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To generate a PDF in n8n, prepare the document’s HTML and data, send them to a PDF renderer, then pass the returned PDF binary to a destination such as storage, email, or an API response. n8n coordinates those steps; in the official Gotenberg example, Gotenberg performs the actual HTML-to-PDF conversion.
How the PDF workflow fits together
A typical workflow has four parts: receive or retrieve data, turn it into HTML, render the HTML as a PDF, and send the resulting binary file wherever it needs to go. Rendering can be handled by a Gotenberg service reachable over HTTP or by a managed service such as PDFMonkey.
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- Get the document data. A trigger, database, form, or earlier workflow node supplies the values that belong in the document.
- Build the HTML. Create a complete document with the content and styles you want rendered. Keep dynamic values separate from the HTML structure where practical.
- Render the document. Send the HTML to a renderer. The Gotenberg template creates an
index.htmlbinary file for its HTTP request; PDFMonkey also documents an HTML-to-PDF route. - Route the PDF binary. Connect the renderer’s output to the next workflow step, such as a file store, email, or another service that accepts binary data.
n8n’s official template demonstrates a reusable sub-workflow: its input includes html and file_name, and its output is the generated PDF as binary data. See the n8n Gotenberg workflow template.
Choose a renderer: Gotenberg or PDFMonkey
| Consideration | Gotenberg | PDFMonkey |
|---|---|---|
| Where rendering happens | You run a Gotenberg service that n8n can reach. The cited n8n template uses an HTTP request. n8n template | A managed service documents PDF generation through its n8n integration and API. PDFMonkey integration guide |
| How you provide document content | Supply HTML as a file in the request shown by the template. n8n template | Use a PDFMonkey template and send fields or structured JSON; its HTML-to-PDF route can pass through complete HTML using a Code Template. Integration guide · HTML-to-PDF guide |
| Workflow interface | HTTP request, with HTML file input and PDF binary output in the cited template. n8n template | Dedicated n8n integration node with document operations. The guide describes node version 1.0.0 and later and was updated 2026-10-01. PDFMonkey integration guide |
| Operations to plan for | You are responsible for operating a renderer reachable by n8n; the cited material does not quantify hosting cost or capacity. | Review the service’s current terms and data controls for your use case; no pricing or contractual data guarantees are established here. |
Choose Gotenberg when you want to operate the renderer and control the HTML-to-PDF handoff yourself. Choose PDFMonkey when its managed document workflow and integration suit your needs. Their operational requirements differ, so compare the current documentation and your own hosting, data-retention, and service requirements rather than assuming one is universally better.
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Build a reusable Gotenberg workflow in n8n
The n8n template’s pattern is: accept HTML and a filename, create an HTML file binary, send it to Gotenberg, and return the PDF binary. The template also shows deploying Gotenberg with Docker Compose and invoking the PDF steps as a sub-workflow. The exact Compose configuration and endpoint may change; verify them against Gotenberg’s current HTML-to-PDF documentation before adapting the template.
1. Define the sub-workflow input
Use a clear input contract containing the document HTML and desired filename. The template uses the keys html and file_name. Have the calling workflow prepare the dynamic content before it invokes the sub-workflow.
2. Convert the HTML text to a file binary
Configure a step to turn the supplied HTML string into a binary file named index.html, as in the template. Gotenberg’s HTML conversion endpoint accepts the HTML document as a file input. Confirm the current endpoint and request requirements in Gotenberg’s documentation rather than relying on an old copied URL.
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3. Send the file to Gotenberg
Add an n8n HTTP Request step that posts the generated file to the reachable Gotenberg service using the HTML-to-PDF route. The n8n template contains the corresponding configuration; use the service address and endpoint appropriate to your deployment. A Gotenberg container on a separate host must be reachable from the n8n runtime, not merely from your own workstation.
4. Return and route the PDF binary
Use the HTTP response as the PDF binary output of the sub-workflow. In the parent workflow, connect that binary to a destination node. Check the destination node’s binary-property configuration if the PDF is present in the workflow output but is not being attached or stored.
Use PDFMonkey’s n8n integration
PDFMonkey documents an n8n integration for generating, retrieving, downloading, and deleting documents. Its integration guide supports template data supplied as key-value fields or structured JSON. The guide, updated 2026-10-01, describes node version 1.0.0 and later, so check the current guide when configuring a different installed version: PDFMonkey’s n8n integration documentation.
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If you already own the HTML and want to pass the full document through, PDFMonkey’s HTML-to-PDF instructions use a minimal Code Template that outputs the supplied htmlContent. The HTML needs to include the document structure and styles; page size and margins are controlled in the template settings. Follow the current API guide for request details: Convert HTML to PDF with the PDFMonkey API.
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- Include a complete HTML document structure and the styles needed for the final page. This is especially important when passing complete HTML through PDFMonkey’s Code Template.
- Insert dynamic values deliberately. Escape or otherwise safely handle values originating from users so they cannot unexpectedly alter the document markup.
- Decide how the document should paginate, and review the rendered output for long tables, page breaks, headers, footers, and content that overflows the page.
- For repeated generation, standardize the input contract and output binary property so the calling workflow does not need to know the details of rendering.
Binary data, storage, and scale
A basic PDF workflow does not require external binary storage. It becomes an operational consideration if executions produce or retain many large files. n8n documents AWS S3 external binary storage for self-hosted Enterprise deployments; Cloud Enterprise customers are directed to contact n8n. n8n says AWS S3 is officially supported, while other S3-compatible services are not officially supported. In this mode, configure an S3 bucket lifecycle if old binary data should be removed, because pruning is delegated to S3. Confirm current plan eligibility, environment-variable names, retention requirements, and lifecycle settings in n8n’s external binary storage documentation.
Keep storage and rendering as separate decisions: external binary storage concerns execution-file retention and scaling, not whether HTML can be rendered into one PDF. Your actual capacity, cost, and retention depend on your n8n deployment and chosen renderer; the cited documentation does not establish benchmark speeds or service prices for this workflow.
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Troubleshooting PDF generation
- The HTTP request cannot reach Gotenberg: confirm the service is running and that its address resolves from the n8n runtime. Check container networking, hostnames, ports, and any firewall or proxy between the two services.
- The request reaches Gotenberg but returns an error: verify that the request uses the current HTML-to-PDF endpoint and includes the HTML file in the format Gotenberg expects. Compare the request with the current Gotenberg instructions.
- The PDF is created but has missing or malformed content: inspect the HTML before rendering, confirm dynamic values are populated, and include the document structure and styles needed by the renderer. Check page size and margins in the relevant template or rendering configuration.
- The output exists but the next node cannot attach or save it: inspect the HTTP node’s binary output and configure the downstream node to use the actual binary property. Keep the PDF binary intact when passing it between steps.
- PDFMonkey’s node does not match the guide: check the installed integration version against the guide’s 1.0.0+ context and consult the current integration documentation for that version.
- Executions consume too much storage: review how long execution binaries are retained and whether external binary storage is available for your n8n plan. For S3-backed storage, verify bucket lifecycle rules rather than assuming n8n pruning will remove old objects.
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For endpoint parameters and response details, see the ScreenshotNeo API documentation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I return a generated PDF directly from an n8n webhook?
Yes, if your workflow is designed to return the renderer’s PDF binary as the webhook response; configure the response step to use the binary output.
Does the basic Gotenberg workflow require n8n external binary storage?
No. External binary storage is a scaling and retention option for workflow execution files, not a prerequisite for rendering a PDF.
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