Overview of PDF and AZW3 Formats

Before converting PDF to AZW3, it is helpful to understand these two formats.

What Is a PDF File

PDF (Portable Document Format) is a file format developed by Adobe to preserve the appearance of documents across different devices and operating systems. It maintains the original page dimensions, fonts, images, tables, and text positioning, making it suitable for sharing, printing, and archiving documents.

However, PDF uses a fixed-layout structure. Its content generally stays in the same position regardless of screen size. In other words, it is not convenient for you to open a PDF on a Kindle, smartphone, or other small-screen device. You may need to zoom in and scroll around to read the PDF text comfortably.

What Is an AZW3 File

AZW3, also known as Kindle Format 8 (KF8), is an ebook format developed by Amazon for Kindle devices. It supports reflowable text, adjustable font sizes, and advanced formatting options. Unlike PDF, an AZW3 ebook can adapt its text layout to the reader's screen.

You can change the font size, font style, and line spacing to suit your preferences. This makes AZW3 particularly useful for reading novels, articles, and other text-heavy documents.

If your goal is to read ordinary text-based documents more comfortably on a Kindle, converting PDF to AZW3 is worth trying.

How to Convert PDF to AZW3 with Calibre

Calibre is an open-source ebook management program that supports multiple ebook formats and provides various conversion settings. It enables you to convert between nearly all common ebook and document formats, such as EPUB, AZW3, MOBI, PDF, DOCX, and others.

It can work as a free PDF to AZW3 converter to convert a PDF file for Kindle effectively. In addition, it enables you to edit ebook metadata, adjust page settings, and customize the output format. Below are the steps to turn a PDF into an AZW3 for free using Calibre.

Step 1. Download and install Calibre.

Visit the official Calibre download page, choose the installation package for Windows, macOS, or Linux, and then download and install it by following the on-screen instructions. After installation, launch Calibre.

Step 2. Import your PDF file into Calibre.

In the upper-left corner, click Add books to select the PDF document you want to convert and click Open to import it into the Calibre library.

Step 3. Select AZW3 as the output format.

Select the imported PDF in your Calibre library and click Convert books on the toolbar. In the conversion window, locate the Output format dropdown and select AZW3 as the output format.

Step 4. Adjust the conversion settings.

Optionally, you can customize the conversion settings as needed. For instance, you can configure the file metadata, page setup, structure detection, and PDF input.

Step 5. Convert PDF to AZW3 and save the AZW3 file.

After configuring the settings, click OK. Then Calibre will add the conversion task to its job queue. Wait for the conversion to finish. Once the conversion is complete, select the converted book in your library, right-click it, select Save to disk, and choose Save only AZW3 format to disk. Finally, select a destination folder to save the AZW3 file.

Now, you have an AZW3 ebook that you can open in a compatible reader or transfer to a supported Kindle device.

How to Convert PDF to AZW3 Online

If you don't want to install desktop software, you can use an online PDF-to-AZW3 converter. These tools let you upload a PDF, select AZW3 as the output format, and download the converted ebook through your browser. Here, I have tested and chosen 2 online PDF-to-AZW3 converters worth trying.

Option 1. Convert PDF to AZW3 with CloudConvert

CloudConvert is a versatile online file converter that supports various document, ebook, image, audio, and video formats. It provides a dedicated PDF-to-AZW3 conversion tool that lets you convert PDF documents into Kindle-compatible ebooks without installing software. In addition to converting to AZW3, CloudConvert enables you to convert PDF to EPUB, MOBI, and other ebook formats.

Here are the steps below to convert PDF to AZW3 online using CloudConvert.

Step 1. Open the CloudConvert PDF to AZW3 converter.

Open your browser and visit the CloudConvert PDF to AZW3 converter.

Step 2. Upload your PDF file.

Click Select File to choose the PDF document from your computer. Alternatively, upload a file from Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. Then wait for the file to finish uploading.

