Objective: Tumor budding is defined as single tumor cells or small cell clusters at the invasive front of gastrointestinal (including colorectal, gastric and ampullary) carcinomas and is linked to adverse prognosis. To date it has not been reported in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). We assessed the presence and prognostic importance of tumor budding in PDAC. Method: Whole-tissue sections of 120 PDACs with full clinico-pathological and follow-up information were stained with pancytokeratin. Tumor budding was assessed in 10 high-power fields (HPFs) by two pathologists and considered high-grade (HG) when an average of >10 buds was counted. Measurements were correlated to the patient and tumor characteristics. Results: Inter-observer agreement was strong (ICC=0,72). HG-budding was found in 70.3 % of cases and was linked to advanced pT-stage (p=0.0463), lymphatic invasion (p=0.0192) and decreased disease-free and overall survival (p<0,0001 and p=0,0005). There was no association with pN, pM, R-stage or vascular invasion. In multivariate analysis the prognostic effect of HG-budding was independent of lymphatic invasion, pN and R-stage [p<0,0001, HR (95 % CI)=3,65(2,1-6,4)]. Conclusion: Tumor budding occurs frequently in pancreatic cancer, is an indicator of worse outcome and adds independent prognostic information. Routine use of tumor budding would help to better stratify patients into prognostic subgroups.