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Print PDF Programmatically in C# (.NET Guide)

#dotnet #csharp

Our kiosk application needed to print receipts without user interaction. No print dialog. No manual printer selection. Just generate PDF and print silently.

Programmatic printing solved this. Here's how to send PDFs to printers from C#.

How Do I Print a PDF to the Default Printer?

Use the Print() method:

using IronPdf;
// Install via NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf

var pdf = PdfDocument.FromFile("receipt.pdf");

pdf.Print();
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Sends the PDF to your default printer immediately.

Why Print PDFs Programmatically?

Automation: Kiosks, point-of-sale systems, batch printing
Silent printing: No user dialogs or confirmations
Consistency: Same output every time
Integration: Print from web apps, APIs, services

I use this for automated label printing in warehousing systems.

Can I Specify a Printer?

Yes, use PrinterSettings:

using System.Drawing.Printing;

var pdf = PdfDocument.FromFile("invoice.pdf");

pdf.Print(new PrinterSettings
{
    PrinterName = "HP LaserJet"
});
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Prints to the specified printer.

How Do I Print Specific Pages?

Set page range in PrinterSettings:

var settings = new PrinterSettings
{
    PrintRange = PrintRange.SomePages,
    FromPage = 1,
    ToPage = 5
};

pdf.Print(settings);
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Only pages 1-5 print.

Can I Print Multiple Copies?

Yes, set Copies:

var settings = new PrinterSettings
{
    Copies = 3,
    Collate = true
};

pdf.Print(settings);
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Prints 3 collated copies.

How Do I Print Double-Sided?

Enable duplex printing:

var settings = new PrinterSettings
{
    Duplex = Duplex.Vertical // Or Duplex.Horizontal
};

pdf.Print(settings);
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Requires a duplex-capable printer.

What About Print Quality?

Set resolution using GetPrintDocument():

using var printDoc = pdf.GetPrintDocument(new PrinterSettings());

printDoc.PrinterSettings.DefaultPageSettings.PrinterResolution = new PrinterResolution
{
    Kind = PrinterResolutionKind.High
};

printDoc.Print();
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Higher DPI produces better quality.

Can I Print Silently?

Yes, programmatic printing doesn't show dialogs by default:

pdf.Print(); // Silent, no UI
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Perfect for automated workflows.

How Do I Handle Print Errors?

Wrap in try-catch:

try
{
    pdf.Print();
}
catch (System.Drawing.Printing.InvalidPrinterException ex)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Printer not found: {ex.Message}");
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Print failed: {ex.Message}");
}
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Common errors: printer offline, out of paper, access denied.

Can I Print from ASP.NET?

Printing from web apps requires network printers or printer services. The server needs access to printers:

// In ASP.NET controller
var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Report</h1>");

pdf.Print(new PrinterSettings
{
    PrinterName = @"\\PRINTSERVER\Printer1"
});
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Use UNC paths for network printers.

How Do I List Available Printers? 

using System.Drawing.Printing;

foreach (string printer in PrinterSettings.InstalledPrinters)
{
    Console.WriteLine(printer);
}
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Shows all printers installed on the system.

Can I Print to PDF (Save as PDF)?

Use Print To PDF virtual printer:

pdf.Print(new PrinterSettings
{
    PrinterName = "Microsoft Print to PDF",
    PrintToFile = true,
    PrintFileName = "output.pdf"
});
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Or just use SaveAs() directly:

pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf");
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What If the Printer Is Unavailable?

Check printer status first:

var settings = new PrinterSettings { PrinterName = "HP LaserJet" };

if (settings.IsValid)
{
    pdf.Print(settings);
}
else
{
    Console.WriteLine("Printer not available");
}
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How Do I Print Labels?

Specify custom paper size:

var settings = new PrinterSettings();
settings.DefaultPageSettings.PaperSize = new PaperSize("Label", 400, 600);

pdf.Print(settings);
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Paper size in hundredths of an inch (400 = 4 inches).

Can I Batch Print Multiple PDFs?

Yes, loop through files:

var files = Directory.GetFiles("invoices", "*.pdf");

foreach (var file in files)
{
    var pdf = PdfDocument.FromFile(file);
    pdf.Print();
}
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Prints all PDFs in sequence.

What's the Performance?

Print job submission: ~100-200ms per PDF
Actual printing: Depends on printer speed

For high-volume printing, submit jobs asynchronously:

var tasks = pdfs.Select(async pdf =>
{
    await Task.Run(() => pdf.Print());
});

await Task.WhenAll(tasks);
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How Do I Print Without Margins?

Set margins to zero:

var printDoc = pdf.GetPrintDocument(new PrinterSettings());

printDoc.DefaultPageSettings.Margins = new Margins(0, 0, 0, 0);

printDoc.Print();
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Useful for full-bleed labels or photos.

Can I Monitor Print Status?

Subscribe to print events:

var printDoc = pdf.GetPrintDocument(new PrinterSettings());

printDoc.BeginPrint += (sender, e) => Console.WriteLine("Starting print...");
printDoc.EndPrint += (sender, e) => Console.WriteLine("Print complete");

printDoc.Print();
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Track job progress programmatically.

Written by Jacob Mellor, CTO at Iron Software. Jacob created IronPDF and leads a team of 50+ engineers building .NET document processing libraries.

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