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Screenshot API Timeout and Capture-Size Limits: What the Docs Actually Say

Screenshot APIs define timeouts and capture sizes differently. Learn which limits apply to page loading, post-load actions, viewport dimensions and full-page height.
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There is no universal screenshot API page-load timeout or maximum capture size. Limits depend on the provider, endpoint, and sometimes account plan. Before relying on a number, identify what the API calls a “timeout” and whether its size limit applies to the viewport, the full-page height, or the final device-scaled image.

Why there is no single screenshot API limit

Screenshot APIs use different parameter names and measure different stages of a capture. A timeout can cover navigation, browser actions after a page loads, or the entire render. A size limit can apply to the visible viewport, the height of a full-page capture, or output dimensions after device scaling. Those figures are not interchangeable.

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The examples below are vendor-published settings from separate services, not an industry-wide range or a recommendation. Check the documentation for the exact provider and endpoint you use before setting production limits.

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How the documented timeout examples differ

Provider and reference Parameter and scope Documented value
Screenshot API (screenshot-api.net) timeout; whole render 1–30 seconds; 25 seconds by default
Cloudflare Browser Rendering actionTimeout; browser action duration after page load Maximum 120000 milliseconds
Screenshot API (screenshot-api.org) timeoutMs; navigation timeout Default 30000 milliseconds
ScreenshotEngine waitFor; post-load delay, not a navigation timeout 0–30000 milliseconds

Cloudflare defines actionTimeout as “The maximum duration allowed for the browser action to complete after the page has loaded (such as taking screenshots, extracting content, or generating PDFs).” It should not be read as the time allowed for the page to load.

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What “maximum capture size” can mean

Viewport dimensions

The viewport is the browser’s visible area in CSS pixels. Screenshot API (screenshot-api.net) documents a maximum viewport of 3840 × 4320 CSS pixels. ScreenshotEngine documents width and height parameter ranges of 100–3840 pixels and 100–10000 pixels, respectively. These are separate providers’ limits.

Full-page height

A full-page screenshot may extend beyond the initial viewport, but a provider can impose a separate maximum on the captured page height. Screenshot API (screenshot-api.net) caps full-page height at 4320 pixels. Do not assume that a permitted viewport height also permits a capture of an arbitrarily long page.

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Device scaling and output pixels

CSS viewport dimensions and output image dimensions can differ when a device scale factor is applied. Check whether the provider’s stated ceiling applies to CSS pixels, scaled output pixels, or both. The cited parameter references do not establish a single cross-provider rule for device scaling.

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How to determine the limit for your integration

  1. Identify the provider and endpoint. Use that endpoint’s API reference rather than a generic screenshot-API limit.
  2. Find the timeout field and its definition. Determine whether it measures navigation, post-load browser actions, a deliberate wait, or the full render.
  3. Check the size fields separately. Look for viewport width and height, full-page capture behavior and any full-page height cap.
  4. Check units and scaling. Confirm whether dimensions are CSS pixels or output pixels, and whether device scale changes the image size.
  5. Check scope and account context. Verify whether the reference ties a limit to an endpoint, plan, or region. Do not assume a value applies beyond the scope the provider documents.

For the cited services, the documentation pages give the values shown above; they do not establish a shared plan or geography for an unspecified API. If your provider’s behavior depends on an account or deployment setting, confirm that setting in its own reference or account documentation.

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Choosing wait behavior without confusing it with timeout

Wait settings and timeouts answer different questions. A wait strategy determines when a capture is considered ready; the timeout determines how long a particular operation may run. Screenshot API (screenshot-api.org) documents multiple waitUntil strategies alongside its navigation timeout. ScreenshotEngine’s waitFor is a post-load delay, not a navigation timeout. Read the field descriptions together so a deliberate delay is not mistaken for extra page-load allowance.

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FAQ

Can I use a 30-second timeout for any screenshot API?

No. The 1–30 second setting is documented for Screenshot API at screenshot-api.net and covers the whole render. Other providers use different fields and scopes.

Does a 3840-pixel viewport mean a 3840-pixel full-page screenshot?

Not necessarily. Viewport dimensions and full-page height are separate limits; check both in the provider’s reference.

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