Step 3. Check the output format.

Make sure the conversion settings show PDF as the input format and AZW3 as the output format.

Step 4. Start the conversion and download the converted AZW3 file.

Click Convert to begin processing your PDF. Then wait for CloudConvert to finish generating the AZW3 ebook. Once the conversion is complete, click Download to save the AZW3 file to your computer.

Option 2. Convert a PDF File to AZW3 with Convertio

Convertio is another convenient option for converting PDF to Kindle AZW3 online. It supports more than 200 file formats and provides a dedicated PDF-to-AZW3 conversion page. As a reliable ebook converter, Convertio lets you convert to EPUB, LRF, SNB, MOBI, and other formats. Below is how to use Convertio to convert a PDF file to AZW3.

Step 1. Visit the Convertio PDF to AZW3 converter.

Open the Convertio PDF to AZW3 converter in your browser.

Step 2. Upload your PDF document.

Click Choose Files to select a PDF document from your computer. Alternatively, choose a file from Google Drive or Dropbox if you prefer cloud storage.

Step 3. Select AZW3 as the output format.

Automatically, the AZW3 format is chosen as the output format. If it is not already selected, open the output format dropdown and select AZW3.

Step 4. Convert the PDF to AZW3 and download the AZW3 file.

Click Convert to start the conversion. Convertio will process the PDF and generate the AZW3 ebook. When the conversion status changes to completed, click Download to save the converted ebook to your computer.

How to Transfer AZW3 Files to Kindle

After converting PDF to AZW3, you may want to transfer the resulting ebook to your Kindle. Can you transfer AZW3 files to Kindle via Amazon’s current Send to Kindle service? Though AZW3 is a Kindle ebook format, Amazon’s current Send to Kindle service does not list AZW3 among its supported upload formats. Its supported formats include PDF and EPUB, among others. Hence, if you want to use Amazon’s wireless transfer service, you need to send the original PDF or convert the PDF to EPUB instead.

If you especially need the AZW3 file, you can use USB transfer if your Kindle model and software support it.

Transfer AZW3 to Kindle Using a USB Cable

Step 1. Use a compatible USB cable to connect your Kindle to your Windows PC or Mac.

Step 2. On Windows, open File Explorer and look for your Kindle under This PC. On Mac, check whether your Kindle appears as an accessible drive.

Step 3. Open the Kindle’s file storage and locate the Documents folder. If your Kindle supports AZW3 sideloading, copy the converted .azw3 file into the appropriate documents folder.

Step 4. Then disconnect your Kindle. Open your Kindle and check whether the transferred ebook appears in your library.

Can You Send AZW3 to Kindle Using Send to Kindle?

According to Amazon, only EPUB and PDF are supported formats for Send to Kindle currently. AZW3 is not included in its current supported-format list. If you prefer wireless transfer, consider converting the PDF to EPUB. SwifDoo PDF is a reliable ebook converter that can convert PDF to EPUB.

Step 1. Download, install, and launch SwifDoo PDF. Go to Convert, select PDF to More, and choose PDF to EPUB.

Step 2. Import the PDF file and click Start to start the PDF to EPUB conversion.

Step 3. Then visit Amazon Send to Kindle, sign in, and upload your EPUB file.

Step 4. If you want the document available across linked Kindle devices, enable Add to your library. Finally, complete the upload and check your Kindle library.

PDF to AZW3: Which Conversion Method Should You Choose

Which PDF-to-AZW3 converter should you choose? Below is a comparison table of the three methods introduced above.

Conclusion

To read a fixed-layout PDF file on your Kindle device, it’s better to convert it to AZW3 with reflowable text and adjustable sizes. If you want a free and reliable PDF-to-AZW3 converter, Calibre is a good starting point. It supports multiple ebook formats, provides extensive conversion settings, and processes files locally. Alternatively, CloudConvert and Convertio offer convenient online conversion workflows. Hopefully, this article is helpful to you.