To convert HTML to PDF in PHP, a straightforward option is Dompdf: load the markup, render it, then stream the PDF to the browser or save its bytes to a file. This tutorial walks through both outcomes, the setup and security decisions that matter, and alternatives when a PHP renderer’s CSS support does not fit your document.
Generate a PDF from HTML with Dompdf
Dompdf is a PHP-based renderer whose documented approach is to load HTML, optionally choose page dimensions, render, and then stream or retrieve the PDF. Its CSS support is bounded, so test the actual document layout rather than expecting it to match every modern browser feature.
1. Install Dompdf
In a Composer-managed PHP project, install the package and load Composer’s autoloader:
composer require dompdf/dompdfThe project repository lists PHP 7.1 or newer and the DOM extension, along with php-font-lib and php-svg-lib. It also lists MBString and GD among requirements or processing support. Check the requirements for the exact release you install, since dependency requirements can change: Dompdf installation and requirements.
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2. Render HTML and deliver the PDF
Save this as a PHP endpoint such as invoice.php. Replace the sample markup with your own HTML. The example uses a letter-sized portrait page; the paper setting is optional.
<?php
require __DIR__ . '/vendor/autoload.php';
use DompdfDompdf;
use DompdfOptions;
$options = new Options();
// Remote resources are disabled by default. Keep them disabled unless needed.
$dompdf = new Dompdf($options);
$html = '<!doctype html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<style>
body { font-family: DejaVu Sans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; }
h1 { color: #245; }
.total { margin-top: 24px; font-weight: bold; }
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Invoice</h1>
<p>Generated from HTML with PHP.</p>
<p class="total">Total: $125.00</p>
</body>
</html>';
$dompdf->loadHtml($html, 'UTF-8');
$dompdf->setPaper('letter', 'portrait');
$dompdf->render();
$dompdf->stream('invoice.pdf', ['Attachment' => true]);
Set Attachment to false if you want the browser to try to display the PDF inline instead of prompting a download. The filename passed to stream() controls the suggested PDF name.
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Save the PDF instead of sending it to the browser
For a background task or a document you need to keep on disk, use output() and write the resulting bytes. Protect the destination path: do not let an untrusted request parameter select arbitrary filesystem locations.
$dompdf->render();
$pdfBytes = $dompdf->output();
$destination = __DIR__ . '/storage/invoice.pdf';
if (file_put_contents($destination, $pdfBytes) === false) {
throw new RuntimeException('Could not write the PDF file.');
}
Use either stream() or output() after rendering, depending on whether the result belongs in the HTTP response or in application storage. Dompdf documents both output paths in its conversion tutorial.
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Prepare HTML and page layout for PDF output
Use print-oriented markup and CSS
PDF renderers implement their own HTML and CSS behavior; they are not interchangeable with a full browser engine. Dompdf describes itself as mostly CSS 2.1-compliant, with selected CSS3 support and support for certain @import, @media, and @page behavior. For conventional invoices, reports, and other print-style documents, keep the layout explicit and verify pagination, fonts, tables, and images in the generated PDF.
Use setPaper() when the document needs a particular page size or orientation, for example $dompdf->setPaper('A4', 'landscape');. If the default page size works, omit the call. For layout that relies on advanced browser CSS, validate a representative document before committing to a renderer.
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Images, stylesheets, and remote resources
Dompdf supports external stylesheets and images subject to configuration and access restrictions. Remote fetching is disabled by default. If the PDF must load remote assets, the documentation says to enable isRemoteEnabled and ensure cURL or allow_url_fopen is available. Enable it only when necessary, and restrict which URLs the application accepts. Local and web resource references are also subject to Dompdf’s security controls; see the project documentation before changing them.
Untrusted HTML is a security boundary
Do not treat user-submitted markup, CSS, or resource URLs as safe just because a browser can display them. Vet and sanitize untrusted input, and constrain the files or URLs the PDF process can access. The mPDF manual explicitly warns that outside HTML and CSS need additional vetting and sanitization: mPDF first-file example and security warning.
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Choose a PHP PDF renderer for the document
Dompdf is one option, not a universal answer. Compare the renderer’s layout behavior, runtime dependencies, deployment requirements, and document features against the page you must produce. The sources document different capabilities; they do not establish a common benchmark or a winner for every workload.
| Renderer | What its documentation describes | Check before choosing |
|---|---|---|
| Dompdf | PHP-based renderer with mostly CSS 2.1 compliance and selected CSS3 behavior; supports external stylesheets and images subject to configuration and access restrictions. | Exact release’s PHP and extension requirements, CSS fit, and remote-resource configuration. Project repository |
| mPDF | Accepts HTML and custom tags as well as PHP commands. Its documentation describes headers and footers, page numbering, tables of contents, barcodes, and print-oriented color handling. | Version-specific PHP compatibility and extensions, plus careful sanitization of outside markup. Project repository · HTML or PHP guidance |
| tc-lib-pdf (TCPDF project) | Provides HTML/CSS rendering through addHTMLCell() and getHTMLCell(). Its engine renders a subset of HTML/CSS itself, and an HTML cell can flow across pages. |
Whether its supported subset and current APIs fit your layout. Consult the current HTML/CSS guide and project overview. |
| wkhtmltox interface | The PHP manual documents interfaces to a library that renders HTML into PDF and image formats using QtWebKit. | Whether your deployment can accommodate the external library and its runtime requirements. PHP manual |
Before choosing, check four things: whether the renderer handles the document’s required HTML and CSS; which PHP version and extensions its selected release needs; whether your server can install any non-PHP dependencies; and whether it provides the pagination, headers, fonts, images, or other output features your document needs. Confirm exact compatibility against the current release documentation rather than relying on a generic version claim.
Troubleshooting common conversion problems
- Class not found: Confirm the Composer install completed,
vendor/autoload.phpis required from the correct path, and theDompdfDompdfclass name is used. - Installation fails on PHP or extension requirements: Compare the PHP runtime and installed extensions with the requirements for the specific package release; update the environment or select a compatible release.
- Remote images or stylesheets are missing: Remote access is off by default. Only if required, enable
isRemoteEnabled, confirm cURL orallow_url_fopenis available, and verify that the URL is permitted by the renderer’s access restrictions. - The PDF layout differs from the browser: The renderer’s CSS support is not full browser parity. Simplify unsupported layout rules, use print-focused styles, or evaluate another renderer against the actual document.
- PDF is empty or corrupt in an HTTP response: Ensure no HTML, whitespace, warning, or debugging output is sent before the PDF headers and bytes. Check PHP logs for rendering errors and verify that the HTML passed to
loadHtml()is valid enough for the document. - Writing to disk fails: Check that the destination directory exists and is writable by the PHP process. Avoid exposing a user-controlled output path.
Or skip the browser setup
If your goal is a screenshot or a PDF capture of a web page rather than generating a PDF inside your PHP application, ScreenshotNeo offers a one-request API. It is a separate service, not a PHP PDF renderer: the request below captures a webpage as an image. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for PDF options and parameters.
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 and consent banners like a visitor and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; each cleanup step can be turned off. Bot checks and CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and responses identify the page verdict and billing status in headers. Its MCP server provides screenshot and PDF tools for AI agents. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. See ScreenshotNeo for details, or sign up free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I convert HTML to PDF in PHP without Composer?
Dompdf’s documented setup is Composer-based; for a project not using Composer, follow the installation guidance for the exact release rather than copying vendor files manually.
Does Dompdf render every CSS feature supported by Chrome?
No. Its documented support is mostly CSS 2.1 with selected CSS3 behavior, not full browser rendering parity.
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