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To convert HTML to PDF with wkhtmltopdf in Node.js, install the wkhtmltopdf executable for your deployment operating system, then install the wkhtmltopdf npm wrapper. The npm package does not include the executable: it must be available on PATH, or you must configure the wrapper with its location. The wrapper accepts a URL, HTML string, or readable stream and returns a stream that you can save to a file or send in an HTTP response.
What you need before writing Node.js code
- Install the executable. Choose a wkhtmltopdf build for the operating system and architecture where the Node.js process will run. The official downloads page lists platform-specific builds and identifies 0.12.6, released June 11, 2020, as the stable series: wkhtmltopdf downloads.
- Install the wrapper. In your project directory, run
npm install wkhtmltopdf. The package README documents the wrapper and its executable requirement: node-wkhtmltopdf README. - Check executable discovery. If the executable is not on
PATH, configure the wrapper to point to its installed location using the package’s command option. Use a path appropriate to your operating system and deployment; do not assume a development machine’s installation path exists in production.
The project describes its tools as running headlessly without requiring a display or display service. That does not remove the need to install a compatible binary on the machine or container that runs your Node process. Confirm the current downloads page for your target platform and architecture rather than copying an installation command for another system.
Convert a URL to PDF
This example uses the documented wrapper pattern: provide a URL, receive a readable output stream, and pipe it to a file. Run it after installing both the binary and npm package.
const fs = require('node:fs');
const wkhtmltopdf = require('wkhtmltopdf');
wkhtmltopdf('https://example.com', { pageSize: 'A4' })
.pipe(fs.createWriteStream('page.pdf'))
.on('finish', () => console.log('PDF written to page.pdf'))
.on('error', (err) => console.error('PDF stream failed:', err));Replace the example URL with the page you are authorized to render. The wrapper invokes the external command-line program; it is not a browser implementation bundled into Node. The precise rendering behavior depends on the installed binary and the options it supports.
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Convert an HTML string or readable stream
Inline HTML
For a small, trusted document assembled by your application, pass an HTML string instead of a URL:
const fs = require('node:fs');
const wkhtmltopdf = require('wkhtmltopdf');
const html = `<!doctype html>
<html>
<head><meta charset="utf-8"><title>Invoice</title></head>
<body><h1>Invoice</h1><p>Invoice number: 1042</p></body>
</html>`;
wkhtmltopdf(html, { pageSize: 'A4' })
.pipe(fs.createWriteStream('invoice.pdf'));Use an explicit character encoding in the document and ensure referenced images, stylesheets, and fonts are reachable to the renderer. If the HTML references local files, review the binary’s local-file access settings before enabling them.
Readable stream
The wrapper also accepts a readable stream. This is useful when another part of your application produces HTML incrementally or reads it from a controlled source:
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const fs = require('node:fs');
const { Readable } = require('node:stream');
const wkhtmltopdf = require('wkhtmltopdf');
const htmlStream = Readable.from([
'<!doctype html><html><body>',
'<h1>Streamed report</h1>',
'</body></html>'
]);
wkhtmltopdf(htmlStream, { pageSize: 'A4' })
.pipe(fs.createWriteStream('report.pdf'));For direct file output, the wrapper also documents an output option that writes to a filename. Use either that documented mode or stream piping, and handle failures instead of treating the existence of a destination filename as proof that rendering succeeded.
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Pass page and rendering options
The wrapper maps wkhtmltopdf command-line options to camel-cased JavaScript names. Options that take no command-line value are represented as booleans; options taking values receive the corresponding value. The package README demonstrates options including pageSize, allow, and repeatable customHeader. Check the exact option name and behavior against the manual for the binary version you actually deploy: wkhtmltopdf command-line manual.
- Page geometry: choose a supported page size or configure dimensions and margins as appropriate for the document.
- Headers and footers: use the relevant binary options for repeated page elements; verify the syntax and expected values in the installed version’s manual.
- JavaScript: JavaScript is enabled by default in the documented options, with a default delay of 200 ms. That delay is a configurable wait, not proof that every asynchronous application has finished rendering.
- Media and load behavior: consult the manual for media loading and load-error options. A page that loads incompletely or depends on delayed API responses may need a different rendering approach or careful wait configuration.
- Local files: local-file access is disabled by default unless explicitly allowed. The manual documents
--allowand an enable-local-file-access option. Grant access only to the files the conversion job needs.
Because wrapper option mapping and binary capabilities are separate concerns, validate both against the package README and the manual for the deployed binary before relying on less common flags.
