wkhtmltopdf is an open-source (LGPLv3) HTML to PDF converter that allows developers to generate PDF or image files directly from HTML pages. It uses the powerful Qt WebKit rendering engine to produce high-quality, pixel-perfect results. Alongside it, wkhtmltoimage lets you export web pages as images for easy sharing or archiving.
Both tools run completely headless — meaning they require no graphical interface or browser window — making wkhtmltopdf perfect for server-side automation, scripting, and batch PDF generation. A C library version is also available for developers who prefer direct integration into their applications.
How to Use wkhtmltopdf
- Download a precompiled binary or build it from source.
- Create an HTML file containing the web content you want to export as a PDF or image.
- Run the conversion command: For example, if you like how Google designed their homepage today and want to save it as a PDF: wkhtmltopdf http://google.com google.pdf Within seconds, wkhtmltopdf converts the HTML file into a high-quality, print-ready PDF document — fully preserving styles, fonts, and layout.
Advanced wkhtmltopdf Options
Need more control over your output? wkhtmltopdf includes hundreds of command-line options to fine-tune your results — such as adding a table of contents (TOC), setting headers and footers, or customizing margins and page sizes.
Explore the full list in the auto-generated wkhtmltopdf manual to learn how to achieve professional-quality PDF generation from any HTML source.
Integrate wkhtmltopdf into Your Application
Prefer working directly with a C library instead of the command line? No problem — the wkhtmltopdf C library provides all the same functionality with flexible integration for developers.
Check out the library documentation for setup instructions, API details, and advanced configuration examples.
Real-World Use Cases for wkhtmltopdf
wkhtmltopdf isn’t just for saving websites as PDFs — it’s a versatile tool used across industries. Developers and designers use it to generate invoices, reports, forms, certificates, eBooks, and marketing materials directly from HTML templates.
Whether you’re automating PDF generation on a web server or exporting printable documents from your app, wkhtmltopdf offers a simple, reliable, and open-source solution for converting HTML to PDF and images.
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