delete blank pages or irrelevant sections before uploading. This reduces transmission time and keeps you within the 50-page limit.
Unlock password-protected PDFs first
Password-protected PDFs cannot be processed for fax. Remove the password in Adobe Reader, Preview, or Chrome before uploading.
Check readability at 100% zoom
If text looks fuzzy on your screen at 100% zoom, it will look worse after fax transmission. Re-scan or use a higher-quality source.
Why OneFaxNow for PDF faxing
Auto-optimization
Ghostscript pipeline converts color to grayscale, normalizes to 300 DPI, and compresses large files. No manual prep needed.
No subscription
Pay per fax, not per month. $3.50 for 1-10 pages on web, $3.99 via the app. No recurring charges, no credit packs.
Under 5 minutes
Upload your PDF, fill in the number, pay, done. Most faxes are delivered within 60 seconds of sending.
20MB file limit
Handles large scanned PDFs that other services reject. Up to 15 files and 50 pages per fax.
HIPAA on demand
Toggle HIPAA mode for medical PDFs. Encrypted transmission, auto-deletion, audit trail, and instant BAA.
No conversion needed
PDF is natively supported. No need to convert to TIFF, print to fax, or use a third-party converter.
Simple pricing
Lite
1-10 pages
$3.50
$3.99 via iOS app
HIPAA add-on: +$3
Standard
11-50 pages
$5.00
$5.99 via iOS app
HIPAA add-on: +$5
Pay only on successful delivery. Authorization released on failure.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fax a PDF without printing it?
Yes. Upload your PDF directly to OneFaxNow and it is faxed to the recipient's fax machine over the internet. No printing, no physical fax machine needed.
What happens to my PDF quality when faxed?
OneFaxNow automatically optimizes your PDF for fax quality -- converting color to grayscale and compressing at 300 DPI. Digital-native PDFs (from Word, Google Docs) fax with crisp text. Scanned PDFs look best when originally scanned at 300 DPI in black and white.
Is there a file size limit for PDF faxes?
OneFaxNow accepts PDFs up to 20MB per file. You can upload up to 15 files (50 pages total) per fax. Large scanned PDFs are automatically compressed before transmission.
Can I fax a password-protected PDF?
Password-protected PDFs must be unlocked before uploading. Remove the password in your PDF viewer (Adobe Reader, Preview, or Chrome) first, then upload the unprotected version.
How much does it cost to fax a PDF?
On the web: $3.50 for 1-10 pages, $5.00 for 11-50 pages. Via the iOS app: $3.99 and $5.99 respectively. HIPAA add-on available for medical documents. You only pay on successful delivery.
Can I fax a multi-page PDF?
Yes. Upload a single multi-page PDF or multiple separate PDF files. OneFaxNow supports up to 50 pages per fax and sends all pages in order as one transmission.
Ready to fax your PDF?
Upload your document and send in under 5 minutes. No account, no printing, no fax machine.