Free online PFB to WOFF2 converter

Source format: PFB

PFB stands for Printer Font Binary. It is a classic Adobe Type 1 font file format used mainly on older Windows and PostScript-based publishing systems. A PFB file usually stores the outline data for a font, often paired with a .pfm metrics file on Windows. It was common in desktop publishing, print production, and legacy design workflows.

PFB fonts are now considered legacy. They may still appear in archived documents, older font libraries, or prepress environments, but modern operating systems and browsers generally prefer newer web font formats.

Target format: WOFF2

WOFF2 is the Web Open Font Format 2, a compressed font format designed specifically for the web. It is widely supported by modern browsers and is the preferred format for efficient font delivery on websites.

The main advantages of WOFF2 are smaller file size, faster page loading, and broad browser compatibility. It is commonly used for website typography, web apps, and any project where fonts need to be embedded and downloaded efficiently.

How to perform the conversion

Converting PFB to WOFF2 is not always a direct one-step process, because PFB is a legacy outline font format and WOFF2 is a web packaging format. The best workflow is usually to use a font editor or font conversion tool that can open Type 1 fonts and export web fonts.

1. Check whether you have the full font set. If your font came as .pfb plus .pfm, keep both files together. Some tools need the metrics file to recognize the font correctly.
2. Use a font editor or converter that supports Type 1 fonts. Good desktop options include FontForge and professional font editors such as FontLab. FontForge is often the most practical free choice for this task.
3. Open the PFB font. In FontForge, use File → Open and select the .pfb file. If prompted, allow the program to load the associated metrics information.
4. Verify the font. Check the glyphs, naming, and encoding. If the font has missing outlines or import errors, the source PFB may be damaged or incomplete.
5. Generate WOFF2. In FontForge, use File → Generate Fonts, choose WOFF2 as the output format, and save the file with a .woff2 extension.
6. Test the result. Install or preview the WOFF2 file in a browser or font testing tool to confirm that it renders correctly.

If you prefer command-line workflows, some font toolchains can convert legacy fonts after importing them into an editable font format first. However, for PFB to WOFF2, a GUI font editor is usually the most reliable approach because it can handle Type 1 font quirks and export directly to web formats.

You can also convert the file on 101convert.com for free, without installing any software.

Notes on quality, compatibility, or limitations

Not every PFB file converts cleanly. Type 1 fonts are old, and some contain encoding issues, incomplete glyph sets, or unusual outlines that may cause warnings during import.

WOFF2 is for web use, not general desktop installation. While some systems can preview it, WOFF2 is primarily intended for browsers and web delivery. If you need a desktop-installable font, you may also want TTF or OTF output.

Licensing matters. Many fonts are protected by license terms that restrict conversion, redistribution, or web embedding. Make sure you have the right to convert and use the font in WOFF2 form.

Quality depends on the source font. Converting a PFB to WOFF2 does not improve the font itself; it only repackages the outlines. If the original font has poor hinting or low-quality outlines, those limitations remain.