CHAD SHEPPARD

    How to Reduce Claude Token Usage

    How to reduce Claude token usage by 90%.

    The fastest way to cut Claude token usage: convert your PDFs, Word docs, and spreadsheets to Markdown before you upload them. Same content. A fraction of the tokens. Zero monthly cost.

    Watch the Short

    The 60-second version.

    Saw the YouTube short and want the full setup? You're in the right place. The step-by-step prompts and code are below — built so a non-developer can ship it in 15 minutes.

    89.6% fewer tokens 15-minute setup

    Why this matters

    You're paying for formatting Claude doesn't need.

    When you upload a PDF or Word doc, Claude reads all the hidden data inside — fonts, layout, embedded metadata. None of it helps. All of it costs tokens. Convert to Markdown first and you keep the content while stripping the overhead.

    Original PDF

    ~9,275

    File size: 37 KB

    Converted Markdown

    ~985

    File size: 4 KB

    89.6% fewer tokens — same content.

    Easiest Path — 3 Steps

    Don't want to read? Let Claude do it.

    Download one file, hand it to Claude, and the whole setup runs itself. Covers Windows, Mac, and Linux — including the Python 3.14 quirk.

    1. 1Download markitdown-setup.md
    2. 2Open a new Claude conversation, attach the file, type: "follow these instructions"
    3. 3Claude runs the setup automatically and tells you how to use it daily

    One-Time Setup

    Four prompts. Claude does the rest.

    Open Claude Code and paste each one in order. You don't need to write any code — Claude handles all the technical work.

    Step 01

    Set up a Python environment

    Open Claude Code and paste these. Say "yes" if it asks to confirm.

    python -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate

    Step 02

    Install MarkItDown

    This downloads Microsoft's open-source converter. May take a minute.

    git clone https://github.com/microsoft/markitdown.git
cd markitdown
pip install -e packages/markitdown

    Step 03

    Create the conversion script

    Paste this prompt and Claude will write the Python script for you.

    I want to create a script I can run that will look in a folder called convert and review the files in there and provide the md.convert

    Step 04

    Create the batch file

    One more prompt and you get a double-clickable file that runs the whole thing.

    can you have a bat file that runs this?

    Daily Use

    Once it's built, it takes 10 seconds.

    1. 1Drop your files (PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Excel) into the convert folder
    2. 2Double-click convert.bat
    3. 3Find your .md files in the convert\output folder
    4. 4Attach the .md to Claude instead of the original document

    That's it. Same content. 90% fewer tokens.

    Supported Formats

    Works with everything you're already using.

    • PDF (.pdf)
    • Word (.docx)
    • PowerPoint (.pptx)
    • Excel (.xlsx, .xls)
    • HTML pages
    • Outlook email (.msg)
    • Plain text & CSV

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