Why convert an e-book to PDF
EPUB is great for reading apps, but it is awkward when you want to print a chapter, read on a laptop without an e-book app, share a book with someone who only has a PDF reader, or refer to fixed page numbers in a class or study group.
What happens when you convert
The EPUB is unpacked in your browser, its chapters are read in the order defined by the book, and the text is laid out on A4 pages one chapter after another. Each page is saved into the PDF as a picture, so the text is not selectable. Up to 300 pages are produced per conversion.
Which e-books work
DRM-free EPUB files work: books from free libraries such as Project Gutenberg and Standard Ebooks, self-published books, and books you created yourself. Books protected with DRM by many online stores are encrypted, and their content cannot be read by any converter without the store's app.
Common problems and how to fix them
The PDF stops before the end: the book is longer than 300 pages — convert it in parts with an EPUB editor, or print only the chapters you need. Text is small when printed: print at 100% scale. The conversion fails: the EPUB may be DRM-protected or damaged.
Good habits
Respect copyright and convert only books you own or that are free to use, keep the EPUB for comfortable reading on phones, and print a test page first.