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Write the PDF safely in a Node application
When rendering on behalf of an HTTP request or background job, treat conversion as an external process with its own failure modes. Save to a temporary or job-specific destination, wait for the stream to complete, and only then expose the finished PDF. Avoid sharing a fixed output path across concurrent requests.
For lower-level process control, Node’s child_process.execFile() takes an executable and an argument array and does not spawn a shell by default. Its callback reports process errors and output. This can be useful when you need explicit command arguments or process-level error handling, but it does not change wkhtmltopdf’s security characteristics. See the Node.js execFile documentation.
Security warning for user-submitted HTML
Do not run wkhtmltopdf on untrusted HTML and JavaScript. The wkhtmltopdf project warns that doing so can lead to complete server takeover. Its status page recommends sanitizing user-submitted HTML and JavaScript and considering Mandatory Access Control tools such as AppArmor or SELinux: wkhtmltopdf status.
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Sanitization is not a substitute for isolating the renderer. If your product accepts documents from users, limit what the conversion process can read and access, run it with the least privileges practical, and apply operating-system containment appropriate to your environment. In particular, do not grant broad local-file access just to make one document’s assets load.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When wkhtmltopdf may not fit
The project suggests considering other tools for specific workloads: WeasyPrint or the commercial tool Prince for report generation with controlled HTML, and Puppeteer or its wrappers for converting sites that use dynamic JavaScript. These are project recommendations for those use cases, not a universal ranking. Select based on whether input is controlled, how much the page relies on dynamic JavaScript, how closely output must match a target browser, which deployment platforms are supported, and what isolation your service requires.
If your goal is a screenshot image or PDF from a public URL rather than running the wkhtmltopdf binary in your Node service, ScreenshotNeo is a separate website screenshot API and MCP server. It does not replace this local conversion workflow for arbitrary HTML strings.
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Troubleshooting common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Executable not found or spawn error | The npm wrapper is installed but the wkhtmltopdf binary is absent or not discoverable. | Install the binary for the runtime OS and architecture, confirm it is available on PATH, or configure the wrapper’s command path. |
| Works locally but fails in deployment | The server or container has a different operating system, architecture, or binary installation. | Install and verify the executable in the actual deployment image; use the official downloads page to check build availability for that target. |
| PDF has missing images, fonts, or styles | Resources may be inaccessible from the rendering process, or the page may not have completed loading. | Check resource URLs, network access, media-loading behavior, and the manual’s wait/load options. For local assets, review the local-file access policy and allow only necessary paths. |
| Content is blank or incomplete | The page may rely on asynchronous JavaScript or take longer to render than the configured wait. | Check whether JavaScript is enabled, adjust the documented delay or other supported load behavior, and consider a browser-oriented renderer for highly dynamic sites. |
| Option appears ignored | The JavaScript option name may not map as expected, or the installed binary may not support the behavior assumed. | Confirm camel-case mapping in the wrapper README and exact flag semantics in the manual for the installed version. |
| Conversion hangs or returns an error | A page load, inaccessible dependency, or process failure may prevent normal completion. | Capture and inspect stream/process errors, verify the URL and dependencies are reachable from the server, and configure the documented load behavior for the binary version. |
| Unsafe document can access server resources | Untrusted HTML or JavaScript is being rendered without sufficient sanitization and isolation. | Stop processing untrusted content in that configuration; sanitize input and isolate the renderer with platform controls such as AppArmor or SELinux, as the project warns. |
Or skip the browser setup
If your task is to capture a URL as a PDF or screenshot without installing and managing a local renderer, ScreenshotNeo offers a single-request API. This example follows its documented API pattern; the API key is available through its account flow. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for parameters and response details.
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpScreenshotNeo accepts cookie or consent banners before capture and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets; each step can be turned off. Bot checks or CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and response headers report the page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for AI agents. The free plan includes 1,000 shots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots.
Sign up for ScreenshotNeo’s free 1,000 screenshots per month, with no card required.
Version and deployment considerations
The official downloads page lists wkhtmltopdf 0.12.6, released June 11, 2020, as the stable series. Binary availability varies by operating system and architecture, so confirm a compatible build for the environment where Node runs. The project’s status page describes future work as dependent on maintainer time and volunteer contributions, without a promised release deadline. Avoid assuming a particular release cadence or that a build is available for every platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does npm install wkhtmltopdf install the PDF converter itself?
No. It installs the Node.js wrapper; the wkhtmltopdf executable must be installed separately and discoverable by the wrapper.
Can I use wkhtmltopdf without a graphical desktop?
The project says the tools run headlessly and do not require a display or display service.
What is the current stable wkhtmltopdf version listed by the project?
The official downloads page lists version 0.12.6, released June 11, 2020.
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