Short answer: wkhtmltopdf can print document-wide page numbers and show the current chapter and section in headers or footers with substitution tokens such as [page], [topage], [section] and [subsection]. It does not automatically restart the counter at every heading. For chapter-local numbering, render each chapter separately, then merge the PDFs.
What wkhtmltopdf can number
wkhtmltopdf converts one or more HTML documents into PDF files. Its header and footer text supports these substitutions:
| Token | Value | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
[page] |
Current page in the rendered object | Page number |
[frompage] |
First page number | Range labels |
[topage] |
Last page number | “Page 4 of 18” |
[section] |
Current section heading | Chapter name in a header |
[subsection] |
Current subsection heading | Section name in a header |
[sitepage] and [sitepages] |
Site-level page counters | Multi-document jobs |
These tokens expose context and counters; they do not define a new numbering scope. In particular, the documented interface does not provide an automatic “restart at every <h1>” switch.
Add global page numbers with a text footer
For one continuous PDF, reserve enough bottom margin for the footer and use the current-page and total-page tokens:
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wkhtmltopdf
--margin-bottom 18mm
--footer-center "Page [page] of [topage]"
input.html output.pdfThe equivalent header form is:
wkhtmltopdf
--margin-top 16mm
--header-right "Page [page] of [topage]"
input.html output.pdfUse --header-spacing and --footer-spacing to control the gap between body content and the header or footer. If text overlaps the document, increase the corresponding margin first.
Show chapter and section names
Use semantic headings in the source HTML: an <h1> for each chapter and <h2> for sections. Then place the substitutions in a header or footer:
wkhtmltopdf
--margin-top 16mm
--margin-bottom 18mm
--header-left "[section]"
--header-right "[subsection]"
--footer-center "Page [page] of [topage]"
book.html book.pdfThe exact heading text that wkhtmltopdf recognizes depends on the document structure and renderer version. Keep headings as real, visible HTML headings rather than text styled to look like headings.
Build a styled HTML header or footer
Plain strings are sufficient for simple numbering. For a logo, rule, multiple aligned fields or custom typography, use --header-html or --footer-html. wkhtmltopdf passes values to that HTML file as GET-style query parameters.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match<!doctype html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<style>
body { margin: 0; font: 9pt Arial, sans-serif; }
.row { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; border-bottom: 1px solid #999; }
</style>
<script>
function subst() {
const params = new URLSearchParams(location.search);
for (const name of ["page", "topage", "section", "subsection"]) {
document.querySelectorAll("." + name).forEach(el => {
el.textContent = params.get(name) || "";
});
}
}
</script>
</head>
<body onload="subst()">
<div class="row">
<span class="section"></span>
<span>Page <span class="page"></span> of <span class="topage"></span></span>
</div>
</body>
</html>Save this as header.html, then invoke it:
wkhtmltopdf
--margin-top 20mm
--header-html header.html
--header-spacing 3
book.html book.pdfThe documented classes include page, topage, section, subsection, title, doctitle, sitepage and sitepages. Populate only the fields you need. Test the header file with a representative multi-page document because a header that is too tall can be pushed outside the printable area.
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Restart numbering for every chapter
A single continuous wkhtmltopdf object has global (or site-level) counters. Therefore a command such as --footer-center "Chapter [section] — Page [page] of [topage]" labels chapters but does not reset page 1 at each heading.
Reliable chapter-local workflow
- Split the source into one HTML file per chapter, keeping each chapter’s headings and assets self-contained.
- Render each file as a separate PDF. Each render starts its own
[page]and[topage]sequence. - Merge the chapter PDFs with your PDF-merging tool, preserving their order and bookmarks if your merger supports them.
wkhtmltopdf
--margin-bottom 18mm
--footer-center "Chapter 2 — Page [page] of [topage]"
chapter-2.html chapter-2.pdf
wkhtmltopdf
--margin-bottom 18mm
--footer-center "Chapter 3 — Page [page] of [topage]"
chapter-3.html chapter-3.pdf
# Merge chapter-2.pdf and chapter-3.pdf with your chosen PDF-merging tool.This is a multi-render pipeline, not an automatic heading feature. It is the practical choice when every chapter must display “Page 1 of N”. It also lets you vary a chapter label or footer independently.
Continuous numbering with an offset
If chapters are rendered separately but must display continuous numbers, use the library’s pageOffset setting (or its equivalent in your language binding). The offset adds a fixed value to page numbers in headers, footers and the table of contents. It does not reset numbering per chapter. For example, a chapter rendered after a 12-page introduction can use an offset of 12 so its first printed page is 13.
Outlines and a table of contents
Semantic headings also drive navigation. Enable bookmarks with --outline and limit nesting with --outline-depth:
wkhtmltopdf
--outline
--outline-depth 2
book.html book.pdfTo generate a table of contents, use a toc object. The headings become entries, while --dump-outline writes the generated outline XML and --xsl-style-sheet lets you customize the TOC transformation. A typical multi-object command is:
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wkhtmltopdf
--outline
--outline-depth 2
toc
chapter-1.html chapter-2.html
book.pdfCheck the output after changing heading levels: a deeper outline can make navigation useful but can also produce an unwieldy TOC.
Margins, layout and numbering troubleshooting
Footer is missing or clipped
- Increase
--margin-bottom(or--margin-topfor a header). - Reduce
--footer-spacingor--header-spacingif the reserved area is too tall. - Make sure the input is not using CSS that hides print headers or changes the page size unexpectedly.
Tokens appear literally
Pass the token in the wkhtmltopdf option, not inside ordinary body HTML. In a shell, quote the entire string: --footer-center "Page [page] of [topage]". In a programmatic wrapper, provide the same option through that wrapper’s command or option map.
Section names are blank or wrong
- Use real
<h1>and<h2>elements in document order. - Confirm that the heading is rendered in the same object; an iframe or separately loaded fragment may not define the current context.
- Try a plain-text header before debugging a styled template, then inspect the query parameters received by the template.
Chapter pages do not restart at one
This is expected in a single continuous render. Split the chapters, render each separately and merge the PDFs. Do not substitute pageOffset; it only adds a constant.
Header HTML has no values
Ensure the template runs its substitution function on load and reads the query string. Use the documented class names exactly, including lowercase spelling. Keep JavaScript small and avoid dependencies that require network access.
Page totals change between runs
Page totals depend on fonts, CSS, image dimensions, paper size, margins and content loaded at render time. Pin those inputs, wait for dynamic content before capture, and use the same wkhtmltopdf build for every chapter.
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Performance and reliability choices
- One pass: fastest operationally and simplest for a global counter, but cannot reset at headings.
- Multiple renders: required for chapter-local totals; parallelize independent chapter jobs only when your machine has enough CPU and memory, then merge in deterministic order.
- Text template: fewer moving parts and easier to debug.
- HTML template: better visual control, but depends on correct query-string handling and margin reservation.
- Stable assets: local or reliably available fonts and images reduce layout drift and unexpected page-count changes.
Always inspect the first page, a page containing a long heading, a page break near a footer and the final page. A visually correct footer can still be wrong if the total-page value changed after late-loading content.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use [sitepage] instead of [page] for chapter resets?
No. Site-level counters change scope for multi-document jobs but do not automatically restart at each chapter heading. Render separate chapter objects when a local page 1 is required.
Which heading levels should I use for chapters and sections?
Use <h1> for chapters and <h2> for sections so headers, outlines and the TOC can follow the intended hierarchy.
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Does pageOffset change the total-page count?
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