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For a one-off PDF of a live webpage on Linux, use headless Chrome or Chromium:
google-chrome --headless --print-to-pdf=page.pdf 'https://example.com'The executable name and supported flags vary by installation. Chrome’s documented basic form saves the page as output.pdf in the current directory; check your installed browser’s help if the command or output option is rejected. A PDF is a rendered snapshot, not a complete copy of the original website or its assets and interactions.
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Save a webpage as PDF with headless Chrome
Chrome’s headless command-line mode opens a page without displaying a browser window and prints it to PDF. The basic documented form is:
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chrome --headless --print-to-pdf 'https://developer.chrome.com/'Chrome for Developers says this saves the PDF as output.pdf in the current working directory. To choose a filename, common Chrome and Chromium builds accept the equals form:
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google-chrome --headless --print-to-pdf=page.pdf 'https://example.com'Executable names differ across Linux distributions and packages: you may have google-chrome, chromium, or another name. The supported flag syntax may also differ by version. If needed, check the installed binary’s command-line help and try the documented basic form. The current Chrome CLI reference documents --no-pdf-header-footer to omit print headers and footers such as the URL and page number:
google-chrome --headless --no-pdf-header-footer --print-to-pdf=page.pdf 'https://example.com'On older versions, the previous flag name may be --print-to-pdf-no-header. Confirm which spelling your installed build supports in the Chrome Headless command-line reference.
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Handle pages that load content late
Some pages add content after the initial navigation, using JavaScript, timers, or lazy loading. Chrome offers timing controls, but neither one proves that every element has finished loading.
Set a maximum wait
google-chrome --headless --timeout=5000 --print-to-pdf=page.pdf 'https://example.com'--timeout=5000 captures after a maximum wait of five seconds, even if page loading continues. Adjust the value to suit the page; a longer wait can help with slow content but does not guarantee that the site has completed its work.
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Advance virtual time
google-chrome --headless --virtual-time-budget=42000 --print-to-pdf=page.pdf 'https://example.com'--virtual-time-budget=42000 advances time-dependent page code while Chrome captures. It can help with some timer-driven pages, but it is not a universal wait-for-everything switch. Inspect the resulting PDF to confirm that important text and images appeared.
Choose an alternative renderer when needed
Chrome is a practical starting point for a live site when current browser rendering and JavaScript matter. Other command-line tools may suit different HTML or PDF requirements, but their output depends on their rendering engine and capabilities.
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| Tool | Example | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome or Chromium | chrome --headless --print-to-pdf 'https://example.com' |
Uses browser rendering and JavaScript. Flags and executable names depend on the installed build. See the official CLI reference. |
| wkhtmltopdf | wkhtmltopdf 'https://example.com' page.pdf |
Uses Qt WebKit. The project’s downloads page lists 0.12.6 as the stable series and dates its release June 11, 2020; check the rendering on modern pages rather than assuming it matches a current browser. See the project homepage and downloads and security warning. |
| WeasyPrint | weasyprint https://weasyprint.org /tmp/page.pdf |
Can be useful when HTML/CSS rendering control matters. Unsupported CSS properties can produce warnings. Its documentation also covers PDF/A variants, which have format constraints, including no audio, video, or JavaScript. See first steps and common use cases and PDF/A. |
There is no universal best renderer for every site. Compare output against the target page, especially where JavaScript, delayed content, print styles, or precise layout matters.
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A PDF records a page as rendered at capture time. It does not establish that the original HTML, images, scripts, interactions, or network dependencies have been preserved. If you may need to identify or contextualize the capture later, keep the original URL and capture date with the PDF—for example, in the filename or an accompanying note.
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Use wkhtmltopdf safely with untrusted input
The wkhtmltopdf project warns against processing untrusted HTML: unsanitized user-supplied HTML or JavaScript can create a risk of server takeover. Do not treat this tool as a safe renderer for arbitrary content on a shared or sensitive machine; follow the project’s warning and sanitize input where applicable.
Troubleshoot common command-line problems
- “Command not found”: The executable may have a different name, or the browser may not be installed. Check which browser package you installed and invoke its binary name.
- Chrome rejects a flag: Flag availability or spelling can differ by version. Consult the current CLI reference; older builds may use
--print-to-pdf-no-headerinstead of--no-pdf-header-footer. - The PDF is saved under an unexpected name: The documented basic Chrome command writes
output.pdfto the current working directory. Check that directory, or use the equals form for a filename if your build supports it. - Content is missing: The page may load it after the capture. Try a suitable
--timeoutor--virtual-time-budget, then inspect the output; these controls cannot guarantee every site has finished loading. - Layout differs from the screen: Printing can use print styles and page breaks rather than the page’s on-screen layout. Compare the PDF with the page and test another renderer if its output does not meet your needs.
- WeasyPrint reports CSS warnings: Its documentation notes that unsupported CSS properties can generate warnings. Check whether the affected styling is important to the PDF and adjust the source or rendering approach.
Or skip the browser setup
For a capture through an API rather than a locally installed browser, ScreenshotNeo returns a webpage screenshot or PDF from one GET request. For PDF output, use its PDF options as described in the ScreenshotNeo documentation. For example, the following cURL request saves a screenshot:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.com -o shot.webpScreenshotNeo accepts cookie or consent banners and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; each of those steps can be turned off. Bot checks or CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits cost nothing, and response headers indicate 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 screenshots per month without a card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Chrome’s PDF command save the file in the current directory?
Yes. Chrome’s documented basic headless command saves it as output.pdf in the current working directory.
Can a PDF prove exactly what a website contained at the time?
It records a rendered view, but does not preserve the original source, assets, interactions, or network dependencies. Keep the URL and capture date with it when those details matter.
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